Good Time Management is Stress Management
Good Time Management is Stress Management
Many people who suffer stress at work look for stress management training when, in fact, they need time management training. Check out our Personal Effectiveness Training to boost your productivity and reduce stress.
People feel stressed when the load imposed upon them is greater than they can bear.
Excessive load on their mind and body is experienced as stress.
So, they seek stress counselling, but the root cause of their stress is a failure of time management.
Time Management
In management, there are three fundamental errors:
- There is too much to do.
- Doing too much.
- Doing the wrong things.
In situations where people have too much to do, are doing too much, or are doing the wrong things, the solution is prioritisation. Our Leadership and Management Training covers effective prioritisation strategies.
Prioritisation is the Answer to Stress
Prioritisation is the art of putting things in the right order.
There are three ways to prioritise tasks:
- By value - the value can be determined by the consequences if the task is not done.
- Deadline pressure - some things are urgent, others are not, so we do the urgent things first, even if they are difficult.
- Logical sequence - some things must be done before others. For example, you must put your socks on before your shoes. You put the bolt on after the washer. If you do the right things in the wrong order, then it's wrong and has to be redone.
Procrastination Causes Stress
Another feature of people who are stressed is that they are commonly procrastinators.
Procrastinators put off doing the things they don't want to do.
When things are put off, the job doesn't disappear; it simply goes rotten.
When they return to the rotten job, they feel stressed because it's late, it's in a bad state, and the deadline is up.
Then they complain they are stressed and blame the work they procrastinated on for months.
It's not stress being imposed; it's that people create the conditions that put them under stress by procrastinating and not correctly prioritising their tasks. Explore our People Management Skills Training to master stress-free task handling.
Conclusion
The solution to stress management is often to improve time management skills and to stop procrastinating.
Learn to prioritise.
Learn not to procrastinate.
And your stress will frequently disappear.
Definition: Prioritisation
Prioritisation is the work skill of putting jobs in the best order. It judges each job for worth, time limit and order need, places the most vital jobs first, follows clear rules so all can see why the order stands, and changes the list fast when new facts shift worth, urgency or links.
Show CG4D Definition
- Ranks each job by worth, urgency and order need
- Assigns time and resources to the highest ranked jobs first
- Uses clear, shared rules so the order is easy to see and repeat
- Updates the order when worth, urgency or job links change
Article Summary
Work stress rarely comes from the work; it comes from tasks left unordered. Use time wisely: rank jobs by value, act before deadlines and stop procrastinating. When you control your hours, you control your pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions that frequently get asked about this topic during our training sessions.
How can better time management tips reduce work stress?
What three errors signal poor workload management?
How do I rank tasks by value?
When should deadline pressure set my priority list?
Why does procrastination increase stress at work?
What does logical sequence mean in task planning?
What quick action helps me manage workload and feel calmer?
Thought of something that's not been answered? Ask Us Today!
Did You Know: Key Statistics
79% of UK organisations named heavy workloads as the top cause of employee stress in 2024 (CIPD Health and Wellbeing at Work Survey 2024). The 2024 Asana Anatomy of Work report shows that workers who start each day with a clear, prioritised task list save an average of 2.1 hours per week and feel 26% less stressed.About the Author: Chris Farmer
Chris Farmer is the founder of the Corporate Coach Group and has many years' experience in training leaders and managers, in both the public and private sectors, to achieve their organisational goals, especially during tough economic times. He is also well aware of the disciplines and problems associated with running a business.
Over the years, Chris has designed and delivered thousands of training programmes and has coached and motivated many management teams, groups and individuals. His training programmes are both structured and clear, designed to help delegates organise their thinking and, wherever necessary, to improve their techniques and skills.
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Further Reading in Time Management
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Time Management Apps to Enhance Productivity
Download our free time management apps to prioritise tasks, set SMART goals and make confident decisions. Work smarter, cut stress and improve productivity.
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Good Time Management is Stress Management
Discover proven time management tips to reduce work stress, prioritise tasks and defeat procrastination so you work smarter, meet deadlines and feel calm daily.
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What is the Action Priority Matrix?
Learn how the Action Priority Matrix ranks tasks by impact and effort to secure quick wins, advance major projects, delegate chores and sharpen time management.
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What is the Pomodoro Technique?
Learn how the Pomodoro Technique uses 25-minute work cycles and five-minute breaks to lift focus, cut mistakes and boost work efficiency all day no burnout.
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How to be More Efficient and Effective.
Learn practical time management steps to boost work efficiency: goal setting, task priority, smart sequencing, good-enough action, delegation and balanced rest.
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Looking for Time Management Training?
If you're looking to develop your Time Management Skills, you may find this Time Management Training Course beneficial:
Open Training Course Pricing and Availability
Next Open Course Starts in 4 days, London - Central, places available