From the Relationship Management Institute

Essentially there are two approaches to time management.

Task Orientated – Bottom up

Bottom up methods  are typically used for project management.  Large projects are broken into into smaller tasks, which are associated with a time estimate and the  resources required for completion.  The tasks are prioritized, scheduled and  assigned  to accomplish the larger objective.   Recipes , project plans and todo lists are examples of task orientated, time management systems.   David Allen has popularized a personal task orientated system with his book Getting things done (GTD)

Result Orientated – Top Down

Top down methods such as  Stephen Covey’s system places goals and roles as the controlling element of the system and favors importance over urgency.  Using a results orientated system, we focus on the results, and look for opportunities to achieve those results moving forward.   A result orientated strategy is helpful for achieving business or personal  goals that are less tangible such as improving a relationship with someone in your life.

A  personal  infusion of  Time Management Methods.

Jordan McGilvary of DIYplanner.com has shared his time management templates and an application for printing your own calendars and agenda pages.   Jordan has also  shared his  insights into  The Middle Way Method, a time management system that works for him.

The Middle Way Method encourages me to uncover who I am, who I want to be, and how to become who I want to be, while being able to handle everything that is thrown my way. … I feel that this approach gives a balance between the important things of life and the daily grind.

From TECHBUMP.INFO – ONLINE TECHNOLOGY BLOG

If you’ve tried various productivity systems and found them either too focused on top-down or bottom-up management you might want to take a peek at The Middle Way Method, a system that blends the strengths of both techniques. Photo by Randy Son of Robert . Over at D*I*Y Planner, an organization site focused on creating your own planners and organization tools, they found themselves disillusioned with some of the more popular productivity systems: From studying all these planning systems, I noticed that they fell into two categories: Top Down or Bottom Up

From Lifehacker

If you’ve tried various productivity systems and found them either too focused on top-down or bottom-up management, you might want to take a peek at The Middle Way Method, a system that blends the strengths of both techniques.

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The result is a productivity workflow that focuses not only on immediate action but on continually reshaping your work and goals according to your personal and spiritual focuses. Not only do the two articles about the method lay out the structure and philosophy behind The Middle Way Method but true to their D*I*Y Planner roots, they’ve included numerous templates and tips for creating a physical planner to help you use the system. Check out part one and part two at the links below for more information.