Exercising time management requires–you guessed it–time.  It seems a bit of a paradox, doesn’t it?  In order to develop effective time management skill, you must take more time out of your busy schedule that already contains more tasks than you have time to achieve.  But the investment of time used to schedule your time will produce more time available to you in the end.

So if you are already overwhelmed by your to do list, and you find yourself making excuses not to do what you know must be done, then you need some motivation.  You are able to find that motivation in the Big Benefit of Time Management.

And what might that big benefit of time management be, you ask?

Happiness!

Think about it for a minute.  Why is it that when you can not seem to drag yourself out of bed at 7:00 to get to work by 8:00, you’ll jump out of bed with great enthusiasm on a weekend at 5:00 to spend a day in your favorite hobby or pasttime?  Because the leisure activity brings you joy.  You’re motivated to get out of bed because you know the day will bring you happiness, as opposed to the workday that brings misery.

So, in order to motivate yourself to exercise effective time management, you must use the carrot of the Big Benefit of Time Management rather than the stick your boss in all likelihood uses–increased productivity.  Remember, the more time you are able to free up, the more time you’ll have for your favorite activities.

To develop effective time management skill, start with what motivates you.  Do not worry about mundane tasks or activities that increase productivity, but rather think about the things you love to do.  Think about the things that drive you to try and earn more money so you have more money to spend on them.  Then make those things your priority, schedule them first, and schedule other things around them.

There are a lot of places on the internet you are able to download a daily planner template or a free printable daily planner.  Do not get too caught up in what tool to use.  A legal pad or wall calendar is enough for now.  The important thing is you get into the practice of planning your time and writing it down.

Let’s say the activity that brings you the most enjoyment is camping.  First, determine how many days this year you want to spend camping.  Then decide what times of year you would like to use those days.  Now that you have the number of days and the time of year, have a look at the calendar and start planning which days specifically you would like to spend camping.  Block those days out on a calendar.

Now you must evaluate what you need to achieve to be able to spend that time camping.  If you are going to be gone for a week, what must you do prior to being able to be gone for that week?  Consider the “must do” items only, write them down, and then schedule the necessary time for those activities.

This is a simplified example, but you’ll notice how much more motivated you are to schedule other tasks when you first schedule your favorite activities.  You’re motivated because there’s a reward of the Big Benefit of Time Management.  Happiness!