Time is one thing we never get back. Time is one thing we tend to waste.
Lack of time is something most people struggle with. So how do you manage your time like a pro and get stuff done?
Here are a few of my handy tips:
Organise Yourself
I know it sounds simple, but many people find organising themselves so difficult! It can be a big challenge because organisation habits don’t come naturally.
At first, it may feel like you are spending extra time trying to get and stay organised, but the payoff is worth it.
Here’s a staggering statistic from USA: on average, Americans waste about 2.5 days per year looking for misplaced objects. Don’t be part of that statistic! Find a place for everything and keep everything in its place. This goes for computer files too! Create simple systems at home and work and monitor how much time you save.
Batch Similar Tasks Together
Batch all your similar tasks together. For example, don’t check your email every time someone pings you. If it’s urgent, go right ahead, but otherwise, set a time block every two hours or so to plow through all your emails at once. This keeps you focused, which is a more efficient way to work.
Leave Wiggle Room Between Your Time Blocks
Meet buffer-time. No one should have a fully stacked calendar with no time in between for a break. Block out buffer-time on your calendar in between meetings and tasks. Your future self will thank you when your days are more productive, and the hours are less exhausting.
Stop Waiting
Every once and a while, you’ll inevitably have to wait for something: at the grocery store, in the doctor’s office, in traffic. Instead of actually waiting, or deferring to your phone for entertainment, do something productive with your time. Listen to a podcast you’ve been meaning to try out, read a book on an interesting topic, or write in your journal. Turn waiting time into productive time.
Do Less
This may sound counterproductive but it’s not. Most of us take on way more than we need to, meaning we take on more than is beneficial to our work/life balance. We can often find ourselves offering to help others or wanting to control more projects than just our own. By doing that, you’re not helping yourself or those around you. In the end, you could wind up letting people down because you overpromise and under-deliver.
Make Use of the Pareto Principle
Have you ever heard of the Pareto Principle, otherwise known as the 80-20 rule? This principle says that you can get 80% of the work done in 20% of the time. Similarly, 80% of the results come from 20% of the actions. It can be applied to many things in life, so it’s a great concept to apply to your usage of time. Get in the habit of noticing what tasks get the most results. Spend more time on those actions and cut out some of the responsibilities that take up time but don’t produce the outcomes you are looking for. We want to be productive, not busy!
Reading these tips and putting them into action are two different things! If you struggle to create and stick to a successful schedule for yourself (and your family) I’m here to help and keep you on track. Reply to this blog or call me and let’s get on to it.
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