1.0 - ASSUMPTIONS:

1.1 - Some items which use time are more important than other items

1.2 - Therefore time should be used (managed) to do those things which are more important.

1.3 - Those things which are important are unique to the individual for several reasons

1.3.1 - What is important depends on what is valuable

1.3.2 - What is important depends on what the goals are.

1.3.3 - What is important depends on what the beliefs are.

1.3.4 - What is important depends on other factors not mentioned.

1.4 - Therefore time management is directed to one's own items of importance. It should be stated that other people's are important to them, but not necessary to you.

2.0 - CONCLUSIONS

2.1 - Items of importance have to be considered to see if they are the right items you.

3.0 - AREAS OF CONSIDERATION
(A list from a human motivation book which may or may not apply)

3.1 - HEALTH (Diet, exercise, medical)

3.2 - FOOD, CLOTHES, SHELTER (Life support)

3.3 - SECURITY (Feeling safe)

3.4 - STATUS (Recognition by others)

3.5 - SELF DEVELOPMENT (Becoming better)

3.6 - SELF ESTEEM (Feeling good about your self)

3.7 - ACHIEVE VIA INDEPENDENCE (Own ability)

3.8 - CONCERN FOR EXCELLENCE (Be the best)

3.9 - COMPETITIVENESS (Winning)

3.10 - ACQUISITION (Getting things)

4.0 - WHAT IS IMPORTANT?

4.1 - Consider items which are important to you.

4.2 - Consider items which are also not in conflict with the job. I know no way around the need for a job or some way to finance those things which are important. (With the possible exception of becoming a hermit)

4.3 - Consider items to avoid. (Contrary to your goals)

4.4 - Consider items which pass the reality check.

4.5 - Avoid being locked in when something better comes along. (Flexibility)

4.5 - Consider items which excite you. (They are probably good)

4.6 - Avoid analyzing things to death before taking action. (Analysis paralyze)

4.7 - Consider items you have never done before (Since for everything you have done, was at some time something you have never done before)

4.8 - Imagine anything. (Any thing new had to have been imagined before it was done)

5.0 - TOOLS

5.1 - The to do list.

5.2 - The time management grid.

5.3 - The 80/20 rule.

5.4 - Flow chart type things.

HOW THEY WORK

6.0 - The TO DO list.

This is just a list of things you know to be important. Do those which are most important first.

7.0 - The time management grid.

The theory is your time should be used in quadrant 2 most.

QUADRANT 1 URGENT AND IMPORTANT :
Those things which must be done or some bad consequence will occur. Generally if these things were done while they were in quadrant 2, they would not have become urgent.

QUADRANT 2 NOT URGENT AND IMPORTANT :
These are the basic things you should concentrate on (Your reason for being, so to say)

QUADRANT 3 URGENT AND NOT IMPORTANT :
These have the appearance of being urgent but are not. Often these are urgent to some one else, often because they caused the problem. Avoid getting sucked into their problem unless it is also one your important items.

QUADRANT 4 NOT URGENT AND NOT IMPORTANT :
This is time wasting type items such as rehashing soap operas.
It should be noted that relaxation and socializing ARE important and are quadrant 2 items.

8.0 - The 80/20 rule.
This is also called the important few and trivial many. This is also called the PARADO principal. There was a Roman politician (named PARADO) who noticed that 20% of the taxes were collected from 80% of the people, and that 80% of the taxes were consumed by 20% of the people. Anyway he noticed that this distribution applied to most other things.

The principle here is to work on the 20% of items which produce 80% of the results first. This is more productive. Also the remaining part will seem less overwhelming. Not to mention, it looks great on your performance appraisal.

9.0 - Flow chart type things.

This really a part of project management. (Called GANTT, critical path, bubble chart etc.)

What they have in common is they look at the finial goal and plan the steps to reach that goal BACKWARDS. In other words, what things have to have been done before the project is complete. And what has to be done before each of those things that lead to completion. An so forth.

Before the house is built, the roof must be on. The walls must be up before the roof and be attached. The foundation must be installed before the walls can be put up.

Obviously there are more steps, but you get the idea.

One last comment, you have to take charge of your life. There is no one else who will.