Managing a busy schedule can often feel overwhelming or lead to stress and burnout. So how can you effectively manage your schedule without letting it manage you? Here are a few helpful tips!
Set Time Limits
Every task on your to-do list should take a finite amount of time to accomplish. Being realistic about your time goals is essential to keeping yourself on track and managing what you can actually get done in a day. In order to do this, start setting time limits for each task before moving on to the next one. If you fixate on a single task, you’re less likely to get to other things on your to-do list.
Book Meetings for the Same Time Frames
Being productive requires time to work on your to-do list. However, when you’re constantly switching from meetings to work and back to meetings, you’re likely not making a dent in your progress because there isn’t enough time to focus on one thing. For this reason, try grouping meetings for the same time frame (for example, 9 a.m. to noon) so that other portions of your day can be dedicated to accomplishing tasks. This way, you still squeeze in the necessary meetings, but you can also balance them out with blocks of productivity.
Start With High-Priority Agenda Items
When you start your day with your highest-priority agenda items, you can give yourself enough time to complete them, which is automatically a stress-reliever. Additionally, it will likely give you extra time to work on other tasks. Some days, you may work on a single project, and that’s fine. Just make sure you’re taking breaks as needed and paying attention to your mental health.
Look at Your Day Critically
Once you’ve planned out your day or week, go back to your schedule and review it. Is the agenda realistic, or is it a recipe for stress? Your to-do list shouldn’t be giving you anxiety before the day or week even begins. If your goals are not realistic, it’s time to change things around. If you have to, reschedule lesser-important meetings for the following week, shift agenda items that you have more time to work on, and make sure you’re providing yourself with plenty of work-life balance in the meantime.
With these tips in mind, you should not only be able to manage even the busiest schedules, but you’ll also prevent them from managing you.