Perhaps the most important currency of our lifetimes is time. All of us start our lives with a fixed amount of time and need to achieve our hearts’ desires within it. We are given the same 24 hours in the day. And yet some people seem to fare so well compared to others when it comes to managing their tasks. That’s where time management comes in. If you also want to make better use of your days and be more productive then this article is for you. Read on!
The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.
Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace
The Importance of Time Management
But why embark on this journey of managing your time?
Well, for starters, it is a great way to have your wits about yourself. Most of us are juggling multiple roles at a time. You could be a working parent or a homemaker with a side hustle or a student with interests outside your school. The question is how do you compartmentalize each facet of your life so that you can be more effectual in what you do?
Successful time management allows you to wear your multiple hats with ease. You can learn to prioritize your tasks and tackle them in a way that doesn’t devalue any aspect of your life.
What Time Management Isn’t
Let’s flip this and ask ourselves what isn’t time management?
Well, for starters, time management is definitely not multitasking. In fact, multitasking, as we interpret it, is not even plausible according to one HBR article. But possible or not, it does not represent a productive way of managing our time.
Also, time management doesn’t mean working harder or being always busy. It is rather working smarter.
Related Read: Sunday Reset- 9 Practices That Will Actually Make You Productive
Time Management Tips For Intentional Living
So let’s look at 10 time management tips that can immensely help you in your quest for productivity. These are simple practices with a powerful impact on our daily lives.
1. Set SMART Goals
One of the tenets of time management is to work smart. And what better way to achieve that than by setting SMART goals? This means your goals should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
Merely writing to-do lists is not enough to reclaim maximum time. Strive to formulate your objectives in the SMART framework. This will definitely help you to be in better control of your time and be on top of things.
2. Eat The Frog
In the language of business management, this means tackling the worst/most difficult task first.
One of the reasons we often fail to manage our time is procrastination. And when we have a difficult or unpleasant thing to do, we delay it more. Before we know it, we are running behind schedule.
The key to overcoming this is to just get that dreaded task done. That essentially puts you in momentum to get through the rest of your To-Do list easily.
3. Follow A Routine
Routines are the ultimate weapon in your arsenal to tackle time management. Create a routine that caters to your specific needs and stick to it. This will help you to finish tasks within time. You will also have a sense of what needs to be done when beforehand.
After a while, you will find that this has become a habit. Moreover, you can tweak your schedule as and when you need to better serve your purpose.
4. Automate And/Or Delegate
Do not try to do everything by yourself. You will simply set yourself up for burn-out or failure if you do so. Instead, learn how to delegate and automate tasks whenever you can.
Your monthly bill payments, posting on social media, and sending periodic emails are just some of the tasks that you can easily automate using modern technology. Moreover, if you have the budget, you can also automate daily chores with appliances like dishwashers and robotic vacuums.
Additionally, figure out ways where you can delegate some of your workloads. It could be to a trusted team member at work or to your partner and/or children. Know that you do not have to do everything alone. Help is usually available if you just remember to ask for it.
5. Take Breaks
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy or so the famous adage goes. It is true. You cannot pour from an empty cup. Remember to take appropriate breaks and recharge yourself.
Investing some time in your well-being today will save you a lot of time in the future. Time management is not just utilizing your present better. It also involves setting good habits for your future.
6. Set Boundaries
Learn to say no. I cannot stress this one enough.
If you are especially someone who finds themselves involved in obligations that you would rather not have taken upon, this one is for you. Reclaim your time by setting up appropriate boundaries. Do not say yes to all events or requests that come your way. Know that you have to decline sometimes to better manage your time.
7. Work in Chunks
Time blocking is a functional way to make most of your day. Set your timer and get to work. A couple of ways in which you can do this are-
- Use the Pomodoro technique where you work for 25 minutes and then take a 5 minutes break. This is extremely useful while studying.
- Work on a task for 15 minutes and then move on to the next task once the time is up. If the former task is unfinished, come back to it later. This is a great way to do your household chores.
Related Read: 7 Simple Ways To Get Your Focus Back Right Now!
8. Prioritize (Rubber Ball /Glass Ball)
Knowing how to prioritize is an essential skill for proper time management. Each day you have a number of jobs to get done. Now, some of these are absolutely essential. Treat them as glass balls. You drop them, you break them. Then there are other more non-essential tasks that you can let go of if you are pressed for time. These are your rubber balls.
You have to absolutely catch your glass balls. These are your top-priority, no-compromise things that you have to complete. Focus on them. Once they are comfortably out of the way, only then go for the rest of your To-Do list.
This single habit will help you be immensely productive if you have limited time on your hands.
9. Keep Track Of Things
Along with working smartly, you need to keep track of things. Always have an eye on the deadline. Avoid dragging things to the last minute whenever possible.
Some of the simple ways in which you can achieve this are-
- Cross out items on your To-Do list as you complete them (so satisfying!).
- Set up a timer before you get too engrossed.
- Use the Reminder app on your phone to notify you in advance.
10. Focus On Doing
Last but not the least, do not get caught in the quagmire of perfection. Most of the time it is worth more to just get the things done.
So, if you really want to focus on time management then first focus on the doing part. You will find that completion is surprisingly more vital for most cases. Perfection takes a backseat.
Here’s an interesting case study on quantity vs. quality that puts this very idea into perspective.
Peace.
Do you have any related experience or story to tell? Please share in the comments below. I would love to hear from you.
