Most if not all people try to manage their time to cope with their daily tasks. A lot of books and articles had been published on time management but how come a lot of people still do not know how to manage their time. One of the best time management tools that one can use is the Quadrant Time Management concept by Stephen Covey. The strategy in this time management technique is quite simple which everyone can follow. Let me define the four quadrants for you to use.
The first quadrant comprises of the tasks that are urgent and important. These tasks need to be completed the soonest time possible since you are running out of time. Examples are deadline driven projects and unscheduled meetings. If the task is in the first quadrant, you can compare yourself to a fireman fighting a fire. You need to extinguish the fire right then and there.
The second quadrant makes up of tasks that are not urgent but important. These tasks are important but one can still buy time and plan of what needs to be done since it is not urgent. Preparation and planning is a big factor in completing tasks. Example of this is presenting a business review. It is important but since one knows when it is needed, enough preparation and planning can still be done prior to making the presentation.
The third quadrant is made of tasks that are urgent but not important. These tasks need your attention right away but they are not really that important. An example is receiving a phone call, you need to answer the phone but it does not really mean that what the caller has to say is important. One can take on this task but should end it soonest time possible. Like answering the phone, be short with the call as much as possible.
The fourth quadrant is comprised of tasks that are not urgent and not important. These tasks are totally time wasters. One should forego with these tasks until break time or once the important things are done. Examples are reading emails that do not need your attention right away or making phone calls that can be done at a later time.
Of the four quadrants, one should focus more on the tasks that are in the second quadrant. These are the things that are important but not urgent so you can do your planning and be empowered more in order to complete the task.