Scheduling and time management are directly related because being on a proper schedule is considered essential to time management. Although it is not necessary for every person to have a set schedule in order to complete tasks, having one often keeps people focused and motivated while completing daily tasks. Maintaining a set focus and momentum on reaching goals makes time management easier for many individuals.
Time management is the way in which someone uses, or manages, their time. Those who accomplish their goals and meet deadlines would be said to manage their time well, while those who are always late are not very good with time management. A schedule is a formally written document, or a mental plan, of how time will be spent. When someone decides that one task will be completed on this day at this time, that is scheduling how he or she will use or budget his or her time. Scheduling and time management are related in this way because having a schedule makes proper and productive time management much easier for many individuals.
Scheduling and time management do not have to be formal or rigid, although some may find a strict schedule more useful. For instance, one person may find that simply writing out a to-do list for a specific day or week is enough to keep him on track when working toward goals. Another person may require a more detailed schedule in which every moment of the day is accounted for and filled with a particular task. The strategy which works best will greatly depend on the individual and his or her personality.
Those who do not utilize scheduling and time management often have trouble staying focused on completing certain tasks. Without an outline for daily activities, it becomes more difficult to remember what tasks need to be completed and when. It's also much easier to get sidetracked doing other activities. This can lead to trouble meeting deadlines and other important chores.
In work and school environments scheduling and time management are especially important. They make it more likely that assignments will be handed in on time, and it allows organizations to run on a more unified schedule. Schedules do not always have to be written down to be effective. Even mentally choosing a set number of tasks of complete in a given day and deciding on a time by which they must be done can help with time management.
