Sometimes it feels like there are simply not enough hours in the day to complete everything that needs to get done. Time management is such an important quality—not only for your professional life but also for your personal life. We’d all love to work smarter and not harder. Unfortunately, it’s easier said than done in our post-pandemic world. It’s easy to get distracted when working from home. Mastering time management skills requires practice, but will ultimately help you be more productive, manage stress, and reach that elusive goal: a work-life balance. If you are ready to change your life by developing this amazing skill, keep reading.
Start waking up early
Waking up early quite literally gives you more hours in the day to get things done
Do your most important tasks during the early hours of the day
You have the most energy in the morning, so it would only make sense to get the most important and difficult tasks done in the morning—putting them off only makes them harder as the day goes on. Completing an important task first thing will set you up for a productive day.
Make a daily to-do list
The best way to start each morning is to make a list of all the things you want to accomplish that day. This way you can visually see everything you have to get done and prioritize appropriately! As you complete each task, check them off your list—you’ll get a little mental reward each time you finish a task.
Use a project management tool
Project management tools can be a great way to get all your tasks for the week in one place. There are tons of project management tools online that will help you organize, prioritize, and visually see all your tasks. Some great ones are Asana, Trello, and Airtable!
Set time limits for each task
By setting a time limit for each task, you are less likely to get distracted because you have a real deadline. If you don’t finish your task by the time limit, take some space from said task and come back to it later so you can have fresh eyes.
Stop trying to multitask
Whoever says they are good at multitasking is either fibbing or an alien. It is scientifically proven that you cannot give 100% of your attention to two things at once. If you want to optimize your time and produce the best work… focus on one thing at a time!
Take frequent breaks
Taking breaks is so important for a productive day of work. Make sure to schedule breaks into your day! They don’t have to be long breaks, but even taking 15 minutes to step away from your work will allow you to come back to work feeling refreshed. If your job involves looking at a computer for most of the day, these breaks are also essential to avoid eyestrain and headaches.
Learn to delegate what you can!
At one point or another, we have all bitten off more than we can chew. In these moments, it’s okay to delegate some of your less important tasks to others who can help you. That’s what teamwork is all about.
Don’t say yes to everything
Rome wasn’t built in a day. Your time is important, and there is no way one person can get a million things done in one day. If your plate is full, don’t be ashamed to say no to certain tasks. Give the tasks you’ve set for yourself the time and respect they deserve.