With twenty-four hours in a day, why is it that we never seem to get enough done? We start out with good intentions, only to fall into bed exhausted without even half of our to-do list being checked off. Time management is important to reducing stress and increasing your effectiveness.
Make a list:
Before you go to bed make a list of the things you want to accomplish the following day. Look over your list and rewrite it, putting things in order from most important to least important. The following day start with the first task on your list then go to the next. Even if you don’t accomplish everything you wanted to, you’ll know that you got the most pressing things out of the way.
Stick to it:
Don’t start another task until the first one is done. It’s easy to get sidetracked or bored and begin something else before we’re even finished with our original chore. One huge time waster is surfing the Internet and reading emails. Close your browser while working on the computer and resist the temptation to check your inbox until you’ve finished your project. Staying focused on one thing at a time is key to good time management.
Keep moving:
Avoid daydreaming or moving slowly through your task. This is really difficult to do when it’s something that doesn’t capture our enthusiasm, but the sooner you get something done, the more time you’ll have for yourself later on in the day. If you find yourself unable to move ahead due to sheer boredom or feelings of being overwhelmed, take a deep breath through your nose, let it out slowly, and get back to work. A boost of oxygen to the brain often does wonders to clear the mind and gives a jolt of energy you may be lacking at the moment.
Break it down:
If a task seems overwhelming, break it down into small, manageable parts. Complete one small project before moving to another. Don’t think about the whole pie, think of it as being in small pieces. Pretty soon the big chore you never thought you’d finish will be done.
With proper time management you’ll find that you get more done in less time and have more hours left for yourself than you’ve ever thought possible. It takes discipline, but over time you’ll find that managing your daily schedule becomes second nature.
