It used to be that time management mostly derived of using calendars, appointment books, and task lists. While this is still important, more emphasis is now on managing ourselves, more than managing our time.
To better manage time try to incorporate these tips for time management, one at a time:
Stay Focused to Get More Done
One of the most important tips for time management is to be absolutely focused on the projects and tasks at hand. Each goal and their value should be written down and then followed one at a time according to their value. Here are are some tips to stay focused and on track for effective time management.
- Be clear about your goals and your value of each goal.
- Work in time blocks of one or two hours. Having a timer can help.
- Focus only on one task at a time.
- Set aside time to refresh and relax.
- Keep a project and task list very visible to look at, whenever a distraction occurs.
Eliminate Distractions
For effective time management, and more productivity, anything that can side track you needs to be eliminated. It can average twenty minutes to get back on task after a distraction. Ensure that the work area is efficient, organized, and free of these distractions.
- Make sure there are no distracting sounds, visuals, or people that can take you off task.
- Make sure the work area is organized, efficient, and comfortable.
For example, if a television or music player is present that causes your mind to drift, get it out of the work area. If the computer being used is low on memory or the desk is a mess, fix this problem.
Set Time To Plan and Organize
Take time, prior to getting to work, to schedule the day's projects and tasks by priority. Also, use this time to organize the work area. To manage time effectively, the work area needs to be efficient.
- Projects are a main goal, like shopping, and tasks are the items that need to be accomplished, like going to Macy's and Safeway.
- Write down a list of projects with the tasks needed to complete these projects.
- Create the tasks in groups that will fit into one to two hour time blocks.
- Take time to organize the work area and to ensure that there are no distractions.
- Write down in a clear sentence the main goal that is to be done today.
- Post the project/task list and the one sentence goal in a visible area.
For more information:
- See Time Management Strategies videos.
- Read Time Management
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