Time Management Practices for Engineers- Part 3

part 3: Time Management Practices - Engineers

Question Title

* 1. Choose the option that best describes your normal practice.

I never keep records of how I spend my time

The only record of my time that I keep is an occasional note in an email or my journal or calendar

Sometimes I record what I did in my day and how long it took in my journal or calendar. Mostly I don’t though.

I often keep records of what I do each day in my journal or calendar.

I nearly always keep records of how I spend my time so I can assess my time management later or complete timesheets.

Question Title

* 2. Choose the option that best describes your normal practice.

I only have my formal meeting times in my calendar or weekly timetable

I include formal meeting times and some meetings in my calendar or weekly timetable.

I include all meeting times and appointments on my calendar.

I include meeting and appointment times in my calendar, along with times set aside to work on major tasks.

I allocate most of my time in advance for all time commitments, including meeting preparations, and I even reserve “free time” when I know I have things to do that can’t be predicted in advance.

Question Title

* 3. Choose the option that best describes your normal practice with emails.

I check my email frequently and almost always look at new emails as soon as they arrive and reply to several of them.

I often find myself looking at new emails as soon as I notice they are there and I reply to some of them. I flag important ones but often forget them later.

I set aside times to handle emails, but I am often tempted to check my email to see if new messages are there and I usually look at some straight away and reply.

I set aside times for email correspondence and I seldom look at emails at other times unless I am expecting an important message.

I set aside times to do my emails and when replying, I usually write the reply in the drafts folder and check it half or a full day later before sending.

Question Title

* 4. Choose the option that best describes your normal practice.

I hardly ever look at my calendar or weekly schedule.

I look at my calendar or weekly timetable on some days, but not regularly.

I look at my calendar or weekly schedule most days, and see times I have set aside for major tasks..

I look at my calendar or weekly schedule at least once a day, and I use it to help decide what I need to do.

I nearly always look at my calendar or weekly schedule more than once a day, and to check on what I need to be doing.

Question Title

* 5. Choose the option that best describes your normal practice.

Even if I have times set for major tasks, I very rarely stick to a schedule. I just do it when I feel like it.

Sometimes I stick to my schedule for major tasks, but mostly I don’t follow a schedule and do it when I find the time.

When an a major task is really important, I stick to my schedule, but mostly I just do jobs when I find the time.

I stick to my planned schedule most days, though there are still lots of things I have to do that are not on the schedule.

I nearly always stick to my planned schedule, and there are still a few things I have to do that are not on the schedule.

Question Title

* 6. Choose the option that best describes your normal practice.

I don’t show any social, sporting or recreational times in my calendar or weekly schedule.

I show some important social commitments such as dinners or special functions.

I show most important social and recreational commitments, as well as some volunteering work.

I show all important social and recreational commitments, as well as my volunteering work.

As well as showing social, recreational and volunteering in my calendar, I set aside times just for myself, for reflection.

Question Title

* 7. Choose the option that best describes your normal practice

I have no idea how much time I actually spend compared with what I expected to spend on tasks.

It always takes more time to finish tasks than I expect, but I have no idea by how much.

I spend more or less what I expected on tasks, often more. I don’t compare with my predictions though.

I have an idea on how much time I actually spend on tasks, but I don’t regularly compare with my predictions.

I try and compare the time I spend on tasks with my predictions to improve my predictions.