To Do List
One good way to improve your productivity is to start with tasks you know you can complete easily. Prepare a to-do list for the beginning of the day that only includes quick tasks that you can get through quickly. Starting your day with a burst of productivity will motive you to take on bigger tasks as you continue working. As you complete and check off each task, you will feel good about your accomplishment, and it will motivate you to move on to the next task.
Organize Your Calendar
Purchase a calendar to organize your tasks. Physical calendars that you can actually write on are preferred by some. Some people find success with electronic calendars that you can install on your phone or computer. Whatever type you prefer, a calendar will help you manage your time more effectively by keeping your tasks straight.
Assign Time to Tasks
Assign a time to any activity or conversation that is important to your goals. Too many things on a to-do list make them hard to complete. You can also use appointment books. Schedule personal appointments and make time blocks for those conversations, actions and thoughts. Schedule their beginnings and endings. Make sure you complete them on schedule. Also, put time limits on the work you are doing. Sometimes just the act of putting a time limit on something will make you much more efficient. Even if it’s something that only take a few minutes, give it a time requirement. Write them down on your to-do list and see how effective it is during the day.
Engage Your Resources
Look into taking a time management class. Maybe you just aren’t sure how to organize your time. Taking a class can help you figure out what is important and what isn’t. You can find these classes at local colleges and even online. Usually they are low cost or even free.
Just No!
No is a powerful word. Many people take on too many things because they feel they can’t say no, and then bring about their own stress. Consider your schedule. See if some tasks can be effectively taken care of by other people. When you can, say yes to help!
Delegate Tasks
If managing time is becoming a problem in your life, start delegating where you can. At home, ask others to pick up the pace or the slack, so you everyone can become more efficient. At work, make sure you’re not constantly picking up the slack for others. Delegate some of your load and manage time better. This will go a long way with managing your time.
Stop the Time Sucks
If you find time management challenging, try eliminating your time wasters! Examine what you go through in the course of a day, such as chatting at the water cooler, lingering at lunch or wandering around the Internet. Realize what is wasting your time and stop doing it, or save it for the end of the day once everything important has been accomplished.
You Need to Focus
To make life more enjoyable, it’s important to not let yourself become distracted when you need to get things done. If you get distracted, you might as well throw your schedule out the window. There are those who will try to hijack your time by adding more tasks to the one you are already doing. Never allow this to happen. Before you take on anything else, finish what what you are doing first. Also, one major distraction you should avoid is your cellular phone. If you are working on some important tasks, put your phone to silent and out of sight, and refrain from checking emails, sending texts or answering calls. Doing this will ensure you get the task done faster and without interruptions.
Keep a Journal
Keep a journal of your days for a week or two. Include everything that you are doing during the day. Once you have compiled a list of all of your activities, you will be able to find where you are wasting time. This way, you can eliminate any unnecessary activities in the day.
Break it Down
If you are in charge of a large task, break it down into manageable smaller tasks. This will enable you to concentrate on a small portion of the task without getting overwhelmed. By using this technique, you can ensure that you stay on schedule to complete the larger task. It just takes a little bit of effort and planning but the payoff is well worth the effort. So start organizing your time today so you can get so much more done tomorrow. Read about more productivity hacks on TechCo
