By the end of this post, the reader should be able to:
· Explain the types and characteristics of time.
· Apply management principles to time management.
· Suggest reasons for managing time.
· Explain the guidelines for effective time use.
TIME
Time is one of the important resources. It is one of
the resources available to a family and once lost it cannot be regained. Time
is a resource which everyone uses along with other resources when meeting
goals. Everyone has the same amount of time that is, twenty-four hours each
day. Time like other resources, is limited and can be spent loosely or wasted
through poor management. Time to some people may mean the period within which
activities take place. The ability to manage time effectively can give order
and direction to life. The concept of time varies in different cultures.
Types Of Time
These include clock time, biological tine and
psychological time.
(a) Clock Time
Time is measured in hours, minutes and seconds. It is based on the regular movement of the earth in relation to the Sun and has twenty-four hours in a day. It is categorized into work time, household time and nonwork time.
(b) Biological Time
It refers to the natural
rhythm of time that is experienced by all human beings. It is therefore the
internal clock within a person that determines or indicates certain bodily
functions. e.g. when to eat, when to sleep, etc.
(c) Psychological time
Refers to awareness of
passage of time. This type of time makes certain things pass or happen more
swiftly and other things more slowly.
Categories Of Clock Time
(a) Work Time
This refers to time spent on
Income generating activities or it is time spent on activities which produce
measurable results for oneself or others. This varies according to type of work
a person does. People who are employed are paid according to the number of
hours they work, usually eight hours a day. However, people with special
responsibilities may work for longer hours. Traders, farmers, artisans, etc. do
not usually have specific time of work and only stop when they are tired. Work
time includes time for waiting for transportation or travel time and
preparation for work.
(b) Household Time
This refers to time used
for various tasks that are carried out in the home. It includes the time spent
on household care, personal care and care for other family members e.g.
Preparing food, after-meal clean-up, and marketing, taking children to school
and from school. A long period of time spent on household tasks may make women
tired, and also reduces the time available for other activities.
(c) Non-Work Time
This category of clock time
refers to time used to relax, visit friends or just sit. Non-work time may also
be used for leisure activities such as family pictures, reading, watching
television, etc. Non-work activities may not yield income but may be satisfying
to the person.
Characteristics of Time
(i) Time is measurable. The amount of time we have available
can be measured. That is twenty-four hours a day.
(ii) Time is a non-renewable resource and once lost it
cannot be regained. Every hour that passes is gone.
(iii) Time cannot be accumulated nor saved for another
purpose.
(iv) Time is a resource that everyone uses along with
other resources to meet goals.
(v) It is available to everyone in the same amount for
a day, month, year, etc (vi) Time is an intangible resource— it cannot be seen
or touched.
(vi) Time is irretrievable: One cannot get it back to
use, it is gone, whether it was used well or not.
Time Management
Connier defines time management as gaining control
over what to do, when to do it, how to do it and why you do it. Time management
is the process of planning, organizing, implementing and evaluating the use of
time in order to accomplish or perform certain tasks or duties. Through the
application of the management process of time, individuals and families can
utilize this resource effectively to achieve the desired qualities of life.
(a) Planning the use of time:
Planning will be based on your values, priorities, goals and needs.
(i) List all activities for a day and categorize them into groups of activities.
(ii) Develop a scheme for using your time based on your priorities, goals and needs.
(a)
Inflexible (fixed) time: They are specific times or fixed times during
which certain activities must be performed. These include work time; time for
school, church, the opening and closing of shops, banks and offices. Your
planning should therefore take into consideration these times. When the
inflexible time has been identified and planned you can apportion the rest of
the time for various activities e.g., time for leisure, time for sleep, time
for studying at home, etc.
(b)
Flexible time: Time for self-employed people such as farmers, traders,
businessmen, homemakers are flexible thus their plans may be restricted if they
use these facilities. Flexible time is therefore time not specifically
allocated to any particular activity.
