Time for a change? Follow these tips to manage your days better
07 Sep 2016Few people would argue that having a couple of extra hours in the day would make our lives significantly better. Whether it’s the ability to devote extra time to an important project, have more opportunities to catch up with friends and family or simply relax and decompress after a hard day in the office, the benefits are limitless.
Unfortunately, we’re unable to influence our clocks and calendars; all we can do is adjust and optimise what we do with the time we’re given. For those of us that are constantly facing the pressure of deadlines, time management training can show you how to get more done in less time, leading to a more productive – and happy – existence.
Here are some tips to get you started on better time management.
Plan, plan, plan
People who struggle fitting everything into their day may not actually be the victims of too much work, but rather poor strategy for how they will achieve what they need to. Speaking to Entrepreneur, comedian and podcasting entrepreneur Chris Hardwick offers three tips for staying on top of a hectic schedule – tracking your time, keeping a calendar and prioritising your tasks.
It may seem simple, but the best advice generally is. However, if you have been neglecting to itemise your appointments and deadlines on a calendar you may have missed out on some helpful innovations. The majority of us carry smartphones and tablets with us at all times, and there are thousands of apps available to help with planning out your day and making sure things get done.
Time management training can show you how to get more done in less time.
Stay focused
There are few things that can put a dent in your carefully planned day like unexpected distractions. Research conducted at the University of California found that when work is interrupted, it takes an average of 25 minutes to get back to work. Add that lost time up over a week of distractions, and you could potentially be losing hours of precious time.
When you’re feeling particularly heavy time pressure, placing yourself in a distraction-free environment may be the secret to getting back on track. This could mean different things to each person, anything from escaping the office for a quieter workspace to slipping on a pair of noise-cancelling headphones to tune out any chatter around you.
The key to time management training is finding what works best for you, so don’t be afraid to experiment with a number of techniques. You’ll soon find a satisfactory solution, and be powering through your workday faster than ever before.