Editing Time management (section)

== Cultural views ==
Differences in the way a culture views time can affect the way their time is managed. For example, a linear time view is a way of conceiving time as flowing from one moment to the next in a linear fashion. This linear perception of time is predominant in America along with most Northern European countries, such as Germany, Switzerland and England.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Communications |first=Richard Lewis (internationally renowned linguist) |title=How Different Cultures Understand Time |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/how-different-cultures-understand-time-2014-5 |access-date=2018-12-04 |website=Business Insider}}</ref> People in these cultures tend to place a large value on productive time management and tend to avoid decisions or actions that would result in wasted time.<ref name=":0" /> This linear view of time correlates to these cultures being more "monochronic", or preferring to do only one thing at a time. As a result, this focus on efficiency often leads to a culture of punctuality and a strong emphasis on meeting deadlines.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Draguns |first=Juris G. |date=2007-02-26 |title=Culture's Impact at the Workplace and Beyond |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00938150601177579 |journal=Reviews in Anthropology |language=en |volume=36 |issue=1 |pages=43–58 |doi=10.1080/00938150601177579 |issn=0093-8157}}</ref>

Another cultural time view is the multi-active time view. In multi-active cultures, most people feel that the more activities or tasks being done at once the better. This creates a sense of happiness.<ref name=":0" /> Multi-active cultures are "polychronic" or prefer to do multiple tasks at once. This multi-active time view is prominent in most Southern European countries such as Spain, Portugal and Italy.<ref name=":0" /> In these cultures, people often tend to spend time on things they deem to be more important such as placing a high importance on finishing social conversations.<ref name=":0" /> In business environments, they often pay little attention to how long meetings last and instead focus on having high-quality meetings. In general, the cultural focus tends to be on synergy and creativity over efficiency.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Pant |first=Bhaskar |date=2016-05-23 |title=How various cultures perceive deadlines varies. |url=https://hbr.org/2016/05/different-cultures-see-deadlines-differently |journal=Harvard Business Review |access-date=2018-12-04}}</ref>

A final cultural time view is a cyclical time view. In cyclical cultures, time is considered neither linear nor event related. Because days, months, years, seasons, and events happen in regular repetitive occurrences, time is viewed as cyclical. In this view, time is not seen as wasted because it will always come back later, hence there is an unlimited amount of it.<ref name=":0" /> This cyclical time view is prevalent throughout most countries in Asia, including Japan and China. It is more important in cultures with cyclical concepts of time to focus on completing tasks correctly, thus most people will spend more time thinking about decisions and the impact they will have, before acting on their plans.<ref name=":1" /> Most people in cyclical cultures tend to understand that other cultures have different perspectives of time and are cognizant of this when acting on a global stage.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Duranti |first1=Giancarlo |last2=Di Prata |first2=Olvers |year=2009 |title=Everything is about time: does it have the same meaning all over the world? |url=https://www.pmi.org/learning/library/everything-time-monochronism-polychronism-orientation-6902}}</ref> Consequently, this awareness often leads to a greater emphasis on relationships and the quality of interactions over strict adherence to schedules.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Dennis |first1=Philip A. |last2=Hall |first2=Edward T. |date=1984 |title=The Dance of Life: The Other Dimension of Time |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/482722 |journal=Ethnohistory |volume=31 |issue=4 |pages=309 |doi=10.2307/482722 |jstor=482722 |issn=0014-1801}}</ref>

Over time, the concept of time management has changed from simple tools like checklists to more complex techniques that emphasize setting priorities and coordinating tasks with objectives and values. The third generation of time management places a strong emphasis on setting objectives, organizing each day, and ranking tasks according to importance.

A fourth generation has emerged, focusing on self-management rather than just managing time. It highlights the importance of managing expectations, relationships, and results, distinguishing between urgent and important tasks. Effective time management involves using personalized tools that cater to individual needs and planning in weekly terms to prioritize goals and adapt to unexpected events. Success in today's work environment depends on utilizing the right tools and strategies to achieve goals efficiently.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Thomack |first=Bill |date=2012-05-01 |title=Time Management for Today's Workplace Demands |url=http://www.slackinc.com/doi/resolver.asp?doi=10.3928/21650799-20120426-05 |journal=Workplace Health & Safety |language=en |volume=60 |issue=5 |pages=201–203 |doi=10.3928/21650799-20120426-05 |pmid=22587696 |issn=2165-0799}}</ref>{{dead link|date=February 2025}}