How to ‘do’ time management after your proofreading course

Proofreaders need time management as part of their editorial skills, since they often have to work to tight deadlines.

There are plenty of online proofreading courses around that specify how to ‘do’ time management.

But we suggest that the best strategy is to analyse your character and how you tick, and then build time management strategies round it.

Here’s how this works for me:

I am the kind of person who always does what I see first, even if there is something more important to do.

Experts tell me I should change. But I will never be happy working any other way. I will always respond to the immediate.

So, I have built my working life round doing what I see first. That is how I operate, 95% of the time.

I took this strategy into my business, and as a result, CMP has a strong reputation for working quickly. We deal with our proofreading course students’ queries by marking quicker than any other online college.

Now here is the clever bit: If I have something urgent to do, I make sure I see it first. I leave a note on my laptop screen, or set a pop-up reminder, anything to catch my attention; then I will do it straight away.

Some people say: ‘You’re just playing mind games with yourself.’ And I say ‘Yes, absolutely. I know how to get the best out of myself.’

So try analysing what is your strongest working instinct. Doing what you see first? Worrying about falling behind? Fearing being late? Fearing you cannot cope?

Pinpoint it, and then build your schedules around it.

You will find this approach will transform the way you work. You will become more efficient, achieve your goals, and enjoy what you do far more.

See our proofreading courses