In today’s fast-paced world, time is a precious commodity. When it’s not used wisely, there is less time for things that matter in life. If you are focusing your life on work, your down time will suffer.
Calendars can really help you out if you’re wanting to manage time better. Many choose printed calendars for the convenience of marking it up and carrying it with them. Other people enjoy flexibility from electronic calendars. No matter which way you do it, a calendar is the most effective way of keeping track of your day.
Pay attention to deadlines. Procrastinating only lets stress pile up and things get worse from there. Making a schedule an sticking to it is the best way to eliminate stress.
Allow some time for inevitable interruptions. If you make one appointment right after another, and not account for delays caused by traffic or other interruptions, your whole day may be thrown off. If you make allowances for these interruptions, you will be able focus and keep on track.
If time management really isn’t your “thing,” pay attention to just one task at a time. Do not try to do more than one task at once. When you try to accomplish too many tasks at the same time, you become tired and flustered. Take time to relax, take deep breaths and concentrate on one task through completion before continuing to the next task on the list.
If you stress out on time management, pre-plan the day before. This can be with a to do list for the future that’s short, or you can go more in depth with it. Also, it will decrease the panic that you have about future tasks.
Figure out what is most important to you. If not, nonessential tasks can consume your day. Make sure you do the most important things first. List the things you want to accomplish, starting with the most important things first.
Close the door to your office so you aren’t disturbed while you work. An open door invites intrusions. Closing the door offers immediate privacy. You will be able to do things on time when people know you are trying to focus.
Unless you absolutely have to, try not answering the phone, instant message or text message if you are doing something. If you take a call, you’ll forget where you left off. When your project is complete, take some time to answer any messages you have.
List your daily tasks in order of importance. This will keep you focused each day. Evaluate which tasks are the most important for you to complete that day. List those things on first on your schedule. You can work down the list to the more mundane tasks.
Figure out just how much work you can expect to do on each job. Don’t waste time doing mundane things perfectly. Give enough effort on the task to get to your goal, then move forward to the following task. If you put more time and energy into the tasks that require such an effort, you will be better off in the end.
Keep your work space organized. You can waste significant hours of your life just by looking for things that are hidden from your sight. Keep all the daily items you use organized. It will save time and stress.
Psych yourself up for the job at hand. Thinking through tasks in advance can make them go more efficiently and cause less stress. Constantly remind yourself that you have the ability to focus for a specific length of time, and you will be able to do it.
Prioritizing your tasks by beginning with important ones is crucial. When you spread yourself too thin, you do not deliver the quality your task deserves. You may end up not finishing anything. You will do better if you take your time with each task.
You can bundle tasks for saving transportation costs and time. Don’t just go grocery shopping, instead combine the trip with a stop by the post office or picking up your dry cleaning. Think about where everything is located and plan your route accordingly.
Break your to-do list down; four quadrants is recommended. The vertical columns should be labeled not important and important. They should also be labeled as urgent to not urgent. Restrict your time to less than ten percent on not urgent/not important items. Your time should be spent primarily on the urgent and important quadrants. Make sure to save time for the quadrant most important, just in case these turn into future emergencies that could have been avoided.
What do you really WANT to do? There is some truth to the idea that you will make time for those things you really want to do. Make sure to focus on the things that you desire to complete. Focusing time towards your goals daily will increase your level of happiness.
Make sure you have some “wiggle room” when it comes to finishing large tasks or projects. Large tasks take time and can be subject to variables. Things change and may make the task take longer than you planned. Make sure to prepare in advance in build in a buffer.
Time is too precious a resource to go to waste. This is even more true if you don’t get enough relaxation and rest. Time management is key to a happy life. Use these tips to ensure your life is better than ever.