(b) Implementation
A good time plan is easy to implement. This involves putting your time plan
into action and controlling its use for some months. At the implementation
stage, the homemaker (time manager) checks to ensure that activities are being
carried out at the planned periods. There is need for flexibility e.g. Take
into consideration activities which have to be performed at specific times,
(fixed or inflexible time).
(c) Evaluation
After using the time plan for some months, it should be evaluated to find out
whether it has been successful or not. This involves critically analyzing and
examining the various ways goals were achieved or not achieved.
Reasons For Managing Time
(i) It minimizes waste of time.
(ii) Leads to accomplishment of goals
(iii) It also helps to establish routine for household
tasks and other individual and family activities.
(iv) It helps individuals and families to develop
other resources or recognize priorities in life which had not been previously
considered. e.g., through effective management of time, people can save time for studying, rest, relaxation
or leisure activities.
(v) It also reduces indecision in task performance or
worry in the use of time and other resources so as to reach goals.
Guidelines for Effective Use of Time
The following guidelines or principles will enable a
homemaker to use her time effectively so that more work can be accomplished in
a given time.
Time can also be saved by the application of the
following principles:
(i) Use a time-table or time plan. This helps to avoid
confusion and ensure that tasks are accomplished at a specified time without
much fatigue.
(ii) Arrange all the household chores properly, so
that they can be done sequentially and methodically.
(iii) Plan to do related jobs at a time to avoid
confusion.
(iv) Learn the best method for doing each task well.
This gives the worker self-confidence and enables her to perform the task
faster.
(v) Prepare properly for a given task. For instance,
uncomfortable dressing, e.g., high-heeled shoes or flowing gowns can prevent a
homemaker from walking about smartly when performing a task in the home.
(vi) Avoid procrastination that is, delaying
activities. For instance, one may put off an activity that should be
accomplished today till tomorrow or even next week.
(vii) Concentrate on the task at hand. Distractions
lead to waste of time. Complete one job before starting another to avoid
confusion.
(viii) Start with work that may take a long period to
accomplish.
(ix) Provide and use appropriate equipment for various
jobs.
(x) Alternate light and heavy jobs as far as possible.
(xi) Include rest periods, i.e. unassigned time,
usually at the end of a heavy job.
(xii) Use work simplification techniques such as
maintaining good body posture, reducing the number of movements involved in one
task and using of household appliances effectively.
(xiii) Use left-over and convenience foods
effectively.
(xiv) Wash up utensils and put them away during work
process
Constraints on Effective Use of Time
i. Lack of clear goals or direction ii. Distractions
and negative attitude iii. Fatigue and unproductive habits such as
procrastination
SSCE/WASSCE Past Questions and Answers on Time Management
1. (a) What is time?
Solution
Time is a resource which everyone uses along with other
resources when meeting goals. Time to
some people may mean the period within which activities
take place.
(b) Characteristics of time
Solution
(i) Time is a non-renewable resource.
(ii) Time is a limited resource.
iii) Time
cannot be accumulated nor saved for another purpose.
(iv) Everyone has
time equal quantities.
(v) Time is a measurable resource.
(vi) Time is irreplaceable or irretrievable.
(c) Ways of saving time and energy
(i) The use of labor-saving
devices.
(ii) Use the correct equipment or tools for the job.
(iii) Omit unnecessary tasks.
(iv) Have good light and ventilation at the workplace.
(v) Arrange tools or equipment for work in the correct
order or sequence.
(vi) Know the job or task and how to perform it.
EXAMINATION QUESTIONS
l. a. What is time?
b. Explain five characteristics of time
2. Explain the following types of time
(a)
Clock time
(b)
Biological
(c)
Psychological time
3. Differentiate between flexible and inflexible time
and five example of each. (November 2006)
4. Explain the following categories of time
(i)
Work time
(ii)
Household time
(iii)
Non —work time
5. State and explain the three main categories of time
in daily living (November 2006)
6. Explain six ways by which a homemaker can make
effective use of time.
7. State five reasons why individuals should manage
time.
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