Time management (ALPEN)

Take time to plan your working days. A plan serves as a structure, it determines goals and, with that, also success metrics: After plan implementation you can be happy. It is possible that you are managing your work without a plan (and a plan does not make any sense for every kind of work, e.g. working in an assembly line), but for most of the activities having a plan does make sense. A plan gives you the feeling of being on top of things, instead of the other way around. You are able to mark off the things you have done already, and you always know where you currently stand. To do this, you can best orientate yourself using the ALPEN principle:

• Activities and dates

(write down every task)

• Length of tasks

(estimate how much time you will need)

• Plan buffer time

(plan 60% of time, reserve 40%)

• Execute decisions

(set task priority)

• Note monitoring results

(control and improve your time schedule).

Write down what you have to remember!

Buy a notebook for your trouser pocket (with a small pen) and write down, what should not get lost. There is no getting around this tip if you take this seriously! Everything you write down, can be released from your head because it is written on the paper. Nothing gets lost. You are on top of things. It is a good feeling.

Note:
Here again you will notice that it is useful to make notes. Taking notes is essential for your personal feeling of control while dealing with stressors.

Seiwert J.L. & Tracy B. (2002). Life-Leadership. So bekommen Sie Ihr Leben in Balance. 2. Auflage. Offenbach: Gabal Verlag, S. 86.