(Part 4 of Emotional Intelligence)
Self-management is the ability to control yourself. It is to control your thoughts, emotions, and actions to achieve your goals. It’s like having an inner GPS that helps you overcome life’s challenges. It lets you stay focused on your goals, even when distractions or obstacles arise.
“Self-management is the key to success in every aspect of life. Without it, we are like a ship without a captain, drifting aimlessly in the vast ocean of possibilities.” – Unknown.
You can also healthily manage your feelings so you don’t get overwhelmed by stress or anxiety. It’s like having a remote control for your behaviour and being able to adjust it as needed to get the best results. It helps you make better decisions and take actions that align with your values and aspirations. Think of self-management as a superpower that can help you succeed in school, relationships, and life. You can develop this skill and use it with practice and patience.
“Self-management is not an act of selfishness, but rather a profound act of self-care. By taking care of ourselves, we are better equipped to care for others and make a positive impact on the world.” – Maya Angelou.
Here are some examples of self-management:
- Morning Routine: Establishing a consistent morning routine, including waking up at a set time, practising good personal hygiene, and allocating time for breakfast, to start the day on a positive note.
- Managing Screen Time: Setting specific limits on daily screen time for activities like social media, gaming, or watching videos and sticking to those limits.
- Homework and Study Habits: Creating a designated study area, organising study materials, and breaking down assignments into smaller tasks to manage time effectively and avoid procrastination.
- Healthy Snacking: Making mindful choices when it comes to snacking, opting for nutritious options like fruits, vegetables, or whole grains instead of reaching for unhealthy snacks.
- Physical Activity: Incorporating regular physical activity into the daily routine, such as walking, participating in sports, or engaging in exercise routines to maintain physical health and well-being.
- Balancing Responsibilities and Leisure: Prioritising academic responsibilities and completing assignments before engaging in leisure activities or hobbies.
- Effective Communication: Practicing active listening and expressing thoughts and feelings calmly and respectfully during conversations with family, friends, and teachers.
- Time Management: Using tools like calendars or planners to organise daily tasks and commitments, ensuring that there is enough time allocated for various activities, including schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and personal time.
- Managing Distractions: Creating a distraction-free environment while studying or working on tasks by silencing or turning off notifications on electronic devices.
- Managing Emotions: When feeling stressed, upset, or overwhelmed, take a break to engage in activities that promote relaxation and emotional well-being, such as deep breathing exercises, journaling, or practising mindfulness.
- Managing Responses: You get angry when someone criticises your work, but you take a deep breath, acknowledge your emotions, and respond calmly and constructively, reducing the likelihood of impulsive or harmful behaviours.
- Planning and goal-setting: Set realistic goals for yourself and create a plan to achieve them, breaking down larger tasks into smaller, manageable steps.
- Focusing attention: You stay focused on your work, despite distractions such as social media or other notifications, by using techniques such as time-blocking or working in a distraction-free environment.
- Adaptability: You are flexible and able to adapt to changing circumstances, such as shifting priorities or unexpected setbacks, without becoming overwhelmed or giving up.
- Monitoring progress: You regularly check your progress towards your goals, reflect on what’s working, and adjust your approach as needed.
- Delaying gratification: You prioritise long-term goals over immediate rewards, such as saving money instead of spending it on something frivolous.
- Self-motivation: You maintain a positive attitude and remain motivated, even when facing challenges or setbacks.
Remember, self-management is a skill that takes practice and patience to develop. By bringing these examples into daily life, you can develop self-discipline, emotional resilience, and overall well-being. Practising self-management empowers you to take control of your lives, allowing for personal growth, improved self-discipline, and increased effectiveness in various areas of life.
“He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.” – Lao Tzu.
So, how does it differ from self-awareness? Self-management uses self-awareness to control emotional reactions, make rational decisions, and adapt to changing circumstances. Self-management allows you to respond to challenging situations with composure, resilience, and flexibility. It involves stress management, emotional balance, impulse control, and goal setting.
“To achieve greatness, one must learn to master oneself. It is in self-management that true greatness is born.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson.
In summary, self-awareness is about understanding yourself, your emotions, and your impact on others, while self-management is about effectively managing and controlling your emotions, impulses, and behaviours based on that self-awareness. Both self-awareness and self-management are important components of emotional intelligence and contribute to personal growth and interpersonal effectiveness.
“In the journey of life, self-management is the compass that guides us towards our true purpose and helps us navigate the storms with resilience and grace.” – Deepak Chopra.