Time Management Is Actually a Waste of Time
Sep 18, 2019
Many of us grapple with time management difficulties. Unfortunately, we think that time management is the solution. Merely manage your time correctly, and watch your productivity skyrocket! You’ll finally be able to spend quality time with your friends or begin that hobby you’ve been putting off.
I hate to be the messenger of bad news. But, time management won’t solve all of your leadership dilemmas. No pun intended, but it may be a "waste of time" for the following reasons. If time management isn't working for you — then perhaps you’ll like to try these four alternatives instead.
Time management is changing us into stressed-out and unproductive zombies.
One fascinating fact to note is that the same advice about time management hasn’t shifted much since then. However, the way employees work has drastically changed. For example, the idea to wake up earlier (aren't you already are doing that?) or shut your office door to prevent disturbances can be counterproductive. Those little morsels of advice will only help if you’re a morning person or you have an office.
The point is this: When it comes to time management and leadership, we’re served the same advice repeatedly. Even worse, it's recommended that there’s a one-size-fits-all time management strategy. As a result, we aimlessly obey these time management suggestions that aren’t always useful, which creates mental anxiety and diminished productivity.
The answer? Schedule around your energy levels instead of your time.
We all have various points in the day when we have the greatest energy and attention. For some of us, that could be the first thing in the morning. For others, though, it might be the late morning or early afternoon. It depends on your ultradian rhythm (that happen at various times during the day).
Distinctive from the circadian rhythm, the ultradian rhythm indicates that we should be working on the appropriate tasks at the appropriate time of the day.
Time management isn’t interchangeable with productivity.
“Being prolific is not about time management. There are a restricted number of hours in the day, and focusing on time management makes us more aware of how many of those hours we waste,” Adam Grant, a professor at The Wharton School of business and an organizational psychologist, writes in The New York Times.
You commit to more and more.
With time management, you can find a method or tool that will help you get more done in a day — you'll feel like a superhero. As a result, you take on extra work or RSVP to every single social function that arrives your way.
Again, this might work for a little while, but, it can’t last. Ultimately, you’ll spread yourself too thin, and you'll be overburdened and over-committed. Does any of this sound familiar?
One of the easiest fixes is to simply say, “no.”
Don't agree to a new project if you’re already working at full capacity. If the job is time-sensitive, assign the work to someone else. If you’re already attending a party on Saturday night, then don’t accept an invite to a function that starts an hour beforehand on the same day.
Read the source article at Entrepreneur
A lot of us struggle with time management problems. Unfortunately, we believe that time management is a silver bullet. Merely manage your time correctly, and you’ll be a more productive business owner. You’ll finally be able to spend quality time with your family or start that hobby you’ve been putting off.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news. But, time management won’t solve all of your problems. It may be a waste of time for the following reasons. If time management isn't working for you — then you’ll want to try these four options instead.
