Time Management Test

This is a time management test that determines whether you are using your time resources properly and shows you where you need to improve your actions. You can read more on this subject below the form.


Professional time

1. I always check deadlines and assessment criteria for my work.
2. There aren't any distractions to keep me from important tasks.
3. I find it difficult to plan my weekly schedule.
4. I sometimes skip meals or eat at the office.
5. I use goal setting to decide what I need to do next.
6. I avoid delegating even when I have too much work.
7. I often find myself asking for extensions or not finishing tasks.
8. I prefer to break big tasks into smaller ones and tackle them separately.

Personal time

9. I feel I am not spending enough time with my family.
10. I rarely have time to do something for myself.
11. I sometimes have to tell those close that I don't have time for them.
12. I often deal with interruptions.
13. I tend to be multitasking when spending time with my family.
14. I often find myself being late when meeting friends.
15. I feel I have little time to enjoy simple activities.
16. Sometimes my work interferes with my free time.

Time skills

17. I am keen on keeping with deadlines and commitments.
18. I consider I know when and how I work most efficient.
19. I know which are my most productive and least productive areas.
20. I am always aware of my time and of how much certain tasks take me.
21. I usually plan my program in advance.
22. I leave time to account for any unpredictable events.
23. I know my top priorities at all times.
24. I have no problem telling people when they are wasting my time.

Emotional side

25. I always seem to feel I have not enough time.
26. I feel uncomfortable when I am late.
27. I recognize I am more effective when under pressure.
28. I sometimes find it hard to slow down and take things easily.
29. I find it hard to focus on several things at once.
30. I know when to perform routine activities and when to tackle creative tasks.
31. I always seem to do things at the last minute.
32. I seem to get unpleasant activities done at the beginning to have them out of the way.

Other Tools You May Find Useful

■ Leadership Style Quiz

■ Left Brain Right Brain Quiz

■ Career Finder

■ Learning Styles Quiz

How does this time management test work?

This is a personal assessment tool that can help you see whether you have good time management skills and whether you make proper use of your minutes, hours, days etc. You are asked to choose whether you agree or disagree with a number of sentences. This test however, is designed to cover different sides of your life so you will notice there are four sections, one for professional time, one for personal time, another for your skills and the last one concerning your awareness and emotions on this matter. Once you finish choosing your answers, you will be given a results that comprises both of your level of time management but also of some comments regarding what you should remember.

Top 10 tips to improve your time management

If you are wondering where should you start improving the way you manage your time, these are the areas you should take a closer look at. Some of them might come as a surprise, maybe trigger a bit of an aha moment while others will seem plain obvious. Whether you thought of them before or not, be persuasive and try to implement at least a few of them and you will see that in time, you will see that you will not end up stressed and in all kinds of limit situations.

1.       Prioritization

When you feel you are swamped with work, you might also feel that there is no way out because you are not clarifying to yourself the importance of each tasks. Make sure you know exactly the value of what you have to do and the consequence and make at least a mental note of what you need to tackle first. It will take some stress off your mind and you will also be able to focus better, without wondering whether you are dealing with the right thing.

2.       Avoiding procrastination

Although it may seem obvious, the best way to get somewhere is by going on the road and so it is with all the things we have to do. Task you are postponing are probably not going anywhere so there’s no better time than now to deal with them. You will feel interestingly relieved once you start working and then when you see yourself half way through.

3.       Goal setting

In order to work efficiently and not waste time, it is a good idea to know exactly where you are headed. So work with specific goals and try not to change them on the way if it is not necessary.

4.       Having a program

You should also try and make a schedule for the busy days because it might help you group some tasks while it will surely avoid you wasting time or overlooking anything you wanted to do. If not a written program, at least a mental note to follow you through the day.

5.       Deal with interruptions

It probably is almost entirely your responsibility to tackle your tasks in an environment that can offer you the most efficiency but sometimes we seem to overlook some things that are distracting us. One sensible issue would be dealing with people and learning how to politely tell them that we need some space.

6.       Breaking tasks

For some people, breaking bigger tasks into smaller pieces can improve efficiency and reduce time. This method also helps when you are dealing with multiple tasks that are made of repetitive sequences. For instance wouldn’t it be easier to wash all the dishes and then dry them instead of washing and drying them one at a time?

7.       Knowing your time

In order to increase your awareness you should take a look at how much time it takes you to accomplish certain tasks. It can help you assign better deadlines when you deal with those tasks again or it can help you predict how much other similar tasks will take you.

8.       Learning to share

Oh, the joy of sharing adapted to our needs. Sometimes it is best to delegate or to bring other people in your projects or your daily activities if you want to obtain some time. Although you might find it hard at the beginning, not

9.       Regular breaks

All the more breaks the best. Well don’t take it this way. Although it might seem like a no brainer not to take any breaks when you’re swamped with work you might rethink your strategy. A well placed break could help improve both your focus, energy and mood. To apply this correctly, you need to discover when are your peak high and low activity times.

10.   What helps you?

The above tips are standard and you should try and personalize them according to your needs. But what else keeps you focused and helps you be in charge with your time? Maybe you could use post its to remind you of things or maybe you should set out a morning-night routine where you have a moment to think of what you need to accomplish that day. Think of what ticks with you and try it. Good luck!

09 Jan, 2015