Time Management

Time management is simply using common sense, which helps in using time effectively and productively (mindtools.com, 2013). "This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it", quoted by Ralph Waldo Emerson (2013), agree, that if the time available is synchronized well with the workload of a person, there will always be enough of time.

Managing time is, for some people, a tedious task, because anything involving planning is tedious. However, application of such a plan on a daily basis shows the virtues of time management. Out of the many theories put forward for time management, Pareto’s 80-20 rule, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and the pickle jar theory helps us to understand the time management concept.

Pareto’s 80-20 rule
Vilfredo Pareto, an Italian economist came up with a formula to explain the unequal distribution of wealth in his country (Reh John F About.com, 2013). According to Reh John F (2013), Pareto came up with the 80 is to 20 rule, observing that 80% of the wealth was owned by only 20% of the population.

This theory is applicable for many events, according to vectorstudy.com (2012), in the field of business the 80-20 acts as a common rule of thumb. This implies that the 80-20 rule is applicable when it comes to time management too.

Typical application of this rule is to remind ourselves to focus 80% of our time to concentrate on only 20% of the most important work.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Abraham Maslow put forward a motivational theory, now known as the Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs (Cherry, K. Psychology.about.com, 2013). According to Ridenour Lee (2013, selfevloution.net) there are five levels in the hierarchy. 

The lowest level at the bottom is Physiological needs: this includes the basic needs such as air, water, food, sleep and shelter. 
The next level is safety, which is the feeling to be protected and secure from any dangerous event.
Above safety is the social need, which is the need to belonging, love and affection. Friendship, romantic relationship and family bonds help achieve this need.
Esteem needs becomes increasingly important when the 3 previous needs are satisfied. Esteem needs includes, the feeling to be valued, respected, personally worthy and socially recognized.
Lastly, the highest level of the hierarchy is self – actualization. Self – actualization is when, all other needs are satisfied and a person meets his highest potential, find the true meaning in his/her life and seeks inner happiness.

Maslow’s theory classifies the importance of human needs and this helps us to prioritize our workload based on the time available to us.

The Pickle Jar Theory
The pickle jar theory explains the concept to successful time management using an example involving a large jar, thereby giving the name for the theory. According to Wright Jeremy (alistapart.com, 2002) the first step of the example is to fill the jar with stones, once it is full, put a handful of pebbles and shake the jar for the pebbles to settle between the stones. Afterwards, fill the jar with sand until no sand could fill in. Finally, add water to the jar to fill every molecule of space available. However, the wrong way to this example is to start by putting the water, sand, pebbles and stones respectively, this way the jar will not be able to hold all the stones. 

When it comes to time management, the stones become the most important tasks, pebbles are activities we enjoy doing, sand are the routine activities and water are activities that clutter up our lives and get in everywhere (inesemillere.com, 2012).

Out of the three theories described above, the pickle jar theory is a simple one and practically shows the importance of time management.

Other Time management tools are as follows:
•         Reminders
•         Planners
•         Diary entries
•         To-Do list
•         Time Tables
•         Avoiding interruptions and distractions
•         Prioritize work
•         Delegate work  

Prioritize activities

	Urgent	Not Urgent
Important	·         Completing project management assignment ·         Update ARMPD Blog ·         Get Character certificate from school	·         Football practices ·         Checking Emails
Not Important	·         Check stumbleupon.com ·         Watch lectures on ted.com	·         Watching movies and TV Series ·         Playing PC games

Conclusively, time management is an important skill for a post-graduate student. However, I do not use any of the tools and techniques explained above, I am a more of a with the flow type of person. Moreover, research on time management shows me the virtues of it and application of certain tools like; timetables and prioritized to do list have reduced stress when nearing deadlines when compared with previous deadlines.