Time Management is the Key to Success

Time management is basically about being focused on a particular project or goal. The Pareto Principle also known as the '80:20 Rule' states that 80% of efforts that are not time managed or unfocused generates only about 20% of the desired output.

However,  80% of the desired output can be generated using only 20% of a well managed effort. This principle is used to put emphasis on how much is lost or how much can be gained with proper time management.

Some people view time management as a list of rules that involves scheduling of appointments, goal settings, thorough planning, creating to do lists and prioritizing. These are the core basics of time management that should be understood to develop an efficient personal time management skill.

But there is more skills involved in time management than the core basics. Skills such as decision making, inherent abilities such as emotional intelligence and critical thinking are also essential to your personal growth.

Having a balanced life-style should be the key result in having personal time management. This is the main aspect that many practitioners of personal time management fail to grasp. Time management is about getting results, not about being busy.

The six areas that personal time management seeks to improve in anyone's life are physical, intellectual, social, career, emotional and spiritual.

• The physical aspect involves having a healthy body, less stress and fatigue.
• The intellectual aspect involves learning and other mental growth activities.
• The social aspect involves developing personal or intimate relations and being an active contributor to society.
• The career aspect involves school and work.
• The emotional aspect involves appropriate feelings and desires and manifesting them. 
• The spiritual aspect involves a personal quest for meaning.

Thoroughly planning and having a set of goals or a to do list for each of the key areas may not be very practical, but determining which area in your life is not getting enough attention is part of time management. Each area creates the whole you, if you are ignoring one area then you are ignoring an important part of yourself.