Efficient use of time is crucial in today's world. Having poor time management skills leaves you with much less time to take care of the important things in life. When you spend too much time working, it's hard to get any time for yourself or time to spend with your family.
Working in advance is a great idea for time management. If possible, plan your calendar for the following day the day before. Making a to-do list is a great way to finish out a day of work. In this way, you will be well prepared for the challenges of the day.
Academic Calendar are a great way to manage time. Many carry around a physical paper calendar, since it is easy to write on them. Other people like using a calendar that's electronic because they can be accessed through their phone or computer. Paper or electronic, a calendar is the smart way to manage your time more effectively and keep everything in order.
Distribute time wisely. Think realistically about the length of time needed to accomplish each of your tasks and schedule accordingly. This can help you improve your time management. You can use surprise spare time to get caught up on the things that you may have fallen behind on.
Focus on the small parts of tasks when trying to manage your time. Many people run into a lot of trouble when they start taking on too many projects at once. If you try to multi-task excessively, you will just end up tired and producing poor quality work. Focus on one thing at a time to get the job done right.
If you are having time management issues, review the way you are currently spending your time. Spend it in a wise way. Don't listen to voice mail or return emails unless you've assigned yourself the time to do so. Looking at the computer all day long to read emails will only serve to distract you, and it can keep you from accomplishing more important things.
Just say no. Many people get too stressed because they can't say no to requests. If you find yourself overworked, examine your schedule. Are there tasks that you can assign to other people? Delegating to family and friends can be very helpful.
First thing in the morning, think about what you need to accomplish for the day. Get a pen and a piece of paper and write down what you will do during the day and how much time you plan on doing it for. This will help you plan your day efficiently.
Close your office door to make your work time more efficient. While an open office door is a friendly and inviting sign, it can attract unwanted attention and new assignments that will make it much harder to complete the tasks you're working on. You give yourself privacy if you close the door. This should help with your productivity.
Unless you really have to do so, it's not good to answer the phone, instant messages, or texts while you're busy with other things. You will lose track of where you are and may find it difficult to gain back your focus. Return instant messages, texts, or anything else after you get your task done.
Stay organized and on task at all times. If you get distracted, you might as well throw your schedule out the window. People will sometimes try and throw you off track. Don't let them. Make sure that you complete one task before moving on to the next one.
Wasting time is horrible. It's worse if it leads to a lack of rest. To live a good life, you need to know how to manage your time. Use what you've just learned to get what you want out of life.