It’s Time for Better Time Management

BLOOMINGTON, MINN. — We are busier than we have ever been. Life pulls us in every direction. And there is little time for all of life’s demands. There is little scientific evidence that backs this up, but the observational data is overwhelming. We talk fast. We are always in a rush. We start things and can’t find the time to finish them and are then reminded over and over again that we forgot something, yet can’t remember what that something is. This pattern leads to stress and harms our bodies.

Rosie Ward, MPH, CHES, a health management consultant at RJF Agencies Inc, and an instructor in the integrative health and wellness program at Northwestern Health Sciences University, believes it is possible to reduce this feeling of stress, by adding an extra hour to your day through time-management techniques.

Ward offers these tips to improve your time management skills:

• Make a Time Diary. List what you do every day. Be honest. This will illustrate where all your time goes and can help you make decisions about using your time more effectively. You can’t make changes about where your time goes until you are clear about how you spend it;
• Learn to Say “No”. Your time is precious, so if someone asks you to do something that you don’t want to do or don’t have time to do, politely and firmly say no. And don’t feel guilty about it. You can then focus on your goals. You can spend time with friends and family, or on your health. When we say “yes” when the very core of our being means “no,” stress and resentment build;
• Time-Based, To-Do List. Create a To-Do list and include how much time you should spend on each item. This will help you prioritize. This can only be done once people are clear about what is most important. It’s about making a conscious decision to stop doing the things that don’t support what we want most out of life and to start doing things that do support what is most important;
• Don’t be a Perfectionist. Set rational goals for yourself. Be your best, not the very best. You will just add stress to your life if you set unreasonable expectations for yourself; and
• Reward Yourself. Most importantly when you have organized your time better and have made progress in prioritizing, you should acknowledge this improvement. Enjoy your success!

For additional resources on personal transformation, visit http://www.nwhealth.edu/nns. The Web site focuses on natural approaches to health and wellness, and is hosted by Northwestern Health Sciences University.

Editor's note: The Natural News Service is a public information program provided by Northwestern Health Sciences University. If you choose to use this release, please attribute the information accordingly. The University offers a wide array of choices in natural health care education including chiropractic, Oriental medicine, acupuncture, massage therapy, and integrative health and wellness. The University has more than 900 students on a 25-acre campus in Bloomington, Minn.