Time Management Tips That Really Do Work!

Time seems to be something that we just can’t get enough of these days. Time is at a premium, and 24 hours a day just don’t seem enough to do all that we have to do in a day. Here’s how you can make the most of your time…manage your time wisely, and you’ll find you can be more productive than ever before!

Spend ten minutes at the beginning of each day to plan your day. Jot down your schedule for the day, on paper, your mobile or an online work planner; whatever works for you. Your time plan should list down all your pending work for the day, and help you prioritise tasks. Keep track of what all work needs to be finished in the first half of the day; if possible write down the approximate time blocks for completion of each task. Any activity or even a conversation that’s important to your success should have a time assigned to it.

If your work involves a lot of computer time, block out Facebook, Twitter and other forms of online social activities during your work day. Updating your status or taking a peek at your friend’s wall can be a temptation that’s well left alone if you want to get work accomplished. One message can lead to the next one, and before you know it you will be losing large chunks of your productive time!

Email pop-ups that show you when you have new mail can keep you from having to periodically log in to your inbox. You could also consider having set times for checking your inbox- once in the morning and once in the afternoon, for instance. This, of course, will not work for everyone, so use your discretion. Also, every email does not need to be replied at once. Set a time for responding to unimportant mails.

Phone calls, too, are a constant source of distraction. Practice not responding to the phone just because it’s ringing. Discourage instant messaging and set your status to ‘busy’ or ‘do not disturb’ when you absolutely have to get work done.

Do remember that it’s often just not possible to get everything done in one day, so never take on more than you can manage to accomplish with sincerity and dedication. If your to-do list has too many tasks on it, push some to the next day, and let others know that you have prioritised those tasks for later.

Last but not least…while you’re at it, do remember to set aside some time for activities planned with family and friends, too. Work is important, but your work-life balance is even more so! Life is short…so do take some time out to stop and smell the flowers!

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