~Plan your day~

Life is getting more complicated from days to days, between work and play. Work in terms of the real meaning of working (got income) or else which means study (those who still holding student status as I am). Play on the other hand means socializing with buddies, lovers and so on. Sometimes, spending time alone may also be grouped in play. There are a lot of tasks to accomplish; appointments to attend, assignments to complete, important dates to remember and since we are still in Syawal mode, there are open houses to attend. Those things (tasks) are all important. Definitely we want to do all that as if we have enough time which involves proper time management. It is possible if we prioritize the tasks via priority. Am I right?

Let me share with you what IK (acronym for Irfan Khairi) shared with me. Anyway, you guys know right who Irfan Khairi is? Plz, do not ever say no!  There are only 3 steps involved in order for you to accomplish those tasks mentioned.

First, plan your day the night before. Just a simple step to do, with a simple piece of paper, jot down all the activities that you need to do tomorrow. It is said that 10% from the time taken to plan, you will save 90% from your time to settle the task. It is also said that plan your day the night before could generate your mind to handle the new day properly.

Second, list according priority. Mark the tasks according priority. You may mark with the highest to the lowest level of priority with sign A, B, C and D respectively. So now, plan your day! The day that you do not plan, is the day that you fail to plan your time.

Lastly, the 3rd plan is a principle of 20%-80%. Vilfredo Pareto generated a principle that 20% from the time taken to settle a task is actually 80% of that task. In other words, productivity decreases after 20% has taken. So, how to apply it? Simple! When you are going to settle a task, present the task in front of you and think of the strategy on how you are going to settle that down. When you have recognized it, start doing your work until what you manage to do. It may take 1 hour or 2. Just do what you want to do. And then, stop! Stop doing that task. This is because you have taken 20% of the real productive time in completing that task which results 80% completion of the task!!

What you have to do now is, shift your attention to other task. Start your new task and do not think about that task again. For that new task, do the same as before. Focus with the task and take only 20% from the supposed time. Then again, stop.

By applying this principle, you manage to complete 80% of the task within 20% from the supposed time. When all that 80% of the task completed, you can go back to the earlier task to complete another 20%. Now, your condition is fresh and productivity back to increase as well.

Combine those 3 planning steps and you are surely amazed with your efficiency in managing time. Best of luck!!

* Not to forget, thanks to Mr IK for the tips. Japanese said arigato gozaimasu…:-)