we all have the same 24 hours in a day to work with, but how do you make the most of that time to get real-time-saving results? It's not about working harder, as it will only get you so far, it's how you plan and structure your time, and then how you increase the time you have scheduled. The key to these time management tips is not to repeat them over and over again until they become habits. This is when everyone around you thinks you have more than 24 hours a day.
1. Plan your week for when you are at your most organized.
One of the most important time management tips is planning your week. Doing such a task at the same time each week not only creates a time-saving habit, but can have a positive impact on your mood and well-being. Let me explain. As you plan your week, you make a few small, positive promises to yourself. Each time you deliver and keep those promises your self confidence grows and you will feel better about yourself as you get more done. This approach saves you time as you plan when you are in a focused state of mind as you plan what is important to you. During the week, you're then less tempted to do something else during one of those pre-planned slots, as you can remind yourself, I planned this for a reason. So plan your week and keep those promises you made to yourself to see real-time-saving results.
2. Plan next business day evening
If you struggle with closing at the end of the day, this approach helps to relax your mind and allows you to enjoy your evening without worrying about work. All you need is 5-10 minutes every day and a notebook. These are quick and significant benefits as you manage your time. At the end of each day, write down about ten tasks that you want to complete the next day. Next, select one of these tasks you must complete no matter what and mark it with H is for high. Then add m for medium for five tasks. These are the tasks that need to be done, but if you can't finish them all, it will be manageable. Other tasks put a sign "L" for low. It's nice, plus they should be easy tasks. With your next day's tasks set, you can walk away from work with all those nitpicking tasks in your head written down and ready for you to tackle the next day.
3. Control your day so they don't control you.
Planning your day is the most effective time management you can do. This allows you to control your day, not the day to control you. This approach is understandable, plus it has enough flexibility for when your workday doesn't go as planned. Take a pencil and notepad! In your notebook, breaks down into 30-minute segments, 09:30, 10:00, etc. Add them line by line with a line or two between each. Now take a look at your work diary and add in what suits your meetings. Next, take your priority tasks and add them to your 30 minute chunks. If you still have free time, don't leave them empty. If you're struggling one morning for motivation, try this: Pick a few easy, quick tasks and get them done first, don't worry if you've been putting off more difficult tasks. Doing the first simple tasks will give you the impetus and the right mindset to tackle the hard things later.
4. Manage Distracting Colleagues Wisely
It doesn't matter how well you plan your week, day, or even the next hour if you're constantly distracted. Distractions lead to loss of focus and a doorway to procrastination. This tip is all about creating the right work environment so that you can maximize the time you need to be as productive as possible. Nir Eyal book indistractable explains that if you want to be truly productive, you must become indistractable. One of the biggest distractions in the workplace is often our work colleagues. For the colleagues who distract you the most, just ask them at the start of each day, is there everything they need from you? By doing this, you are making a plan for them without them realizing it, but on your terms. This reduces the chance of an accidental request later in the day.
5. Internet with email on your terms
At times, segmenting can feel like a full-time job. You can also fall into the trap of feeling like you've done a lot because you've sent a lot of emails, or hit a mystical mail zero! While sending multiple emails can be satisfying, problem emails are also used as a form of procrastination, as they are an uneasy fallback when you don't feel like working on something solid. So what are you doing to stop distractions and reduce email stress? You plan when you want to read and reply to your emails, which means you are in control. A University of British Columbia study showed that you only have to check your email three times a day and thereby reduce stress. ((Academies: Checking Email Less Reduces Stress)) So, at the beginning of each day, plan when you will check your email. How often you check your email depends on your job, but more than three is ideal. This approach still keeps you in your inbox, but you do it at the time that works for you.
