Time management

I have been asked over and over again, how do I manage my life. People see my updates and posts on social media. Others can see the busy and hectic life I lead. I am bored if I am not doing some, so I need to keep myself engaged.

I start early morning and try as much as possible to sleep early. This helps my energy level to keep up throughout the day. Usually, I wake up around 4.30 or 5am and then as a Muslim, I do the fajr, the morning prayer. Some non-Muslims may suggest meditation to keep peace in mind, but this is the meditation to me. I feel I am ready to face the challenges of the day if I do my morning prayers.

In the early morning, I find that this is the best time to do things. When the whole world is sleeping, like right now. Here I am typing on my computer, the surrounding is quiet, the streets are dark and the only sounds are broken by the chirping of the birds.

My husband and I keep a whiteboard in our studio, where we note down important events. Every day, we spend a few minutes to plan for the day ahead. This helps us to keep track of what both of us do and also search for things we can do together. Both of us keep a planner and a diary to record our daily activities. 

Time management is about how you plan your day so that you will have time to do things that you want to do. This exercise may sound unnecessary and tedious, but believe me, once you have started writing down your plans, you will find how useful it is to you. Here are a few techniques for time management.

1. Get a physical diary/planner or use your phone or laptop to enter events you have to do for the day. Enter even the little things you have to do for the day. Shopping? Send a message to someone or call a friend? Do it. Why a diary and planner both? I find that I can enter specific things into the planner, where I can consult the whole week or a month or a year, whereas with the diary to tend to write more information. My diary becomes like a journal, where I record daily happenings or detailed information about events.

2. Form the writing habit

It is very difficult to maintain the habit of entering and recording information into your diary or planner. But believe me, this is a habit that you can establish once you start doing it. If you have no time, carry your diary and planner around with you. In spare moments you get, take out your diary and planner to fill in where you have missed out before. You may decide to keep one set of records, a diary or a planner. Go paperless or make your own recording system. But whatever you decide, discipline yourself and form the writing habit.

3. Consult and review

You may have entered events and tasks that you want to complete and have complete. Always go back to consult and review. If you have yet to complete and event, bring forward to the next day or a few days and cross out the tasks that you have completed. Consult and review at every opportunity that you get. Manage your time wisely! Keep up!

Fathimath Afiya

16 May 2020