Primum non nocere, or first do no harm, is a foundational medical ethic.
It teaches medical students a vital truth.
For any condition, it may be better not to do something or even do nothing than potentially to make things worse.
If you’re battling to manage your time more effectively, you may suffer from several symptoms:
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Fear
Treating the symptoms of your time management malaise may do you more harm than good, however.
Why?
If you don’t diagnose the source of your time management problem, easing its symptoms might encourage you to pile on more time-consuming activities.
Doctors all agree. A sound diagnosis is the basis for all effective treatment.
Bonus Tip 2 — Triage Your Responsibilities
Medical triage evolved on the battlefield.
It is a tool which enables a field doctor to provide the greatest good to the greatest number of casualties.
Although doctors use more sophisticated algorithm today, they originally categorised casualties as:
- Those who are likely to live, regardless of what care they receive;
- Those who are unlikely to live, regardless of what care they receive;
- Those for whom immediate care might make a positive difference in outcome.
You can apply a similar method to your priorities and triage them like this:
- Tasks which are likely to get done, whether or not you pay attention to them.
- Tasks which are more complex and which need planning to make them achievable.
- Tasks which you can do straight away and which completed will make the boat go faster.
Your Turn — What Time Management Remedies Would You Prescribe?
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