“Time management” is a phrase that is talked about time and time again as a way to reach success. And it’s true, managing your time in the right way can help you to be more organized and get things done. That’s why this article is full of suggestions to help you do just that. Read on!
Look at your current levels of productivity to see which areas could use improving through time management skills. Figure out why some projects seem more challenging for you than others. You must know what you get out of your time now.
If you truly struggle with time management, plan things out in advance. You can do this towards the end of your day. When you do this, your mind can relax and you can free up the pressure of time the next day.
Refrain from communicating with friends unless it is urgent. It disrupts your focus and will make it more difficult to get your task accomplished. Reply to your friends after the task is finished.
Remember you can’t do everything. Some days it is impossible. In effect, about 80% of your work gets done in about 20% of the day. Always keep realistic goals.
A great tip for self-improvement is to only follow up with clients when absolutely necessary. If you can pass on follow up calls onto a subordinate, then do so. You need to handle what is most important for you and delegate effectively. This will go a long way with managing your time.
Put yourself first. Often, we find ourselves putting other people’s needs ahead of ours. Just realize that most of the stress from a poorly managed day is not getting your own business accomplished. Prioritize your needs and tasks and relieve some pressure. This will allow you to better focus on others’ needs when it is time.
At many moments where you are feeling overwhelmed with how much you have to do, the most effective time management tip is to actually do nothing for at least a minute. Catch your breath and let your mind clear. What is really urgent and needs done right now will reveal itself to you. The rest can wait and maybe even work itself out.
When your time management techniques are thrown off by a task that seems impossible to complete, step back and assess the problem. Are you avoiding the job because it’s difficult, or are you lacking some piece of information or expertise essential to the job? If you’re being held back by a lack of knowledge, make it a priority to seek out the missing information you require.
If you have trouble managing your time, consider keeping a diary. For three days write down everything you do to pinpoint how you are spending your time. A diary will help you understand how much time you spend doing productive things and how much time you waste on unproductive conversations, thoughts and actions.
Have a sit-down with yourself daily. The first half hour of your day is about strategy. You should build a list of priorities that balances your day. Do not overwhelm the list with more than your day can handle. If it is not a priority for today, consider it for tomorrow’s list and focus on higher priorities.
Managing a home, family and career can be very demanding. It is essential that you create a realistic plan that will help you organize your time and your energy effectively. If your children are old enough, assign age-appropriate household duties to them, and realize you are helping them learn to manage their time also.
Put time limits on the work you are doing. Sometimes just the act of putting a time limit on something will make you much more efficient. Even if it’s something that only take a few minutes, give it a time requirement. Write them down on your to-do list and see how effective it is during the day.
Give yourself a goal time for each task in your day. Be realistic as you delegate your time. Set the times that you should finish each task by and do your best to stick to it. Do not feel rushed if time becomes an issue, since lesser priorities are scheduled later in the day.
When you have too much to do, don’t do it all. Look at your to do list and see what you can delegate to others. Anything that can be reasonably passed on to friends, family and subordinates at work all should be. Always do your best, and never use delegation as an excuse to slack off, but make sure everyone is pulling their weight.
After reading the information in this article, you are a lot more likely to be able to manage your time properly. When you have a handle on your time, you’ll be able to get much more done. Keep this article handy so you can read it in the future to remember all the advice here.