Time Management: 6 Helpful Tips

by: Brooke Neal

Famed poet, Geoffrey Chaucer said, “Time and tide wait for no man.” While it is certainly true that you cannot control the passing of time, you can learn to manage time and be more effective in how given time is used. Improving time management can reduce stress and increase productivity.

Here are 6 ways to make the best use of your time:

1. Stay Organized

Plan how you will use your time each day. To-do lists, planners, and desk or phone calendars can help you organize your tasks. It also helps to keep files in their proper place, and throw away items you don’t need anymore. Keeping work (and home) areas clean and neat saves time by eliminating unnecessary searching.

2. Prioritize

Sort tasks in order of priority. Identify which tasks should be done within a day, a week, a month, and so on. Devote the most time to the most important tasks. Complete tasks one by one, and do not begin a new task until you have finished the current one.

3. Set Goals and Deadlines

Know what you want from your time and set realistic and achievable goals to achieve it. Decide how much time you will need to complete your tasks and set deadlines. Work hard to complete your tasks and achieve your goals ahead of schedule.

4. Learn to Say No

Don’t overload yourself. You can’t do everything on your own. You must learn to set personal boundaries and to say “no” if you truly can’t take on anything else. Stay focused on your goals and turn down things that do not fit your priorities.

5. Stay Focused

Don’t misuse your time. It’s easy to waste a whole day on something that can be completed in an hour. Don’t waste time visiting with co-workers or playing computer games. Eliminate social media distractions. Unless it is an emergency, schedule time in your day for personal calls, social media, and short breaks. Stay focused and concentrate on the task at hand. If necessary, keep a log for a week so that you can see and understand areas where you are wasting time each day.

6. Get Help

Realize that it is ok to ask for help. Teamwork is important in the workplace and at home. Delegate tasks when possible. When completing a complex task at work, ask your coworkers for help. They may have suggestions and opinions you haven’t considered that can help you solve your problems and complete your tasks more quickly. Trading services with a friend such as babysitting for meal cooking; hiring a teenage neighbor to mow your lawn, garden, or run errands; or even joining a carpool to help transport your children can also help free up some time to devote to other tasks.
 

Count Down to the OAPT Conference and Trade Show

Each year the Oklahoma Association for Pupil Transportation (OAPT) Summer Conference and Trade Show gets bigger and better. This year is packed with training and hands-on demonstrations.

Make your plans to experience a high energy keynote presentation from George Carroll. Human trafficking, NAPT 401, transporting students with special needs, entry level driver training, and limiting exposure to liability are among the topics for this year’s conference.

Join us.

June 9 – 12, 2019
Choctaw Casino and Resort, Durant.

Be Inspired at the 2016 OAPT Conference and Trade Show

Scott Burrows is living proof your life can change in an instant. By the age of 19, he was playing college football at Florida State University as a wide receiver and a top-ranked kick-boxing champion, with his last fight broadcast by ESPN.

On November 3, 1984, Scott’s life took a dramatic and irreversible turn. He was involved in a serious automobile accident that left him paralyzed from the chest down and diagnosed a quadriplegic.

Despite his grim diagnosis, Scott refused to be sidelined. He made the decision to take action, to focus on the positives of the experience as opposed to dwelling on the obvious and overwhelming negatives.

With the tremendous clarity provided by his singular focus, Scott resolved to thrive in his life by using three principles:

• Vision helped him see complete success in his mind’s eye first.
• Using Mindset, he let go of the past and focused 100% on what he could control.
• With Grit, he determined to take action and persevere until he succeeded.

Scott Burrows is one of many great speakers scheduled for this year’s OAPT Conference and Trade Show in Norman, OK.

Join us.

June 4 – 7, 2016
Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center

Each year the Oklahoma Association for Pupil Transportation (OAPT) Summer Conference and Trade Show gets bigger and better. This year is packed with training and hands-on demonstrations. Make your plans and be included in keynote presentations from Scott Burrows and Richard Height. We have all this and more at the OAPT Summer Conference and Trade Show this year.

OK Association for Pupil Transportation Conference

Summer is around the corner. Do you have plans?

It is the time of year when school buses are increasingly empty and school employees have some extra time on their hands. It is also time for the Annual OAPT Summer Conference and Trade Show!

In one short month, school bus drivers and other members of pupil transportation teams from across Oklahoma will gather in Norman, OK to network, train, and have fun. The conference includes keynote speakers Scott Burrows and Richard Height and is expecting to attract attendees from over 500 school districts and provide information about school bus operations management, maintenance, safety, special needs transportation.

Join us.

June 4 – 7, 2016
Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center

If you would like to find out about the exciting online training options for Oklahoma school bus drivers, please contact us.

 My Five Reasons to Ride a Bicycle

May is National Bike Month, sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists and celebrated in communities from coast to coast. Established in 1956, National Bike Month is a chance to showcase the many benefits of bicycling — and encourage more folks to ride a bicycle.

As an avid cyclist, I like to promote this month as a public service. There are a lot of people, vehicles, and hazards on the road. This month, please be especially aware of your surroundings and safely share the road with pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcycles, automobiles, school buses, and everyone else trying to get from his/her “Point A” to “Point B.” In the spirit of National Bike Month, I  present my Five Great Reasons to Ride a Bicycle!

To save money.

Have you ever really thought about your options for transportation? Many people drive an automobile. Some people ride a bus. Carpool. Taxi. Uber. Walking. Bicycling. Most of these methods cost money, consistently. Gas is not free. Vehicle maintenance costs money. Bus pass. Taxi fees. Uber. While there is an up-front cost of buying a bicycle and tune-ups every now and then, there isn’t as much consistent spending to pedal your way to the office.

To be healthier.

I personally started cycling to be healthier. I needed to loose weight and exercise. I was also stressed out, most of the time. Today, I live a much more active lifestyle. While weight control is a constant battle, the reduced stress from exercise and cycling is automatic. There is also the release of endorphins. These brain chemicals aid in the relaxation and reduction of stress. It is the same concept as a runner’s high or Adrenalin rush.

To have fun.

There are many times when it is just fun to be on a bicycle. Whether you are riding with friends, enjoying a solitary couple of miles, or experiencing Nature on a mountain bike trail. At first, you’ll remember times as a kid and the nostalgia will be present. As you spend more time on you bike, new memories and experiences will become the focus.

To enjoy the weather.

Most people spend a lot of time indoors during the week because of work. I like to savor those odd times outside. A morning ride to work, for me, is often cool and crisp with the sun rising. An evening ride home is a completely different experience with the sun starting to set. Sun. Wind. Birds. Trees. Flowers. It’s a great time of year to be outside.

To support the greater cycling community.

This time of year especially, I like to ride to support the greater cycling community. The more people who ride, help the mode of transportation to become more favorable and more recognized.

Cyclists are held to the same vehicle laws as motorized vehicles. When you are cycling on the road, obey the law and stay safe. If you are driving and see a cyclist, give them room and slow down.

 Cyclists aren’t there to hinder your travel.
They are there because of their own 5 reasons.

They are a Husband, Father, Brother, Son, or Grandfather to someone.

They are a Wife, Mother, Sister, Daughter, or Grandmother to someone.

Always share the road safely.

For more information about National Bike Month, visit the League of American Bicyclists.