RISMEDIA, March 1, 2007-The 2007 DayTimers Life Management and Satisfaction Survey (www.daytimer.com) conducted by Opinion Research Corporation, showed that men and women have different measures for living a satisfied life, and use notably different life management skills to help them achieve success.
Use of Life Management Skills
Of the 12 life management skills measured (listed below), more men utilized successful people management skills, while more women utilized organizational and self-management skills.
For instance, men stated that they:
• frequently were effective at holding people responsible and not doing other people's jobs for them (men = 35%; women = 25%).
• frequently/often leave early for an appointment and are on time (m = 81%; w = 77%)
• frequently/often feel comfortable saying 'No' to a visitor who interrupts during a high priority task (m = 65%; w = 59%)
On the other hand, in regards to organizational and self-management skills, women stated that they frequently:
• wrote and prioritized weekly goals (w = 20%; m = 12%),
• wrote a daily 'to-do' list (w = 36%; m = 27%)
• utilized a support network to discuss life stressors (w = 43%; m = 29%).
Male and female respondents said they were equally good at a number of time management skills. Both said they were frequently:
• organized, with a place for everything in their physical surroundings (m = 33%;
w = 31%),
• able to stick to an agenda and keep meetings short (w = 29%; m = 28%)
• good at delegation (m = 34%; w =29%)
• focused on the task at hand (m=23%; w = 23%).
In the area of self-care, equal numbers of men and women claimed to frequently:
• get a sufficient amount of sleep (m = 31%; w = 30%). The same proportion of men and women are not getting sufficient sleep (rarely or never get enough sleep responses, w = 22%; m = 20%).
• take some time each day for a period of solitude (w = 27%; m = 24%).
Life Satisfaction Measurements
On six life satisfaction measurements (listed below) women find satisfaction from doing things that help others, whereas men derive satisfaction from their personal success. Ninety-two percent of women feel it is true or mainly true that their existence makes the world a better place. That compares to 85% of men who said this statement was true or mainly true.
And 91% of women responded true or mainly true to the statement "I have a clear idea about the purpose or meaning of my life," compared to 83% of men.
About an equal number of men and women said it was true/mainly true that they feel fascinated by what they are doing (m = 82%, f = 81%), and feel optimistic about the future (f = 86%, m = 85%,). Women and men also noted that they experience much more pleasure than pain in their lives (f = 84%; m = 80%).
Men (44%), however, say it is true that they've succeeded more than most people. Only 36% of women said they felt this was true for them.
"In this study we asked men and women to discuss their life management activities, as well as their opinion of six life satisfaction measurements," said Maria Woytek, DayTimers life management expert. "It was interesting to see that women, more often than men, state that a number of life satisfaction measurements were true or mainly true for them."
"More women have a clear purpose and sense of meaning in their lives, and feel their existence is making the world better," said Woytek. "And yet, the 2007 DayTimers Satisfaction and Life Management Study also shows that 2/5 of men surveyed feel they have succeeded more than most people. Interestingly, the study shows that women's satisfaction comes from having purpose and meaning, while men's satisfaction comes from success at work," Woytek concluded.
The 2007 DayTimers Life Satisfaction Survey (www.daytimer.com) was conducted via telephone by Opinion Research Corporation on February 2-5, 2007 as part of an omnibus study. A total of 1,026 adults in the continental U.S. including 512 men and 514 women 18 years and older, participated in the survey. The interviews were weighted by four variables: age, sex, geographic region, and race to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the total population. The data was also cross-tabulated by sex, age, region, race, household income, household size, children in household, and education.
Established in 1947, DayTimers, Inc. is the original American provider of time management solutions and organization tools to help simplify life. Day-Timers is a subsidiary of ACCO Brands (NYSE: ABD). The complete DayTimer® line of planners, luxury leather covers, portfolios, handbags and more can be found at www.daytimer.com or by calling 1-800-225-5505. Select organization tools are also available at Staples, Office Depot, and other major office supply retailers.
Six Life Satisfaction Measures
True (t), Mainly True (mt), Mainly False (mf) or False (f)
1. My existence makes the world a better place (t/mt: w = 92%; m = 85%
2. I have a very clear idea about the purpose or meaning of my life (t/mt: w = 91%; m = 83%)
3. I feel quite optimistic about the future t/mt (w = 86%; m = 85%)
4. I experience much more pleasure than pain in my life t/mt: (w = 84%; m = 80%)
5. Most of the time I feel fascinated by what I am doing t: (w = 39%; m = 38%
6. I feel like I've succeeded more than most people t: (m = 44%; w = 36%)
12 Life Management Techniques
Frequently (f), Often (o), Sometimes(s), Rarely®, Never(n)
1. I'm well organized and have a place for everything in my physical surroundings
f: m = 33%; w = 31%
2. I write a 'to-do' list or organize myself in some way every day f: (w = 36%, m = 27%)
3. I get a sufficient amount of sleep each night: (m = 31%; w = 30%) r/n: (w=22%; m = 20%)
4. I schedule a little time each day for periods of solitude f : (w = 27%; m = 24%)
5. I am focused and don't try to do two things at the same time f: (m=23%; w = 23%)
6. I take a few minutes each week to write and prioritize weekly goals f: (w=20%; m=12%)
7. I usually leave early for scheduled appointments and am on time (f/o: (m=81%; w = 77%)
8. I'm good at delegation f: (m = 34%; w = 29%)
9. I am comfortable in saying "No' to a visitor who interrupts during a high priority task f: ((m=65%; w = 59%)
10. I'm good at holding people responsible, and do not do other people's jobs for them f: (m = 35%; w = 25%)
11. I have a support network of people to discuss things that cause stress in my life f: (w= 43%; m = 29%)
12. I stick to an agenda at meetings and keep them short f: (w = 29%; m = 28%)
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