Do you ever go through an entire workday and by the time the day is over you feel like you haven’t really accomplished anything? Or how about when you have a laundry list of things to do around the house, but by the time you get home from work you’re just too exhausted or unmotivated to do anything. We’ve all been victims of unproductivity, so here are 6 simple time management tips to help you accomplish a bit more throughout the day.
- Spend a couple days tracking what you do
Before diving into the rest of these time management tricks, spend a couple days tracking what you do and how long you do it for. Try to be as specific as possible. This will help you identify your ‘time wasters’ or the things you do that you may not have even realized take up your time.
- Schedule specific time slots for your ‘time wasters’
As an example, after completing tip 1, you might find that you’re spending a lot of time answering text messages during the day. If this is the case, you may decide to leave your phone in the car while you’re at work (provided that your friends and family know how to get a hold of you in case of emergency) and get it during your lunch break to respond to all your messages at once. Or maybe you spend too much time scrolling through social media in the evenings. In this case, you may want to schedule 20 minutes for social media time when you get home.
- Make lists daily
Making lists can have multiple benefits including reducing your stress and helping you stay focused throughout the day, not to mention improving motivation and mood as you check off completed items. At the start of each day, make a list of everything you want to accomplish both at work and at home. List the most important items first.
- Set specific timelines and reminders
Don’t just write out what you want to do, write out when you want to do and set reminders on your phone or watch. This will keep you on track and help you move from task to task, focusing on one thing at a time.
- Schedule time to relax
So often we end up being unproductive because we underestimate how much time we may need to unwind and relax. Schedule time to watch TV, take a bath, or just lie on the couch, whatever it is that helps you relax after a long workday.
- Wake up 10 minutes earlier
You may have heard this one before, but a little bit of extra time can go a long way. Between preparing breakfast, helping the family get out the door, and maybe even squeezing in a morning workout, many of us are used to being stressed out before we even get to work in the morning. Waking up a little earlier can give you extra time to prepare for the day and eliminate a bit of the rush from your morning routine.
We all unintentionally waste time and stall productivity. Try these simple tips to manage your time a little better and accomplish more during your day.
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