Time management is the ability to organize and plan how to allot time between activities. Only 18% of our population have adopted an effective time management system. Meanwhile, the other 82% don’t use time management at all. A great time management system leads to increased productivity and focus. Here are the top time management tips that will help you spend your day effectively:
1. Set your daily goals
First, it’s best to have a task overview of what you need to do for the day. Start by setting attainable goals. It’s recommended to use the “SMART” method whenever planning your day. So, when setting out your daily goals, they need to be:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Attainable
- Relevant
- Timely
2. Priorities vs. Time-wasters
It’s important to segregate tasks based on their importance. As you plan out your workload for the day, pick out what’s urgent. From there, you can set what are:
- High priority: Workload that needs to be done right away.
- Mid priority: Schedule when to do the tasks.
- Low priority: Tasks that can be set aside until later.
At the same time, it’s best to pinpoint what your time-wasters are. By removing excess activities, you can free up more of your time. There are a handful of activities that are considered to be “time-wasters.” For example, scrolling on social media or reading an email. Ask yourself, which tasks are my time bandits?
3. Time yourself
Setting a time limit on yourself helps when completing tasks. By using a timer, it’s easier to be more focused and efficient to make an extra effort. At the same time, this type of top time management tip helps individuals recognize potential problems before they arise. In that way, you can make plans on how to deal with the issues in advance.
4. Take break in-between tasks.
Contrary to popular belief, spending a lot of time on a particular task without any break is not recommended. It only makes it difficult to stay focused and motivated. So allow yourself to take breaks in between your tasks.
For example, we can utilize the Pomodoro Technique to work on the time that we have daily. Using this method, you can break your day into 25 minutes “chunks” separated by a five-minute break. So after four Pomodoros, you can go for a more extended break with 15 to 20 resting time.
5. Organization is the key
For long-term top time management tips, you’ll need to acquire a mini-calendar on your desk. If you have a mini-calendar on your desk, then that’s a great start to being organized. You have to utilize it more by jotting down your schedules.
It’s essential to write down your deadline for each project and list down tasks that are delegated to you. You need to assess and pick which days are the best to dedicate a specific task.
6. Plan your day ahead
As much as possible, it’s convenient to start the day with an idea of what you need to do. At the same time, you also need a clear grasp of what you need to accomplish on that same day. Moving forward, consider making a habit of writing a “to-do” list for your next working day. In that way, you can start as soon as possible the moment you enter your “work mode.”
7. Take advantage of time management apps
There are a lot of applications to help with time management. As the last entry of our top time management tips, we’ll list down the best apps recommendation for 2021. Here are a few time management apps that will help you overcome the challenge of managing your schedule:
- Rescue Time
- Remember The Milk
- Focus Keeper
- Toggl
- Evernote
- Mindnode
- GoodSync
Final Note
Time management is complex nowadays, especially for remote work at home, a place with many distractions. In the end, it all depends on how you value your time. What’s your biggest struggle when it comes to time management?
