Time Management is the process of organising and planning how to divide up your time to complete specific tasks or activities. This is working smarter not harder. It applies to both work life and private life.
We can all think of someone who always claims to be busy. The question to ask is are they productive with their time or just busy?
In today’s world there are so many time saving devices to make our lives easier. Do they work for us or against us?
Do you feel like there are not enough hours in the day to get things done? Jealous of how others seem to have their lives organised and on top of things?
Here are 5 hacks to become more productive with your time and help improve your life management skills.
1. Work Dump
That’s right, just list all the tasks and activities that you need to do. Make two lists – one for work and one for private life.
Declutter your mind and include the simple basic things that are part of your routine. Eg sending weekly invoices. Have it all in one list.
2. Select the top 3 priorities for the day
Write down the top 3 tasks for today. This keeps it simple and manageable.
Add other daily tasks for the day. As you cross off things from the list it obviously gives you a sense of achievement. Challenge yourself to tick off more from the daily list.
3. Time block your week
Avoid multitasking which can lead to ineffective work days. Set time aside for certain activities and ensure it is guaranteed within your working week. If you have to be in town for an appointment, block time to run some errands e.g. post office, chemist or bank.
Use your time more efficiently.
Don’t forget you can allocate some time to self-care as well. Quality family time with no devices or a home spa session.
4. Delegate
Prioritise those jobs that you need to do yourself and assess what is costing you time and money. Learn to delegate or outsource these tasks.
Running your own business and finding it hard to be productive in your working day? Hiring a virtual assistant is the answer to your time management organisation.
5. Experiment with different time management techniques
The thing to remember in all this is don’t be discouraged if you have tried the latest time management tips that everyone is raving about as it changed their lives but it does nothing for you other than to stress you out even more.
It has helped others but we are all different so what works for them may not work for you. Why not try a different one. Learning how to manage your own time is one of the most important life skills you can master and when you find the methods or techniques that really work for you it easily becomes a habit. Finding out how to best utilise your valuable time leads to a happier and content life.
Time management is life management and you’re learning the skills to manage your life. Why not try some different time saving methods and see how they work for you. What works for other people may not work for you. You can always try a new one and see how that goes.
“Life is a process of learning.”- Lauryn Hill
