One of the simplest time-management tools is a daily time log. By selecting a typical week and gathering data on your daily routine, you can find areas where you could improve your use of time.

Instructions For Keeping Daily Time Log

Gather Data:

Keep a daily time log for one week. This will provide accurate information for you to improve your use of time. Be honest and attentive to detail.

Analyze Your Use of Time:

Working with the data gathered, analyze your current use of time. List opportunities for improvement.

Action Plan:

From your analysis, develop specific action plans to bring about the desired improvement in your use of time.

Follow-up:

Six weeks after beginning your time management improvement effort, assess your progress, and determine what work still needs to be done.

Instructions:

• Select a typical week, (i.e., avoid vacation, sick leave, personal leave, holiday, etc.)
• Record activities at least every half hour. Be specific. For example, identify visitors and record duration and topics of conversations. (Be honest. Only you will have access to this information.) •
• Write a comment on each activity. Did something take longer than usual? Why? Were you interrupted?
• At the end of the day note whether this day was typical, busier than usual, or less busy than usual.