Time management at its simplest is the way you make use of your time. Your productivity is what you can do in a given frame of time. Your projects will progress more quickly if you can accomplish more each day. If you have many distractions, this will lessen the amount of progress you can make.
Here are some strategies to boost productivity. You can start using most of them now.
- Focus your time on one thing before you start another.
Lots of people like to multi-task, but that is actually not as efficient as finishing one task before starting another. If you try to do more things at once, it can have a negative impact on your cognitive ability. This may make you feel dissatisfied with the progress you make, or you may feel unproductive.
Compartmentalizing your tasks is helpful, too. For example, if part of your job involves writing, you can plan:
- Mondays are for researching.
- Tuesdays through Thursdays are for writing.
- Fridays are for editing.
This will help you remain on one task until it is completed, which is the easiest way for your mind to focus on what needs done first.
- Plan your next workday the day before.
Workdays may often leave you scrambling, since it feels like you’re behind on projects before you start the day. Rather than planning your workday in the morning, spend the last 10 minutes of every day planning for tomorrow.
This plan increases motivation, since you’ll know what’s in front of you before you log in each morning. It will also ensure that your most important tasks for each day get done. Rather than hurrying at the end of the day to finish things up, you can incorporate your most important tasks into your schedule for the next day.
- Limit the distractions that lower productivity.
It’s natural to become distracted once in a while. Co-workers, social media, email and many other things could derail your progress. Some of these can’t be controlled but dedicate your effort to limiting how many things are able to distract you.
Identify distractions and find solutions that will minimize them:
- Should you leave your cell phone in another room?
- Should you turn off email or text notifications?
- Should you disable social media platforms on your work computer?
These will all help you to limit distractions and stay focused on your work.
- Track the time you have and how you use it.
Time management is most effective when it increases the time you have to devote to important tasks. When you do that, you’ll gain the independence and freedom to spend more time doing things you like, without it affecting your tasks that need completed.
Keeping a time log sounds rather boring, and it takes a bit of time itself, but it’s time you’re investing in getting projects done. If you’re trying to optimize time, you need to know where you are spending time, and what tasks are being accomplished.
- Take a bit of time to recharge yourself.
Being productive is certainly the goal, but you do need to take occasional breaks, as well. Making time in the evening and planning for a good sleep overnight will help you to perform the next day.
Breaks between work meetings allow your brain to reset, which will lower your stress level, along with everyone else’s. Taking time now and then to relax will help in keeping you energized and capable of improving your focus when you get back to work.
Conclusion
There isn’t one special strategy for improving your time management, so try out one or a couple at a time and see how they work for you. Prioritize your tasks based on their importance and take time to reassess them.
Use online apps and tools that will boost your productivity. Hone your time management skills to keep moving forward in working easier, faster and better.
Sources
https://www.coursera.org/articles/time-management
https://asana.com/resources/time-management-tips
https://www.upwork.com/resources/time-management-strategies
https://www.rainsalestraining.com/blog/time-management-tips-to-boost-your-productivity