Here are three time management tips to get you started.
Pause before you start
This seems counter-intuitive since slowing down wastes time instead of creating it — but actually the opposite is true. You will be more productive if you begin your day with 15-30 minutes of planning time. However, if that is not possible, start with a single task. Before you begin, think about what you want to accomplish. The reason this works is it forces you to determine what a successful outcome will be. By focusing on this goal, you will streamline your efforts and minimize wasted time.
When working remove all distractions
Your productivity will increase significantly if you remove all the ways you could be distracted. For most of us, this is usually email, phone calls or Facebook. In the Forbes article “The Top Ten Challenges in Time Management” contributor Pat Brans discusses distractions.
He suggests starting out by setting aside exactly one hour each day to work on only one thing. Once you get into this habit, try increasing the duration of these periods, or try setting aside more than one period per day.
Many time management experts suggest answering phone calls or emails at specified times each day. This is to reduce interruptions and to engage in batch work. Batch work is simply doing similar activities at the same time which is more efficient than ‘bouncing’ back and forth between tasks.
Be prepared for interruptions
If you have a family and a full-time job you know that interruptions are part of the flow of life. You may begin your day with a very specific schedule only to have it altered by events out of your control — like a child being ill and needing to take them to the doctor. One tactic to accommodate interruptions is to schedule additional time for any given task. If you need to make a 15 minute phone call, schedule 20 or 30 minutes. By including extra time you won’t over-schedule your day and you’ll be able to deal with the interruptions that are a normal part of life.
We hope these time management tips are useful! Please feel free to share your favorite time management tip in the comment section below.
