Using time management skills to cope with ongoing restrictions

How can our motorists cope especially with these existing restrictions? Are we making use of our time management skills? Well, Brendan Francis, a great writer, once said, “When you are deeply absorbed in what you’re doing, time gives itself to you like a warm and willing lover.”

Coping refers to the driver’s ability to remain functional in the face of a crisis. The concept of crisis is important in challenging times, because, while persons hurt and are disoriented, they still need to care for themselves and honour their responsibilities.

The ability for drivers to cope well in crises and other instances vary with personality, internal focus of control and their problem-solving ability. “I plan, organise myself and live one day at a time,” says Renee Charlton Wolfe, principal of Cavaliers Primary School. According to Wolfe, she drives defensively, deliberately, and chooses her route carefully, in order to maximise her time, based on curfew, lockdown and unforeseen circumstances.

Motorists should think of these benefits of time management in a pandemic like this. They will become efficient, successful and healthy. Also, they ought to be careful of obstacles to effective time management, interruptions, and periods of inactivity. Drivers should prioritise and consider three things:

1. Address the urgent matters.

2. Accomplish what you can early.

3. Attach deadlines to things you delay.

Learn when to say ‘no’. A motorist cannot do everything. Do not undertake things you cannot complete. Remain consistent to your goals.

Here are a few tips for motorists to consider and put into action.

Time Management Tip 1: Try to avoid wasting time, as all time can be useful.

Time Management Tip 2: Concentrate on one thing at a time.

Time Management 3: Plan your day from early each morning or the night before and set priorities for yourself.

Time Management Tip 4: Keep a diary or notebook, and jot down things that you have to do.

Time Management Tip 5: Be sure to set deadlines for yourself and examine and revise your life goals on a monthly basis, and include progress towards those goals on a daily basis.

Time Management Tip 6: Reward yourself when you get things done as planned. Remind yourself, “There is always enough time for the important things: If it is important, there should be enough time for it.”

It was Ralph Waldo Emerson, the great American writer, who once gave this advice: “Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. Begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be worried over your old nonsense…”