TIME MANAGEMENT TIPS
These basic tips can help you to feel productive and successful.
Know how you spend each hour of your day.
The only way to accurately assess the way you need to spend the time is by beginning with a full evaluation of your daily activities in order to identify timewasters and periods of non-productivity.
Begin each day with a few moments of planning time.
Setting aside a half-hour each morning or the evening before for planning allows you to get organized and track your progress. Disorganization is a huge timewaster. Plan to succeed by evaluating your progress on a day-to-day basis, and by reviewing both your weekly and monthly goals and objectives. Planning time also allows for making any schedule adjustments that are needed to keep you on track.
Don’t try to do everything yourself.
Learn to delegate out smaller responsibilities whenever possible. If you’re a perfectionist, keep in mind that your attachment to doing things yourself in order to make sure they are done correctly will eventually lead to overwhelm and stress.
Do your most important tasks first.
One of the best time management tips to practice is to get the most essential tasks done first. This keeps you on track and eliminates the need to play catch-up later due to procrastination.
Carry a planner (either paper or electronic) with you at all times.
The idea behind keeping your planner with you at all times is that you eventually become accustomed to tracking all events in one place – both business and personal – so double booking doesn’t occur. It also promotes the habit of following a planned schedule of activities rather than “winging” it, which generally leads to wasted time, non-productivity, and lost opportunities.
Learn to say “no” to other people.
Helping out a friend or coworker may not seem like a detrimental gesture. However, keep in mind how precious your hours are – taking on additional activities will impact the hours you have available for your own activities – either work or leisure. Weigh your decisions carefully, and always consult your planner before saying “yes.”
