Tips on How to Manage Your Time

Where is My Time Going?

We all have the same amount of time in a day, yet why are some people able to get it all done? Well, they tend to use a calendar or daily planner and block time out to do so. Here are some other tips:

• Know your most productive time of the day. Are you a morning person and love to get items crossed off your list so that you can enjoy the rest of the day and tackle unplanned interruptions? Or do you do better after lunch when you know you have a crunch time before the kids come back home or it’s quitting time at work? For you, it may be easier to get the phone calls and emails out of the way and focus on the real tasks after the mundane is done.
• Write it down. Plan how you will spend your time each day. Looking at your calendar will avoid overscheduling and double booking. Take your action list and write down in your calendar when you will accomplish those tasks.
• Prioritize. Not every item on your list is time sensitive. Look at your list and choose the most important tasks. Do them first! Less important tasks may suck too much time out of your day, and then you will be rushing to get the time sensitive tasks done.
• Practice saying no. If asked to do something that isn’t in line with your goals, it is OK to say no. Don’t let others guilt you into saying yes. Your time is valuable, and having and using a calendar that is planned out will help you know that you may not have time to take on another project.
• Watch out for distractions. When working on your tasks, silence your phone, shut off your computer, and close your door. Make sure you are able to concentrate and get to the task at hand. If you need to change locations to help avoid tempting distractions, do it!

Managing your time will help you not only get more done but also help you feel more in control of you time and how you choose to spend it.