Improve Your Time Management

by Polly Bird

Is this the right book for me? Improve your Time Management is the definitive guide to the basics of time management - the art of organizing your life so that you are in control. You don't need complicated equipment, dozens of staff or a six-month break to learn how to save time and achieve more. All you need is a willingness to try some of the ideas in this book and the energy to start now. The book starts by asking you what you want to do with your life and explains how to work out how you really spend your time. It helps you to find out what you do that wastes time and tells you how to eliminate it then shows you how to plan your life better so that you deal with important activities and tasks at the most appropriate times. It tackles time-wasting activities such as paperwork, phone calls and meetings. And just to make sure that you aren't the only person in your office working at optimum efficiency, it explains how to instill good time management practices in your staff. By the time you finish the book, you will not only be using your time more effectively but will have more of it. This book will help you turn time into your best friend rather than your worst enemy. Improve Your Time Management Chapter 1: Choose your personal priorities Chapter 2: How much time have you got? Chapter 3: Plan your time Chapter 4: Using transition time Chapter 5: Conquer procrastination Chapter 6: Learn to say 'no' Chapter 7: Reduce paperwork Chapter 8: Subdue your phone Chapter 9: Master your meetings Chapter 10: The art of delegating Chapter 11: Deal with information overload Chapter 12: Time management training Learn effortlessly with a new easy-to-read page design and added Not got much time? One, five and ten-minute introductions to key principles to get you started. Author insights Lots of instant help with common problems and quick tips for success, based on the author's many years of experience. Test yourself Tests in the book and online to keep track of your progress. Extend your knowledge Extra online articles to give you a richer understanding of time management. Try this Innovative exercises illustrate what you've learnt and how to use it.

240 pages, Paperback

First published February 26, 2010

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers a lot of helpful advice with clear guidance on implementing time management techniques right away. It is divided into very distinct sections, so it can be used as a reference book rather than reading through from start to finish. Some of the info is becoming outdated (e.g. Using a newspaper clipping service), but the underlying principles of organization will always hold true. I've already noticed improvements in my day from the tips I've learned.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rather general overview of time management methods, mostly in work avenues. It inspired me to get other books with which it touched upon briefly, which was value in itself.

De cluttering was mentioned, as well as how to read more effectively. She had some tips on phone etiquette (rather passive-aggressive I might say), and emphasised delegation always. Meetings are a waste of time, and one should always try not to be present if possible. You don't need to know everything, just where to find it. Only look for information you actually need.

I liked her method of rating the importance of tasks and also noting down time taken (and potential time taken) so as to plan more effectively. However, maybe noting down everything from morning to night may be too much of a time waster eventually, but it will help the beginner to analyse and see patterns of time usage.

Overall a simple book but the concepts may be more insidiously helpful in the long run than at face-value.