As you aware that the best way for time management is always not the easiest, however, it sure can make your life easier and more manageable. With your experiences, you know how to manage the time. You will be able to prioritize what is important in your day. Improving time management even at work is also not that hard. You can schedule time for the tasks that need it most and keep your days on track so that nothing slips through the cracks or becomes forgotten. Here are 8 of the most important tips for time management.
#1 Using A Calendar
Using a calendar is one of those tips that is pretty obvious, however yet many people never actually put it into practice due to various reasons. If you have a paper calendar, write out what you need to get done that day. Are there any appointments or meetings? Are there any deadlines to accomplish? Be sure to note down these things as well. Having them written down on your calendar will make sure that they do not slip through the cracks and you will not forget about them later in the day. If you do not have access to a paper calendar, then use an app on your mobile phone or computer, whatever works best for you.
#2 Setting Goals
One of the best ways to manage your time more effectively is to set goals. Not only will you get more done, but you will be able to view your day in a way that makes sense and allows you to meet your objectives or tasks. No goals mean bad time management. The busier you are, the more important it is that you take some time and write down exactly what it is that you want to accomplish over t given period of time. You need something specific and measurable so that if or when you achieve these goals, you can move forward with new initiatives. Further, these goals do not have to be related directly to work or how many hours do you want to work out?
#3 Prioritizing Your Tasks
If you are going to manage your time effectively, you need to understand what is most important in your life as well as in your work. Prioritizing your tasks according to importance, can help you not only focus on where you want to spend your time, but also allows you to identify areas where you are wasting time. In order to prioritize properly, take some time and create a list of things that are truly important both at work and in your personal life. This could include family, friends, hobbies, fun activities etc.
#4 Outlining The Day’s Schedule
Outlining your desired schedule at night ensures that you wake up, rested and can jump right into your day. Also making a plan before bed allows you to get a better idea of what tasks are feasible and realistic during any given time frame. This outline should include both short term goals as well as smaller tasks. Mapping these things out will help you to making sure that nothing is forgotten. You can try out to have 2-3 major goals per day with 3-5 minor ones in between. And if possible, list them out in order of importance, and that way you know exactly what to tackle first.
#5 Delegating Tasks To Others
If you are not much careful, you can lose track of time while working on a task. What seems like a five-minute phone call can quickly turn into an hour-long meeting. One way to combat procrastination is to delegate tasks to others. Do not feel bad about asking someone else to do something for you. It could save them time as well. Allocate a set amount of time during your day for delegating tasks and stick with it. Eventually, you may learn how to manage your own time better because of it. Remember, every minute counts.
#6 Keeping Track Of Completed Tasks
Keeping a record of your completed tasks and work hours, can help you to prioritize your activities. Making a simple checklist and writing down what you have accomplished can help motivate yourself, especially, when you go back at the end of each day or week to review your accomplishment. It will also give you peace of mind knowing exactly how much time has been spent on each project or task. If staying organized is not your thing, use an app to keep track of your done for the day tasks. They even have an alarm to remind you when it is the time to check off your list. Remember always that success is only achieved through hard work, so be sure to keep focused and disciplined about all projects.
#7 Work Smarter
A good way to boost your productivity is to organize your time better. The difference between a successful and an unsuccessful person is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will. If you want to be more productive and accomplish more each day, it is important that you are highly motivated to do so. When you are clear about what you want in life, then it becomes easier to prioritize tasks, work smart and achieve success in all areas of life.
#8 Get An Early Start
The longer you wait to get started, the less productive you will be. An early start gives you a cushion in case something unexpected comes up and reduces your feelings of stress. This is one of the favourite time management tricks. Try getting up 15 minutes early and use that time to read or memorizing your day of work. Getting into a routine can help you to find your focus for when you are in your office, as well as prep you to leave work behind when it is time to go.
Read more here