Teach Middle East Magazine Issue 5 Volume 2 May-June 2015 | Page 45

Leisure Time management tips and tricks By PreSha Barnes W e often wish that we had more time. No matter how hard we try to juggle our daily tasks, time gets away from us. As educators, our time is valuable and having constructive ways of managing our time helps us to be more efficient in aligning our professional and personal duties. Here are some of the tried and tested things that I use to simplify my life, I hope they help you too. Stop Procrastinating Sometimes it is very easy for us to put off tasks for a later date or time. Eliminate the things that distract from getting things done. This could save us from the unnecessary stress. One of the easiest ways to effectively manage our time is to stop procrastinating. It may sound easy enough but we all know it is not easy to do. Prioritize and compartmentalize. Do I need to watch the marathon of my favourite TV show instead of taking care of chores around the home? Of course it would feel better to watch our favourite TV show. Clearly identifying our needs as opposed to what we want and following through on the things that we need, can lead to effective time management. This is a painful but necessary step in gaining control over your time. Make a List Make an old-fashioned ‘to do’ list. Whether you prefer post-it notes, an agenda, or a small notebook, use it to list the things that