Have you ever wondered how some people seem to have enough time to do everything that they want to? They can balance their workload, family time and even manage a hint of a social life. Meanwhile, others are always rushing from task to task and never seem to finish anything.
It’s not that the former has less to do. Their success is all down to their ability to manage their time effectively.
No matter how good you think your time management skills are there is always room to improve. Here are just a few of our top tips.
Prioritise
The main reason that most people struggle with prioritisation is that they start too late in the process. You should prioritise your workload before you even begin to write your daily to-do list. Narrow down exactly what tasks you would like to get done in order of importance and forget about irrelevant activities.
Eat the frog first
Once you have finalised your to-do list you should know what your most important task is for the day ahead. You might be tempted to put it off until after lunch or maybe even push it to later in the week, don’t! Always try to eat the frog first and get your hardest job out of the way first thing in the morning.
Get appy
There are many time management apps available for both Android and iOS devices. These apps can help you to boost your productivity and ensure that you get everything done.
For example, if you want to know where all your time is going, you should try the Toggl app which tells you exactly how you are using your time. If your to-do list is in disarray try Trello.
Know your boundaries
Figure out when you would like to focus on work and when you would like to have some downtime with friends and family. Estimate a schedule in your head and then stick to it. If you are communicating with your loved ones at work or answering work emails at family events then you are giving neither your full attention. Set boundaries and stick to them.
Rest
It might sound contradictory but rest is an important time management skill in itself. Working long hours or skipping breaks can sometimes improve productivity in the short-term, but your exhaustion later will ensure that your average productivity actually drops. Always take time to look after yourself.
