3 tips to maximize your time management

© Can Stock Photo Inc. / mybaitshop

Time management is one of those things most of us struggle with, while others seem to master it. The secret to highly productive people is that they set priorities and work to complete them.

They don’t let distractions get in their way.

Here are 3 tips to help you manage your time more wisely so you can get things done and have plenty of time left over in the day to actually enjoy your life.

1.  Track Where Your Time Is Going

If you frequently find yourself wishing that you had more time in the day to get everything done for your business then there could be two reasons for this.

• Firstly, you might just need to start outsourcing!
• Secondly, you could be wasting precious time on “busy work” that isn’t getting you anywhere. In fact, it’s probably a little bit of both.

In either case, tracking exactly how you spend your time will put you in the best position to eliminate useless tasks, and outsource those that you do not personally need to spend time on yourself. If you work at your computer all day then tracking the things you do every time is easy. Just install some free software like RescueTime (https://www.rescuetime.com) and let it run in the background.

If you work away from the computer for part or all of the day, carry a Daytimer or other paper scheduling tool and record the time you started the task, a brief description of the task, and the time you finished it.

 2.  Do Not Try to Multitask

When you are working on your priority tasks, don’t try to work on them all at once. Studies have shown that multitasking can actually waste more of our time, depending on what we’re trying to do. Start with your top priority item of the day and focus on that, and only that, until it’s finished. When it is, move onto the next task.

If you find yourself getting bored you can switch between tasks, but give each one a solid block of time before you do. A timer can work really well to keep you focused.

 3. Check Email & Social Media at Set Times

Set times to check email and social media, and get out of the habit of constantly having notifications pop up on your screen or smartphone throughout the day. Decide what time you will check those and stick to it. Set a time limit. Use a timer to remind you when time is up so you don’t get lost on Facebook looking at cute baby pictures.

Remember, you don’t need to answer the phone just because it’s ringing, you don’t need to answer an email just because it popped up, and you don’t need to chat on instant messenger. You can, but only at a set time of the day.

Improve your productivity and manage your time

Being productive is more about managing yourself than it is about managing time. Time can’t actually be managed, it can only be utilized to your advantage or it can be wasted. Learn to use your time wisely. By setting priorities and doing the work, you will find that you start to get more done in less time. Now go and start prioritizing your tasks and writing your to do list!

Image courtesy of Can Stock Photo Inc.