True or False:  You don’t have enough time.

True or False:  You can learn to save time.

True of False:  When you multitask, you accomplish more.

Scroll to the bottom for the answers.  If you didn’t get the answers right, you are certainly not alone in your thinking.  The first is the lament of the modern business world, the second reflects the hope that things will change, and the third is one way we try to cope.  

You don’t have enough time.  Guess what?  Everyone has the same amount of time, and we have some pretty super achievers out there.  You are as smart as they are, as hard-working and motivated.  The difference is that some people prioritize better.  They know how much time they have, they recognize their priorities, and they schedule their day to meet those priorities.  The many low-level, yet time-consuming, tasks are put aside for the end of the day, delegated, or dropped.  Reality is that we all have enough time for what matters.  It may mean leaving off an hour of television in the evening or limiting the time spent online with the internet and email, but when using an effective schedule you can achieve a balance in life and the satisfaction that comes from meeting goals.

You can save time.  Where do you bank that saved time?  If I save an hour today, can I have 25 hours tomorrow?  You cannot accumulate it for a rainy day.  You simply make better use of your allotted amount. 

When you multitask, you accomplish more.  In order to achieve more during the day, it is common to do two or three things at the same time.  Yet research continues to show us that we do not handle process tasks simultaneously.  Scrolling through email while on a phone conference means that you lose threads of the conversation.  Listening to the radio while driving when you are lost means you tune out the radio announcer. Even though activities feel that they are happening at the same time, our brains do not function this way.  One thing follows another, sometimes in quick succession.  Studies show that if we focused on one type of activity at a time, we would actually work faster.

All answers are false.  With the right time management techniques in place, you will get more done, without stress, and be more productive in meeting today’s work schedules.