Time Management Tips: How Not To Lose Your Day

Keep losing minutes, hours or even days?

Do you need some time management tips?

This post explores what time management is, 6 time management mistakes that people make and some tips to get back on track.

 

What Is Time Management?

 
Time management is the process of organising where you spend your time, what activities that you spend your time on, and how long you spend on each activity.

Good time management is not about the activities, but the results that you achieve from the activities.

Being able to manage your time effectively has significant benefits for both you professionally and personally.

 

Advantages Of Great Time Management Skills

 
Great time management can have fabulous flow-on effects for you – both professionally and personally.

The advantages of having great time management skills include:-

– Increased productivity and improved efficiency
– A fabulous reputation
– Reduction in stress
– Increased chances of meeting your personal and professional goals

 

Poor Time Management

 
What are the consequences of poor time management?

Ineffective time management can lead to a number of different things including:-

– Missing deadlines and targets
– Poor work effort
– Reduction in quality of work if rushed or ran out of time
– Increased stress
– Worst case scenario – damage to reputation

 

Time Management Mistakes + Tips To Avoid Them

 
There are many mistakes that people can make in relation to time management.

The first phase to being effective at time management is understanding where things can go wrong.

Once you understand the issues, you can put things in place to fix.

 

#1 – Not Having A To Do List

 

A to-do list is a list of tasks or activities that you need to complete.

To-do lists are integral to ensuring that you remain on track and you avoid feeling overwhelmed and overloaded.

If you don’t use a to-do list and do not have a photographic memory, then you can appear to be disorganised and unreliable to other people.

By using a to-do list properly, you can:-

– Reduce stress,

– Stay on track, and

– Ensure that you focus your time on activities that provide value to you and your business.

 

#2 – Lack Of Personal Goals

 

Goals make sure that we know where we are going, and gives us the opportunity to reflect on where we have been, and what we have learnt.

Setting yourself goals, whether they are professional or personal allows you to manage your time more effectively.

Using the SMART goal format (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timely), setting goals will allow you to be more focused on time management.

It makes you aware of the tasks that you need to complete and spend time in order to meet your goals.

 

#3 – Lack of Prioritisation

 

Sometimes, focusing on the wrong activities and getting caught up in fluff, can impact your time management skills.

Being unable to distinguish between what is an urgent task and a non-urgent task can impede your ability to manage your time.

Being clear on what is important and urgent to you is utmost – compared to taking on activities that other people feel are urgent and important.

 

#4 – Unable To Manage Distractions

 

It is very easy to get caught up in other “stuff” like constantly checking your inbox every time a new email arrives, people having crises, spending too much time with clients who want to suck your time up but not pay for it.

You need to ensure that you know how to maintain concentration and minimise interruptions or distractions.

 

#5 – Procrastination

 

Is there one or two tasks on your to-do list that you despise doing but you know that you need to do?

You keep putting them off, and then you end up doing them poorly, or not at all because you have run out of time.

You can avoid procrastination by breaking down the task into smaller activities – completing smaller chunks will give you a sense of achievement and may inspire you to complete the rest of the activities.

 

#6 – Diary Management

 

If you are not using a diary or calendar to manage your time, you need to start as soon as possible.

Schedule time for tasks, as well as all of your meetings so that you have reminders to spend time focusing on your to-do list.

Using these time management tips, you can ensure that you take back control of your professional life and personal life.

 

Do you have any time management tips that you swear by?