University of Maine Division of Student Affairs

Time Management: LESSON 7

A Stitch In TIME

Time Fact # 7:

You can copy 16 credit cards (front and back) on one piece of paper for safe keeping. I hope you never own 16 credit cards!

There are many things we can do to save time that most of us would never think of as time management.

Have you ever had to cool your heels for an hour or two locked outside your car?

SOLUTION:

Keep an extra set of car and house keys tucked away where they will always be easily available to you. You might keep them in your wallet, in a magnetized hide-a-key box underneath your car, in a hollow shoe heel, or under a skin graft on your forearm. Well, the first two ideas are worth pursuing.

Have you ever rushed from the mall to catch a late afternoon class only to find your car won't start?

SOLUTION:

For about $10 you can purchase a set of jumper cables. With cables available you're two-thirds of the way toward being on the road again.

Have you ever lost or had your credit cards stolen? Now you panic and wonder how many purchases will be racked up against your account while you try to remember were you using an MCI or New England Telephone phone card, a Fleet or Chase ATM card, etc.

SOLUTION:

Take your credit cards, all of them ( I hope you don't have too many!), and place them face down on a copy machine and push the button. Turn the cards over and do the same thing. Presto, on one-sheet of paper you have all company names and ID numbers. Now put the paper where it is safe and easily located.

You're on your way to a job interview. You're wearing new clothes for the occasion. Just as you arrive for your appointment a great thunderstorm opens up over the area. How will you even salvage the day?

SOLUTION:

For $3 - $5 purchase an inexpensive umbrella and keep it under the seat of your car. It's a life saver.

Have you ever tied a necktie over and over and just can't seem to get the wide front to come out just an inch or two longer than the narrower back end?

SOLUTION:

Take note of the relationship of the wide and narrow ends of your tie the next time you tie it. When it comes out "correctly" pick up a magic marker and make a mark across the back of the wide end of the tie corresponding to where the narrow end was when you began the tying process. Now, next time, you'll quickly know where to begin for perfectly tied ties the first time.

If you use even one of these suggestions, you will save yourself valuable time.

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