Time at work... Clock-watching a national pastime

There never seems to be enough time to do all of the things that you want to do - just how are we supposed to cram in working and all that partying and loafing?

It was Confucius who said: "It does not matter how slowly you go, so long as you do not stop."

Well poor old Confucius is dead now and I bet there were a lot of things he wished he had done before his demise, the message is loud and clear, don't put off until tomorrow what you could do today.

Time management is a crucial skill, which must be mastered if you are to succeed in the workplace and life in general.

Clock-Wise

'Time flies when you're having fun', but it doesn't half drag during party political broadcasts.

The average working day begins at 9:00 am and finishes at 5:00pm, that's 8 hours to be filled with productive activity, brain storming, meetings, adhoc tasks and social exchange. That's not including an hour off for lunch and necessary ablutions.

Weekends are for unwinding; you don't want to have work assignments hanging over your head so there are a number of things that can be done that will make it easier for you to complete your work comfortably without the need for overtime.

List your tasks

Often time conflicts arise when you begin a task, almost see it through to completion and then realise that you have another project that you should have been working on. It is important that at the beginning of the week or at the start of each day you compile a thorough list of all the jobs that need to be completed and by when.

Doing this will mean that there are no unpleasant surprises waiting for you under filing.

Prioritise

When you know exactly what you have to do you can divide up your time suitably. Prioritise the tasks on your list into order of importance. Which task needs to be completed first, which require the most time spent on them?

Top of your list should be the big job that if completed well will guarantee your promotion, even if it isn't the task that has to be completed first, it is the most important -The Deal Clincher. Second, and in descending order should be the less important jobs that still need attention but are not so critical.

As you complete each job cross it out from your list so you know what you still have left to do.

Punctuality

The working day will rush by quickly enough when you are busy; you do not want to have to sacrifice precious time due to tardiness. Make sure you get up at a reasonable hour so that you have sufficient time to wash, have a good breakfast and get to work with time to spare.

Brain food - taking breaks

There is nothing worse than trying to work and having a grumbling stomach audibly keeping you from concentrating.

Your brain needs food to function properly, have a good breakfast and do not be afraid to walk away from your desk during the course of the day to get a bite to eat.

Walking away from your desk is a good idea even if you aren't hungry. Offices can be stuffy environments and going out to take some air will clear you head, wake you up and make you more productive.

The art of 'Clock-Watching'

Time rules the workplace, people clock in and clock out, deadlines loom and the years can pass by in a blur of routine. Time schedules can be great motivators and a driving force but can also be a hindrance to productivity.

In some industries/companies a whole culture has grown out of clock-watching. With clock-watching comes gossip, dissatisfaction and complacency, most importantly it is not in the least bit productive.

Generally people clock-watch and count the minutes until the end of the day if they are not busy, if they are not challenged and feel distant from the company's goal.

AOL famously ordered employees to give up their watches and to tape over the time display in the corner of their monitors. However, the thing that clock-watchers really need is direction and inspiration. They need their confidence renewed in their role and meaningful tasks to undertake.

Louis Armstrong sang: "We have all the time in the world", and it is true, time should be savoured. Time will fly by if you are running around like a headless chicken all day and you won't have even realised it.

There is a balance to be struck between idle clock watching and futile time chasing. Everyone should use time management so that you can plan what you will do by when. In this way time can be set aside for work, rest and play… Louis would approve.