Research_Strategy_Paper

RESEARCH STRATEGY PAPER Research Strategy Paper University of Phoenix My life is filled with the everyday challenge of balancing work, school and my family. Every day I wake up and begin the daunting tasks of completing numerous jobs that would overwhelm even the most organized person. It begins by getting the children off to school, arriving at work, picking the children up and tending to my family’s needs. Once everyone that depends on me is settled it is time to complete my school work. Finally off to bed I go to start it all over again. What I need to solve this balancing act is a way to get everything done without feeling so overwhelmed all of the time. The kind of information I will need to help me with my day-to-day problem will be time management strategies, relaxation methods, and maybe even some techniques on how to delegate a few of my responsibilities to others. If I can learn to delegate I could free up a tremendous amount of time that could be spent either on myself or as a bonus with my children. This information can be found on websites such as www.mayoclinic.com, www.helpguide.org, and www.careerknowhow.com. Other places this kind of information can be found is at the library, self help books, or your academic counselor. When I do searches on the internet I look for websites that contain updated information and come from trusted sources such as doctors or professors. Feeling overwhelmed is best dealt with by relaxation and learning to relax is something that a doctor should be able to help with. Getting their perspective on ways to relax could prove to be very helpful. Time management and delegation are areas that most professors would have a great deal of experience. Finding an article that a professor has written concerning either of these issues should offer several suggestions that would be very helpful. Reading all of the information the website contains can sometimes take too long so I will read the information that is relevant to my topic and determine if it sounds logical. I also look for other sources that have similar ideas that back up the opinions so that I am not using information that is totally off the wall without any merit. Time management is a large part of my day-to-day problem. Getting this under control can essentially solve my balancing act. Learning to use a planner properly will be the first step in taking control over managing my time properly. I own a planner but tend to leave out entries which in turn cause more stress. I must get into a routine of inputting each and every task that must be done in order to take control over my daily routine. Another important part of time management is prioritizing. Learning to determine what is important and what can wait will also play a huge role. Learning to relax is the body’s best antidote to combating stress (www.helpguide.org). There are several ways to relax such as deep breathing, mediation, yoga, and visualization (www.helpguide.org). If I could take just a few minutes a day for myself and practice these techniques I would feel more balanced and able to conquer my tasks because research has shown that these methods increase focus and energy (www.helpguide.org). Delegation is a chore that I have never been able to perform. Mostly because I do not trust others to do it right. By learning to trust others I will eventually be able to let go of a few of my tasks. One thing to help with that is to explain what is expected to be done. If it takes a step by step approach then go for it. Set a time limit and a follow up schedule to ensure that the tasks being handed out are being completed as they should be (www.careerknowhow.com). Taking the time to learn about time management, delegation, and relaxation will absolutely make my life much easier. I will be less stressed, feel more balanced and have more free time to spend by myself or with my family. This goes to show that information is out there all we have to do is look for it. References www.careerknowhow.com. (2009). How to delegate effectively. Retrieved November 23, 2009, from http://www.careerknowhow.com/delegate.htm www.helpguide.org. (2009). Relaxation techniques for stress relief. Retrieved November 23, 2009, from http://helpguide.org/mental/stress_relief_meditation_yoga_relaxation.htm www.mayoclinic.com. (2009). Time Management: Tips to reduce stress and improve productivity. Retrieved November 23, 2009, from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/time-management/WL00048