Being Highly Productive Requires Solid Time Management Skills
We all know that there are only 24 hours in a day to get things done. Your time management skills can make or break your ability to effectively achieve positive results in a very short window of time. Without adequate time management skills, you may miss important deadlines, deliver poor quality work and that your stress levels are through the roof.
What is Time Management?
Time management is the practice of organizing and planning how to divide your time between specific activities. Many of us struggle to manage our lives in a way that enables us to get through the day without a few hiccups. The key to successfully and consistently completing your tasks and delivering high-quality work is to manage your time efficiently. Time management can help you to secure a healthy and happy work environment and significantly reduce your stress levels.
Time Management Strategies
People who can manage their time efficiently leverage multiple strategies to be successful. It does not just happen at a whim. It is a mindset that they consistently subscribe –no matter how intense the pressures of their work or living environment may be.
Here are a seven time management strategies to help you better organize your day:
#1 Do Not Procrastinate
Our reasons for procrastinating can vary from day to day from project to project including having an intense dislike for the work, a fear of failure, not having adequate guidance from the requestor or the notion that we work best under pressure. Unfortunately, delaying the completion of a specific project or duty can cause significant problems in disrupting our schedule or drain our energy levels.
#2 Set Deadlines
Establishing clear deadlines for each deliverable task will help to keep you accountable. You can make deadlines fun. Try to complete the work ahead of schedule. This action will give you a sense of accomplishment.
#3 Prioritize Your Work
Prioritization is another fantastic way to take control of your time. Prioritizing your work will enable you to focus on what is most important and where to focus your energy. According to Entrepreneur, you can categorize your work into three categories:
Priority A: Critical Things
Critical things are those items you need to complete immediately. Failure to not complete these tasks in a timely fashion may lead to disaster.
Priority B: Business as Usual
Business as usual items includes everything you must do to meet short and long-term business and career goals. Priority B is where you are most likely to spend the bulk of your time.
Priority C: Everything Else
These items are the busy work items. Think of them as nice-to-haves.
#4 Establish Goals
Set clear goals for yourself. How you decide to manage your time should have a relationship with the goals you set. Setting goals also allow you to healthier choices in managing your time and can assist you in any efforts you are making to achieve a work-life balance.
#5 Ditch Distractions
Distractions can be a time killer. There is nothing more maddening than a co-worker who is always calling you or stopping by your cubicle for an early morning or afternoon gossip session and disrupting your day. If someone is prone to interrupting you with gossip, look for a way to pre-empt them by informing them early that you have a project that is coming due or by telling them that you will try to catch up with them later. You can always check in with them first and head them off from any long conversations.
#6 Know When It’s Time to Call It Quits
Sometimes we can circle the drain on a task or project, spending too much time trying to perfect work that is already flawless. Once an assignment is complete, move on to the next deliverable item on your list. CIO states that continuing to work on something that is already complete is a time-waster.
#7 Focus. Do Not Multitask
When it comes to getting the most out of your time, try to stay away from multitasking. Instead, focus on tackling one task at a time.
Not sure where to start? Consider implementing one or two of these strategies for a few weeks. Over time, try a few more. Determine which best practices work best in your work environment and for your lifestyle.