Have you ever gone through half your day before you realize you haven’t done anything productive? There are only 24 hours in a day, but time waits on no man, and time cannot be changed. We can, however, change the way we spend our time to maximize productivity. Good time management focuses on results instead of activities because being busy is not the same as being productive.
Here are some tips on how to properly manage yourself so you can manage your time.
1. How Do You Waste Time?
In order to better manage your time, it is imperative to first know how you spend that time. Tracking daily activities may help to illustrate a distinct picture of how much of your time is really spent on productive activities and how much of your time is spent wastefully. Determine the areas where you spend time wastefully, and use the upcoming tips in this blog to assist in rectifying this issue. These areas include but are not limited to internet surfing, responding to emails, social media browsing, texting or making phone calls. This exercise can also help you determine the time of day when you are most productive and when to work on your projects requiring the most focus.
2. Prioritize
In some cases, it doesn’t matter how determined you are. If you have a large quantity of tasks to accomplish, it is important to know how many of them you need to accomplish as well as how many of them you are actually capable of accomplishing. You can start achieving more when you begin to dedicate time to the right things. Once you are able to distinguish between two or more demands, you can prioritize them accordingly. Evaluate your list and make sure you organized it based on the importance of a task rather than its urgency. Important responsibilities support the achievement of your goals, whereas urgent responsibilities require immediate attention and are associated with the achievement of someone else’s goals.
3. Set SMART Goals
Set goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely. When your long-term goals are clearly set, it’s much easier to determine weekly and daily priorities. Each element of the SMART framework works together to create a goal that is carefully planned, clear and trackable. The SMART method helps push you further, gives you a sense of direction, and helps you organize and reach your goals.
4. Create a List
Timing is everything. Having a limit on how much time you will spend on each task helps to visualize your entire day and edit your list correspondingly. Dedicating time to each task depends on the quality of work required and how effective you are at providing that quality of work in the least amount of time. Limit work in progress by making sure you don’t put too much on your plate. Feeling overwhelmed is the fastest way to decrease not only your quality of work, but the time in which it takes to complete items on the list. Make sure you put limits to the quantities of your work.
5. Learn How To Manage Distractions
Whether it's your favorite TV show, a cute DM on Instagram or a phone call from your best friend, distractions are everywhere! Make sure your electronic devices are regulated for productivity by turning off notifications, limiting accessible windows and programs and setting time limits to apps that are distracting.
6. Use Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Method is an effective technique to use if you struggle to stay focused. It is a technique that helps with productivity by arranging how you work to increase efficiency. The tool builds on 25-minute work sessions, optimizing your time to focus on your studies. Once a 25-minute session has been completed, take a 5-minute break, and once 4 Pomodoro (sessions) have been completed, treat yourself to a longer 15-minute break.
7. Use Time Management Tools
Time management tools are a great way to get organized, especially with your planning. To-do lists and a calendar are basic time management tools that everyone should own. Mobile apps, a physical planner or a software programme are simple tools at your disposal that can also be used. These tools may be used to schedule events, set reminders of these events, track your progress and even make recommendations to assist in accomplishing your goals. Make sure to track how much time you spend on certain tasks, and help yourself to optimize how you spend time with good time tracking reports.
8. Establish Healthy Routines.
If you develop a routine of starting your day with the most important task, it will become something that you get used to doing and your productivity will skyrocket. Have a tidy and clean working environment, that is conducive to learning, studying and working. A clean desk reflects an organized person and can do wonders for your productivity levels. Stay hydrated to stay fresh, focused and energized. Take enough time off to recharge. If you overwork yourself, your productivity levels will suffer as a result.
9. Find Balance
In addition to rewarding yourself, it’s also important to find a balance between coursework and your other obligations, especially if you’re juggling school and work. To help create an effective balance and avoid burning out, be sure to prioritize your time in a way that allows you to focus on school, work, and your personal life when you need to. Creating a predictable schedule can help you get into a routine that works for your lifestyle and allows you to dedicate your full attention to each aspect of your life at a given time.
10. Ask for Help
Take advantage of academic resources that help busy students balance studies, work, and life. Many online schools offer peer-to-peer and faculty support. If you are easily distracted or lack the discipline to implement a strict regimen, ask your classmates, friends or family members to help you. While they won’t be able to study for you, you can ask them to help with other tasks while you continue your education. Having others help with household chores or errands will create pockets of time for you to take more frequent breaks or accomplish more of your goals.
Learning time management and organizational skills is not just helpful for academic life as they can be applied in the workplace and even at home. The next time you find yourself racing against the clock to complete a day’s worth of tasks in a few hours, visit this blog to remind yourself of these top 10 time management tips.
References:
Miller, K. (2021, August 6). 7 Time Management Tips for Online Students. Northeastern University Graduate Programs. Retrieved March 30, 2022, from https://www.northeastern.edu/graduate/blog/time-management-tips-online-students/
Ward, S. (2021, February 5). 11 Time Management Tips That Work. The Balance Small Business. Retrieved March 29, 2022, from https://www.thebalancesmb.com/time-management-tips-2947336
I've always struggled with managing my time effectively, and this blog has shed light on why mastering this skill is so crucial. The benefits mentioned are motivating, and the tips provided are actionable. effective time management training
ReplyDelete