Poor time management can lead to a variety of unfortunate consequences, such as missing deadlines, failing to finish projects, failing to keep to a schedule, and being less productive than one should be overall. Many further consequences, such as losing one's job or making less money, may result. Time management involves a person being conscious and aware of how he uses his time and of how he should spend his time. An individual who cannot manage his time effectively, who lacks a clear perception of available time, and who fails to monitor his own use of time will likely fail to accomplish tasks in a timely manner. Such failure generally leads to poor job performance and limited productivity.
One important aspect of time management is the ability to set priorities. Many people find that they do not have enough time to finish all possible tasks during a day, so they prioritize the most important. An individual with poor time management skills, however, may not consider the importance of prioritizing important tasks and, while he may still manage to get many tasks done, he may fail to do enough work on the tasks that matter the most.
Scheduling is another highly important aspect of time management and of life in general, in and out of the workplace. Schedules exist to remind people when they need to be at certain places working on certain tasks. Someone loses track of time may fail to adhere to a schedule, which could mean missing important business meetings or deadlines. Outside of work, failing to manage time effectively could mean missing or being late to important family engagements, appointments, or anything else that takes places according to a set schedule.
Overall, poor time management is a highly unprofessional trait that tends to reflect very poorly on an individual in his work and in his private life. In work, it tends to result in tardiness, missed deadlines, and overall poor productivity. As a result, it might be difficult for an individual to advance his career or even to remain employed. Time management is also important in personal life, as missing commitments with family and friends may strain relationships, and missing or showing up late to appointments may incur costly late fees.
