Workdays are crazy busy, and we don’t have to say that, as you already know! You may want to take some time out of your workday to go to the gym or pursue a hobby, but that ends up being just a dream. Does this seem like your usual day?
Yes, we realize that no matter how much you plan your day and keep a schedule, life happens and everything gets out of hand. However, is there nothing you can do to better manage your day?
There is one thing you can focus on to complete every task on time and that little thing is ‘time management’.
We at lensa.com consider time management as the key to using your time efficiently so that you can complete every task in the office well within deadlines.
Our top time management tips for work are:
1. Wake up early
A day consists of 24 hours and unfortunately we cannot get extra hours in a day. How can we get more out of a day? This can be done by waking up earlier. Most leaders tend to be early risers and this fact may have given you an idea why?
Waking up early gives you more time in the day to plan ahead and maybe schedule a little yoga session. Waking up early gives you more time to complete your tasks.
2. Analyze your typical workday
It’s simple that you can’t improve your time management skills if you don’t understand where you’re going wrong. To detect where your time is being wasted, we recommend that you keep track of your workday for a whole week.
This audit allows you to assess:
- Your unproductive activities at work
- Distractions
- Time-consuming tasks
- Tell how much work you can do in a day
Once you find the answers to the above points, you can start making the necessary changes.
3. Set a schedule and follow it
Time management cannot be achieved if there is no proper schedule and plan. Therefore, never skip this step. Always make a plan and always have a to-do list.
Make a to-do list when you leave for the office. This way, you can get straight to work the next day when you arrive at the office. If for any reason you are unable to complete the list, do so first thing in the morning the next morning.
Remember, it’s not enough to just make a list. You should follow it too!
4. Know how to prioritize
Many people lag behind in their work or take longer than others to complete their work because they lack prioritization skills. You need to understand which tasks you need to complete first and which you can save for later.
In the morning you need to do the tasks that are important. Important tasks give you recognition. Completing these will give you peace of mind that you have completed the essentials.
Urgent tasks usually do not require recognition, but must be completed quickly. You should delegate them if you can, or do them differently after you complete the important tasks.
5. Save the most important tasks for the mornings
Usually the mornings are the time when we are full of energy and ready for a challenge. Therefore, this is the time when you need to work on the most challenging, time-consuming and important projects.
Doing the toughest tasks first thing in the morning will give you a fresh mind and undivided attention. This allows you to complete the task faster.
6. Don’t multitask
Contrary to popular belief, multitasking does not help you with time management. However, it can hinder the quality of your work. Multitasking involves switching between tasks. This not only disrupts your focus, but can also lead to extra time switching gears. That’s why we recommend sticking to one task at a time.
7. Set time limits for each task
While following your to-do list, make sure you don’t spend too long working on any one task. This is not a good way to manage time. Before you start a task, you must assign a time limit for completion.
You can follow the two well-known methods for this: the Pomodoro technique or the Timeboxing technique.
The Pomodoro Technique involves assigning a time limit of 25 minutes to complete a task. After 25 minutes you can take a short break. Once you complete 4 tasks, you can take a long break.
If you don’t feel comfortable with this technique, you can try Timeboxing. With Timeboxing you divide your own time for each task.
8. Find your most optimal time
Each of us is different. While some do their best work in the morning, others are most productive late at night. You have to discover for yourself when you work optimally. Once you have figured it out, try to take on important, challenging, and big projects at that time.
9. Take small breaks
This may seem contradictory to what we are trying to achieve here, but believe that taking small breaks is an integral part of time management.
Let’s take two scenarios to understand this:
- 1st scenario: A team member works on a project for 6 hours straight
- 2nd scenario: A team member works on the same project for 6 hours, but takes regular breaks.
Which team member will have higher productivity? Of course, this would be the team member in the second scenario.
Taking short breaks regularly refreshes our minds and rejuvenates us.
10. Get rid of distractions
There are limitless distractions at work from emails, talking colleagues, text messages, web browsing, social media, etc. If you want to manage your time better and be productive, you need to start eliminating these distractions .
Try eliminating one or two major distractions of yours for a week, and then start with the others on the list. With each passing week, you will witness better productivity at work.
Final thoughts
If you are always busy and don’t get time to complete important tasks, you may have poor time management skills. Follow the tips above to get a handle on your time during a working day.