Keeping a Time Diary
Why?
No one can manage time. We all manage the way we use time. The “Time Diary” helps people become more aware of how they use time. Then we can decide to change the way we use time if we wish. This may lead to more effectiveness, less stress and more job satisfaction too!
How?
The format below has worked well in the past. You need not go into minute detail. This will take too long. You will get lots of benefits by considering chunks of work and the time they take. I give an example below. I recommend you keep up the diary for a week to get the most out of it.
Afterwards, you can judge if you are using time in the right way for you.
| Time | What I did | Why I did it | Benefits to me and the organisation |
| 1230 | Wrote time diary note | To help Terry with time issues | Enhancing my value to the company Developing a useful tool Helping Terry immediately |
| 1310 | Lunch | Hungry and needed a rest | Able to work better afterwards
|
| etc
| etc | etc | etc |