TIME MANAGEMENT SKILL; LIFE MANAGEMENT SKILL.

 

TIME MANAGEMENT SKILL; LIFE MANAGEMENT SKILL. 

When we talk about life skills, time management skill is one of the most important, little wonder Idowu Koyenikan said that “Time management is life management”

In our post on executive functioning skills, we introduced the concept of Time management and other life skills which make up executive functioning skills. It is also worth noting that the skills that make up executive functioning are interwoven. Success in one is dependent on success in another. For instance, it doesn’t matter how well planned out an activity is, if the time available to execute that project is not managed appropriately, then that project will most likely not succeed. This interrelatedness also applies to other executive functioning skills.

 

What Is Time Management?

Time Management is the process of properly utilizing the time allotted for specific tasks to achieve efficiency, productivity, and success. Time is a really valuable asset that must be managed effectively because just like Benjamin Franklin said “The lost time is never found again”

One hallmark of highly successful people is their ability to manage their time properly. If you must yell and scream and push before your kids finish tasks within specified time limits, then you need to start working on their time management skills.

 Time management should also include prioritizing. The child needs to know what is most important, what should be done first, and allot appropriate time for each task.  Some of the benefits of time management include:

       a.       It helps to reduce time wastage and increase productivity.

       b.      It improves academic performance in children.

       c.       It helps to reduce stress and burning out because children can choose what they spend time on.

       d.      It eliminates procrastination because assignments are executed promptly so there are usually no outstanding tasks to push forward.

       e.      It boosts self-confidence. The increased productivity that comes with proper time management gives children a healthy sense of confidence in their abilities to deliver on tasks promptly and efficiently.

 

 

Simple Activities That Help to Boost the Abilities of Children to Manage Time:

  1.   Teach time and time management skills. Explain the concept of time to them, and teach them how to tell time. Teach them the qualities of time, which includes that it is irreversible and once gone it can’t be recalled, that it is measurable, and finally that it is valuable and should be used wisely.

   2.   Also, teach them priority placement. Apply the time management quadrant to teach them the concept of what is urgent, and what can be ignored. This will help them to identify what they should devote more time to and what shouldn’t even get a fraction of their time at all. This is very appropriate for older children(tweens and teenagers)

   3.   Use the right diction to reference time. Start early to quantify activities and actions in terms of time and duration. When talking to them use words and phrases like: hours, seconds, minutes, weeks months, yesterday, tomorrow, fortnight, today, etc. 

   4.   Start early. It is a known fact that children tend to hold on to lessons they received early on in their formative years.

   5.   Teach them to take breaks when they feel overwhelmed by a task.

   6.   Get them kids-friendly time management tools like alarm clocks/timers, calendars, diaries  

   7.   Don’t over labour them with tasks. Space out their tasks

   8.   Get them to play games that are time paced like puzzles, tetris, word puzzles, building block games, etc. Games that each level must be completed within a specific time. Just about any game will do as they can be tweaked to aid time management skills by timing them.

  9.   Also add activities like storytelling, book reading, and movies, which focus on time management.

10.   Teach them to order their tasks in order of priority and attend to them in that order.

11.   Teach them that planning ahead also helps them to manage time properly.

12.   Have a reward system for encouraging progress 

We live in a society where people have zero value for time and time management, which is the reason why people always turn up late for events and appointments, projects are not delivered promptly and consequently, productivity and efficiency are greatly reduced. Children need to start learning early how important time management is so that it will become a culture that they are accustomed to as they grow up. Like I always say these skills can be learned and improved upon.

Did you get value, leave a comment, suggestion, or question. Also, read the other posts on our blog about Executive functioning skills.