Time management is something I believe we all can improve on. It is something that we will never master but can work towards improving on a daily basis.
There never seems to be enough hours in the day to complete everything we need to get done but if we manage our time a little better and truly make the most of every minute, we can at least end the day feeling as if we made the most of it.
Here are 5 tips to focus on:
1.) Establish what exactly it is you want to get done
Before you even being your day, take 5 minutes and write down what it is that you want to accomplish for the day. If you like making check lists then use the Toodledo app as suggested as a Tuesday Tip this past week. It is great for keeping you on track and organizing your tasks in order of importance. You can access the desktop site here: http://www.Toodledo.com/
2.) Work in increments
No one ever said you have to work the entire day in order to get things done. The important thing is that you are productive during those working hours. If you allow yourself to work for 30 minutes straight with no distractions (and when I say NO distractions, I mean NO distractions) and then take a 5 or 10 minute break, I guarantee you will get more done in those 30 minutes of isolation than you would in 2 hours if you allowed yourself to have distractions.
3.) Check your Email/Facebook/Twitter/Phone at specific times during the day
A huge time sucker and one of your worst enemies is checking your email and social media too often. The second we jump on these sites, we lose all sense of time. They literally suck time out of us. It is important to set out specific times during the day to update and check these sites, and set time limits for each. It may not seem like much time when we are just checking them here and there but it really adds up, just keep track for one day and you will see!
4.) Stay organized
Have you ever noticed how those who are the most organized seem to have more time on their hands? Well it pays off to be organized! When you are organized you spend less time searching for things and more time doing. So if you aren’t organized, take some time to get there. It will pay off in the end!
5.) Make the most of your time
If you find yourself waiting for something or someone else, don’t just sit there and wait, use that time to do something. Whether you are sitting in your car waiting to pick up your kids from school or sitting in your office, make the most of that down time. Make a phone call you have been meaning to make or go online and purchase that Christmas gift you need to buy. Whatever it is, don’t just sit there! DO SOMETHING!
I hope these 5 tips will help you as you strive to improve your own time management. As with all of us, it is a work in progress!
Make the most of your time and always BU.
