Regardless of the profession that you are in, you may feel bombarded by multiple tasks hitting your to-do list all at the same time. It is easy to get stressed out when this happens, and you wonder how you will have time to complete everything that needs to be done. Time management is the key to your dilemma, and you can easily work through your list of things to do when you have the right time management strategy in place.
Sound familiar?
Most people wake up in the morning and start the day in a rush. They do things quickly, forget several things, then rush out the door and get to work. Having a stressful start to the day, doesn’t usually help activity and concentration.
Most people find it challenging to be able to eliminate distractions and focus for long periods of time. They often work on many different things they consider important all at the same time, resulting in them finding that there’s too much to be done and not enough time in a day.
As the evening gets closer, they often find their energy is low. Instead of making time for some rest and using the time before sleeping to organise things and prepare for the next day, most people will spend their time in an unproductive way which may as a result end up not sleeping well.
Then, alas, the next day begins in the same way. Generally this means you have poor time management skills.
From time to time I struggle with managing my time and sometimes allow myself to feel overwhelmed with all I have to do, however I have found that if I apply the following, it absolutely improves my time management and maximises my productivity
Avoid Multi-Tasking
Multi-tasking is a popular buzz word, and some people love to brag about how many proverbial balls they can juggle at work at one time. However, some studies have proven that multi-tasking actually takes up more time than focusing on one task at a time fully. Therefore, avoid multi-tasking, and use a strategy of focusing on one action item at a time.
Make a To-Do List
Another step to take to improve time management is to make a to-do list. Make a list each night of all the things you need to do the following day and prioritise.
Prioritise your items in terms of importance as well as due dates and times. By doing so, you may realise that you have more time to complete the items than you thought you did. Take a deep breath, and jump into the first item on your list wholeheartedly. Complete it fully before moving on to action item number two.
Eliminate Distractions
There are numerous distractions in most workplaces, and there are often steps that you can take to eliminate some distractions. For example, if the person beside you distracts you when he is on the phone, you can invest in earplugs or use headphones to listen to light music while you work.
Switch email/facebook alerts, notifications and even phones off (yes I know that’s a hard one) during these blocks of time as this will undoubtedly lessen the distractions and increase productivity.
Identify what your distractions are, and take steps to eliminate them strategically
Chunk You Time
Break time into manageable chunks and work in blocks of time. This could range from 15mins to 90 mins. Personally I like to work for 50 minutes then take a 10 min break. I believe it’s important to take breaks to refresh our creativity and replenish our energy. Think about it, we spend our time charging our phones each day, so why not do it for yourself.
Kickstart Your Day
Your time management skills also depend on what you do first thing in the morning. In fact, this is so important, that it’s what makes your day productive or otherwise.
Morning routines are popular, but not everyone takes the time to find the right combination of morning habits for them to really see the benefits.
It all begins by building discipline and waking up earlier than you have to. This can be difficult I know however setting a small goal of getting up 10 mins earlier is a good start and you can extend this through time.
Investing the first hour of your day to only healthy, productive, and positive activities is extremely powerful. A morning ritual which include’s activities such as meditating, reading, exercising and journaling can help you feel energised, boost your creativity and provide you with a positive mindset for the day.
Doing these in the first part of the day is a set of time management strategies itself. Give it a try, starting tomorrow, and see how it improves your focus and helps you work faster and save time.
Time management is important. It can increase productivity and efficiency dramatically, and this can help you to get through even your busiest days successfully. Take time to explore these tips, and adopt them into your workday to improve your time management.
