Nobody can argue with the proposition that time management skills are absolutely crucial to living your best life. Without such abilities, you will probably miss lots of deadlines, always feel rushed and never have the change to simply enjoy what life brings your way. Fortunately, the tips below can help tremendously.
One of the most fundamental steps to better management of time is using a calender. The type of calender you use is totally up to you. Some people like to write activities on paper, so they buy some type of paper calendar. Others may choose to keep their calendar of events on their mobile phone or other portable devices.
The time you spend planning your day can help you keep yourself on time throughout it. Devote a few minutes each morning to mapping out your tasks and appointments, giving yourself at least 10 minutes between each. This helps to avoid rushing, and should help you to manage the total time you have to work in the day better.
Keep a journal of your days for a week or two. Include everything that you are doing during the day. Once you have compiled a list of all of your activities, you will be able to find where you are wasting time. This way, you can eliminate any unnecessary activities in the day.
Make a list of all your tasks that must get done. Number them, starting at number “1” with the most important project. Then start at the very top of this list, and work on down it. If you have trouble remembering all that is on your list, take along a copy wherever you go.
People are expected to be on time. When you are not on time, not only are you disrupting your own time management, you are disrupting others as well. Try to build extra time into your daily plan. This will help you meet deadlines and make every scheduled appointment during the day.
Do not approach a task with hours of work in mind. You can be more productive in short spurts. Set timers for up to an hour and focus on your task for that time. Get up and walk away for a short break when the timer sounds. Get your head back in the game and approach the task with new vision.
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.
If you are in charge of a large task, break it down into manageable smaller tasks. This will enable you to concentrate on a small portion of the task without getting overwhelmed. By using this technique, you can ensure that you stay on schedule to complete the larger task.
In order to get the most out of life, you really need to master the art of time management. Knowing how to prioritize, schedule and balance everything in your daily schedule is critical to happiness. We hope the guidance found in the article above has given you some food for thought.