“Time managemen t is no t a myth - time managemen t is crucial.”
MAKING TIME FOR TIME MANAGEMENT Have you ever heard anyone say they are not busy? I am guessing not. And with calving in full swing for many beef producers, time is of the essence. How can we find time to get everything done that needs to be done along with the added responsibility of checking cows day and night, making sure the cows close to calving are near the barn, plus caring for newborn calves?
February 2019
Record-keeping, processing new calves, moving pairs, night-checking, ensuring proper bedding and feed are available, keeping waters open ̶ the list can go on and on. Heavy workloads, long hours, the feeling of being overwhelmed can make this time of year challenging.
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It all comes down to making that time as productive as possible. Time management is not a myth ̶ time management is crucial. It does include prioritization of tasks, understanding and estimating how long a task will take to com-
plete and knowing your to-do list. Here are four tips to help with time management:
1) P rioritize tasks
Could you be letting other issues creep in and chip away at your available time? Without prioritizing tasks daily, you may find yourself spending time doing a task that has much lower impact than one that is more critical to your business. For example, should you be re-organizing the tagging kit for when the new round of calves hit the ground next week or welding panels you use at branding in three months. With only 24-hours in a day, how you
manage your day is what is most important. We can only change behaviors; we can’t change time. Conducting tasks that increase your productivity today offers the most return.
2) Communica te to o thers
Be clear and communicate with those around you. If you say yes to everything sent your way, you may be a clog in the pipeline and bring the rest of the team down. By overcommitting and then not completing tasks in a timely manner, you leave others in the lurch believing a task has been done when it is not. If your to-do list for that day, week, etc., is taking longer than you expected, speak up and let others know especially the person you report to or if you are in leadership role delegate where possible. This prevents someone from relying on you for the completion of a task that you either do not have time to do
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