Mastering time management is one of the most difficult things you can do. It’s easy to start your day with productive intentions, but finish it with an even longer to-do list. One of the best ways to make the most of any opportunity is with smart time management and planning. This week’s blog will hopefully be a useful resource to help establish a rock-solid time management system so that you can boost production and productivity. Remember, there’s only 24 hours in a day so if you maximize those hours, you will see your efforts pay off.
Here are 5 Tips to Better Control Your Time:
1. See How You Are Currently Spending Your Time
This concept allows you to help identify how you are currently spending your time, which quite frankly can be eye-opening a helpful as you plan your week. Set aside one day to write down the tasks that you would like to perform. Highlight 3 things that you accomplished each day, regardless of how big or small.
2. Implement a Strategy
After you evaluate how you are spending your time, create an effective strategy that includes what habits you can change in order to allow yourself to focus on more of your goal or items that you’d like to accomplish. This effective strategy could include short- or long-term goals, and weekly and monthly stepping stones in order to achieve these goals.
3. Prioritize Your Priorities
Create a list- begin with your personal and family obligations. Next, write out everything else that’s on your plate, such as business meetings, errands or appointments. Whatever it is, write them all down. Finally, ABC this list!
4. Time Batch Your Activities
When you have related tasks like answering calls and emails, it’s best to batch them together. Batching similar tasks into one block will help you accomplish more and eliminate stress. When you’re constantly switching between unrelated tasks, it causes your brain too much stress.
5. Plan Ahead
Before you leave for work for the day, take at least 15 minutes to write down your to-do list for the next day. This will allow you to feel more empowered to completely those “daunting” tasks and conquer the day ahead.
Once you are armed with your five key scheduling priorities, you can now start figuring out the best way to manage your time.