Time Management

As a clinician time is precious. In a remote or rural practice setting caseloads tend to be high and staff numbers are often low. You may be required to juggle many different duties (clients, administration, resource development, reports etc). As a result strong time management skills are a great advantage.

Well developed time management skills will help you to make the most of your day and retain a positive work/life balance. This will make your workload more manageable and increase the quality of time you spend undertaking each task. Poor time management on the other hand can result in a work load that seems ‘out of control’, heighten stress and anxiety levels and reduce the effectiveness of your work.

There are many strategies to manage your time effectively. Some will be more relevant to your work role and personal style than others. Some simple time management tips include:

• Prioritise tasks and set goals
• Plan your time and stick to the plan
• Allocate time to complete essential non-clinical tasks
• Avoid procrastination and interruptions
• Seek help and delegate when you need to 

Time Management & You

• Do you think you manage your time well?
• How could you manage your time more effectively?
• How would good time management influence your practice?

Useful Resources

• North Metropolitan Area Health Service. Time Management. Government of Western Australia; 2007.
• RMIT Studying and Learning Centre. Time Management. RMIT.