Many of us believe there are never enough hours in the day. Yet, some people are able to achieve a significant amount of work in the same amount of time. What is the secret? Great time management practices. Time is too precious to be squandered. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of every day.
To-Do List
Make a list every evening for the next day. Starting your day out knowing exactly what tasks need to be conquered will help you have confidence and a clear focus when you come to work. Keep a list of tasks and a list of steps to achieve your bigger goals. Clear and concise daily goals will help make the bigger picture goals become more achievable.
Shut Your Email Off
For a good portion of your day, don’t check your email. Turn off your notifications and set a timeframe to check your emails throughout the day. When you get into this habit, you will minimize your distraction from other important tasks and reduce the time it takes to complete them. Make sure to let anyone know that may need to get a hold of you to call.
Eliminate Time-Wasting Bad Habits
One of our biggest time-wasters are bad habits that we fall into every day. It could be at home or work, watching too much TV, surfing the web, diving into your friends’ lives on social media, not having a clear plan for your day, talking to co-workers, etc. Find your bad habits and reduce or eliminate them to free up time to work on and achieve your goals.
Tackle the Most Difficult Item First
When you get to work, check your to-do list and tackle the most difficult or most dreaded item first. By checking that off your list you will have the rest of your day free from anxiety and the confidence that only comes from an accomplishment.
Organize Your Environment
A cluttered work environment can lead to foggy thinking. By decluttering and organizing your space, you are doing the same for your thoughts. You don’t have to do it all at once, but tackle something each day. You will gain momentum, and eventually find yourself with a space built for focused thoughts and work.
With a little bit of preparation and attention to your daily routine and space, you can increase your productivity and reduce your stress.
