Helen-Ann Brown Epstein
Time is precious. The ideal goal is to be flexible and have the most efficient and effective methods in organizing all one needs to accomplish. As librarians in a service industry, we do not always own all our time. A phone call, an incoming search request, complicated reference question, or a curbside consult are just some examples that can occupy the time that was supposedly devoted to something else. This column is dedicated to using our precious time wisely. For example: to schedule one's day, delegating, appreciating the value of one's tasks and making high-level decisions. Resources include: Assessment of Time Management Skills (ATMS) a validated awareness assessment for using time to plan and manage daily life tasks, "ritual tasks" or mannerisms to engage before beginning to organize one's time, concepts in time management, including Pomodoro, Eisenhower matrix, the 80/20 rule and "eat that frog." Time management apps such as To Do List, Trello, Notion, ATracker and Toggle Track. Consider this column a boost for one's productivity.