Time Management Tips

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Hi, I'm Ken Lear.

Managing your time at work and in your home life is essential. Managing your time is all about “working smarter, not harder.” Putting in a 10-hour day doesn’t mean you necessarily were productive. Could it have been done in 8 hours? Managing time isn’t about doing as many tasks as possible. It’s about simplifying how you work, doing things faster, and feeling less stressed.

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Keep Track of Your Tasks

Whether this be on your phone, a calendar, or a checklist – make sure these are documented somewhere. If not, there is always the chance you will forget one or two things on your list.

Complete the Most Important Tasks First

When you start working, identify a couple of tasks that have to be done that day. Instead of putting them off till later, work on them now. You never know what troubles may come up.

Learn to Say “No” When Needed

Sometimes we feel obligated to say yes to a task our supervisor gives us, but if you simply just don’t have the time, say “no.” You should be only be taking on new commitments that you know you have time.

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Focus on the Task at Hand

If your email keeps popping up (and it’s not important) – ignore it. Every time you check a new email or go on Facebook, you are losing focus on the task at hand. Put your phone away, log out of Facebook, and turn off your music if that distracts you.

Assign Time Limits on Projects

Instead of working on a project till it’s done (unless of course there is a deadline) give yourself a time limit. There is a good chance that after 2-3 hours of working on the same project, you’ll need a short break to recharge.

Target to be Early

If a task is due at 2:00, try and be done before 1:55. There is a good chance something will come up that will make things take a bit longer. For appointments, strive to be early. For your deadlines, submit them earlier than required.

Set Reminders

If you have a meeting, set a calendar reminder for 15 minuets beforehand. If you have a project due in a couple of weeks, set a reminder for a few days before.

Staying Focused at Work

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If everyone could without getting distracted, jobs would be much easier. It happens to everyone: right before you’re ready to work, a new email comes that needs to be dealt with swiftly. As people continue to find news ways to connect with each other, more distractions at work are created. There’s so many time wasting habits that we don’t even notice. Here are a few tips to stay focused while in the office:

Have a Routine

There’s nothing wrong with a little of the same thing every day. The routine that you put together will give some framing to how a typical workday goes. When the workday isn’t mapped out and planned, it can be difficult to stay on a schedule. Create a routine that allows you to be more efficient and keep your responsible for getting tasks done. Soon enough, the routine will be integrated to make focusing on work a piece of cake. 

Start Early

Everyone loves getting their sleep, but the benefits of coming to the office early greatly outweigh waking up later. When you can start the workday immediately, you get a jump-start on emails, reading news, and that morning cup of joe. The greatest benefit of starting early is the feeling that time is on your side. More than often do we find ourselves in crunch mode to get a report done or make a meeting. Start early to ensure that you have time to get everything done. If waking up is a problem, try and go to bed as early as you can. Being refreshed for the day is just as important.

Practice Relaxation Techniques

There’s a ton of different problems that we all go through everyday. Taking some time, even a few minutes, to relax or meditate on your life can do wonders. Shut things down for a few seconds and reach deep down to bring yourself peace. Relaxation techniques are the perfect remedy for too much stress. When you feel out of focus or not able to get the right amount of work done, relaxing for a short time can go a long way. 

Avoid Procrastination

Waiting for the last minute might have been able to be pulled off back when you were in school, but in the professional world it spells nothing but trouble. A great procrastinator relines too heavily excuses. Don’t allow these things to let you just slip by and barely accomplish things. Clearing out the idea of using excuses will only make you stronger.

Stay Away from the Internet

More business is done online than ever before, but that doesn’t meet you need to check your Twitter feed every 5 minutes. Do your best to stay away from any social media or reading any blog articles that aren’t specific to your current work. With all the possibilities and information the Internet offers, it’s easy to get distracted quickly. If you truly want to stay focused, stay off the Internet and only use it sparingly.

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