6. Remove electronic distractions and become real
How many times at work do you see someone diverted a notification on your mobile or laptop? Mobile and portable notifications distract us every day, but they are also becoming acceptable distractions. In most jobs, you don't have to immediately respond to notifications, even when we feel we need to. It is a habit that has been created by technology. It doesn't have to be this way. Go through all your notification settings on your mobile and laptop and leave only the most important ones on. In most cases, this should be phone calls only. By turning off such notifications, you then check your email, messenger, etc. at the time that works for you, and not when they arrive. You can also disable the count that appears on the mobile and desktop apps. You don't need to know how many emails you have in your inbox at any given time, especially if you've already planned out when you'll be checking your email. If you leave this feature icon, it creates a nagging maneuver that will blow you away from your work and exposure to time. Try it for a few days and see the positive effect it will have on your time management. The people around you will also see how much more you will be both at home and at work.
7. Click on the timer and go deep with your focus
Stopping a task usually happens when you've either finished it, lost interest, or are somewhere else. It takes an average of 23 minutes to refocus when you're distracted, so you should do your best to stay focused. cost interrupted work: higher speed and stress)) Unfortunately, loss of interest and distraction are the most likely results of time management struggles, so that's why setting a timer can make all the difference. By setting a timer, you promise yourself that you won't get distracted or work on anything else while the timer is running out. This little promise can have a big impact on your time management. You can try different lengths of time to see what works for you, like 25 minutes if you're using tomato. 25 minutes may not sound like a long time, but by staying fully focused for 25 minutes, you'll be amazed at how much you can get done. ((Francesco Cirillo: From Tomato))
8. Find out what you shouldn't be wasting your time on.
Every day, we waste time on things that take us away from what we should be doing—whether it's distractions like social media, email, or tasks we'd rather not do like weekly shopping or ironing. All of these time-consuming activities may seem trivial, but they all add up when it comes to time management. You may think that I should do this, but there is a technique called the Non-To-Do List that can help. It's not just about stopping unimpressive tasks completely. It can also be about automating and delegating tasks. So how do you create a non-list? First, spend 10 minutes writing down all the things that don't serve you or get you where you really want to be (eg, watching TV, social media, shopping for food, cleaning the house) Next, each under the heading either automate, delegate, or liquidation. Automate for your weekly store, you now use a company that delivers ingredients and recipes to your door. The delegate can be the cleaner for your home each week. Eliminate you can stop putting the TV on as soon as you get back from work. Once you've created your list, make sure you repeat this process once a month. Every month you'll get a few hours back you didn't know you were.
9. Declutter your brain to increase your concentration
Our brain processes thousands of thoughts every day; Unfortunately, many of them are actions we cannot perform at the moment. Having a mess in our head affects our time management as we cannot concentrate with these outstanding actions in our heads. Here's an easy way to declutter your mind: Carry a small notepad and pen with you everywhere you go. It should be small enough to fit in a pocket or bag and be easily accessible. Every time a thought or action pops into your head while you are out and about, write it down. It could be an idea, something inspiring, an action when you get home, nothing. Then all you have to do is schedule the time to make sure you're up to date on all those notes. Once every few days is enough. By capturing tasks on paper rather than let them build up in your brain, you are then free to work on what's important at that moment in focus.
10. Making promises to others
If you were to make a promise to yourself or a friend, who do you think you are most likely to keep? In most cases, this will be that promise made to a friend. You can use this to your advantage by sharing the commitment you need to complete a task or project with a friend. Tell your friend what you want to achieve, why and when. Then ask them to contact you at various points until you are told to complete the project. While working on a project, you will have that promise you made to your friend in the back in your mind. That promise you made will be the driver's focus and make the most of the time you need to get this project completed.
Bottom Line
All of these tips require nothing more than a little of your time each day, but the time you save by using these approaches will be significant. Put reminders in your diary to keep these tips in mind, once you start practicing them regularly they become a habit. They can be used on their own, but are much more powerful when used together. As time goes on, those around you will ask how you find the time to achieve so much in a day!
More Time Management Tips
- 10 Practical Ways to Improve Your Time Management Skills
- How to be Productive at Work: 9 Rules
- 50 Ways to Increase Productivity and Achieve More in Less Time