Realizing Your Dreams Through Setting Goals
Part V: Achieving Short-Term Goals Through Time Management

In just two days, tomorrow will be yesterday. (Bumper Sticker)

1 - Take the First Step

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” (Confucius)

2 - Don’t Go It Alone

  “Our chief want in life is somebody who shall make us do what we can.”  (The Conduct of Life, 1860, Emerson)

3 - Do first things first.

“Make a list each morning of all the things you need to accomplish, in order of importance. Do the most important things first.”

4 - Use Your Time Wisely

Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there. (Will Rogers )

Leaders are those who make the most of every moment, of every opportunity, and of every available resource.

Activity: What Could You Accomplish in Seven Years?

Industry: Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions. (Benjamin Franklin)

More Hints on Effective Time Management

• Use a planner, such as a Day-timer, Franklin, or home-made. I like having a page for each day and a calendar with a month-in-view.
• At the beginning of each week and month, look over your calendar to make sure your goals and special events get calendared.
• Use TV or games as rewards, after completing your most important tasks. 
• Discover your most productive times of day and plan your most important or most difficult tasks for those times.
• Find which settings work best with which tasks.

5 – Work Hard

For every person who climbs the ladder of success, there are a dozen waiting for the elevator. (Kathy Griffith)

Have a purpose in life, and having it, throw into your work such strength of mind and muscle as God has given you. (Thomas Carlyle)

6 – Don’t Get Discouraged

You've got to get to that stage in your life when going for it is more important than winning or losing.  (Tennis Champion Arthur Ashe)

Additional Resources:

Check out Day-Timer’s articles on time management at  http://www.daytimer.com 

Helpful articles on managing your time to succeed at school from the University of Waterloo, Canada - http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infocs/Study/study_skills.html 

23 time management techniques from St. John's University: http://www.csbsju.edu/academicadvising/help/23tmt.html 

Helpful time management article: http://www.tsuccess.dircon.co.uk/timemanagementtips.htm