What are your best time management techniques?
In most careers, time management is of paramount importance. As your time is a finite resource, scheduling your work in order to stay within budget, within scope and within the deadline can be a gruesome process that often results in sleepless nights and long working hours. How do you do it?
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Feb 19, 2021
Here are the top time management techniques:
Make a to-do list - Making a to-do list is the most powerful way to be more productive and manage time efficiently. Include a variety of tasks you have to work on. Having a list of tasks keeps you reminding you of what you need to do and how much time you should spend on each task.
Prioritize important tasks - After making a to-do list, it is essential to prioritize tasks in order of their importance. It helps to get all the important jobs done on time.
Take regular breaks - It will help if you take breaks to refresh your mind. In between your working hours, you may have a cup of coffee, read a chapter of your favorite book, etc. Taking breaks improves your time management and gives you peace of mind, making you more productive.
Set goals - Goals are the central part. You can break big goals into smaller ones and set your monthly or daily targets accordingly.
Feb 14, 2021
I'm pretty laid back with my business. It's running on auto-mode now and there's no fires that need to be fought. I need to add some fuel to the fire because there is so much to be done and so little time.
Oct 22, 2020
Always focus on your goals and try to finish your work before the deadline.
1. Make a to-do list
2. Remove all the distractions that waste your time.
3. Prioritized your work
4. Make a routine of your daily work
Dec 5, 2017
The success six. In the evening write out your six must do's for the next day. Then number them one to six in their order of importance. The secret is you can only do item two when you have finished item one and only do item three when you have finished item two and so on.. Hope this helps.
Jun 20, 2017
Always plan your day in advance. Ideally the night before, but if not then first thing in the morning. I always find that having a structured list of tasks I need to complete throughout the day helps me to get off to a good start. I don't always complete everything on my list of course, but having something to aim for certainly helps. With a list I can be proactive rather than simply reactive to how I feel and what pops up throughout the day.
For each task I estimate how much time it should take to complete. As I work through the tasks I keep a note of how much time the task actually took, along with a few brief notes explaining why. For example, did I simply underestimate the task, was I procrastinating, was I reliant on information from a third party that was delayed, etc. The next time I do the same or similar task I can use this information to better manage my time.
I have used a number of different apps to help with this. My favourite being Todoist. But for the past couple of months I have gone back to good old fashioned pen and paper. I now keep my daily task list, notes and daily and weekly reviews all in one place.
May 16, 2017
I'm a computer programmer and I work 8 hours a day on a computer, fixing stuff, coding, searching the web and listening to music. Because I'm a normal human being I get distracted and lose concentration from time to time. The best trick I've started using lately is turning off all notifications. Modern technology has evolved into something that distracts us constantly and distraction kills productivity. By turning off my smartphone, Messenger, Whatsapp notifications I get to stay focused for longer periods of time, which in result allows me to finish any task much faster.
May 2, 2017
Dedication of work is a very important time management technique that can really help to increase their work performance and also save the time.
Mar 16, 2017
While many other experts here come from the perspective on prioritisation. I would like to add on from the perspective of distractions. Distractions in terms of constantly checking your phones, Facebook feeds and YouTube are the upcoming top productivity killer for start-ups and entrepreneurs in this generation. Entrepreneurs struggling in these areas can consider using tools like freedom.to to block off distractions and start working on things that matters for your business!
Feb 23, 2017
I always make sure I limit or eliminate as much distraction as possible when I work – including closing all apps and programs that aren’t part of what I am doing. I review text messages, voice mail, and emails prior to beginning work then change outgoing messages to reflect my availability and the best way to reach me in case of an emergency. Then I put my phone away. Leaving it out can be the biggest distraction; same with leaving apps open on my laptop.
So many people have said how lucky I am to work from home but the distractions are there, too. When I have a big project, I go out to work – the library or a local coffeehouse. I like to listen to music when I work so I wear earphones, which generally prevents conversation with others. I know that sounds harsh but when I have work to do my nose is to the grindstone.
I also like to work in 90-minute cycles. This allows me to work in a silo but not be so far removed from voice mails, texts, or emails that I get walloped at the end of the day.
Oct 9, 2016
I set aside 2-4 hours in the mornings and track my time with an app. I also test new time management techniques from time to time. Here is the latest resource I use for ideas - https://www.adaptrm.com/blog/time-management/
May 23, 2016
Hi Kobus,
Great question! I always have more motivation at the beginning of the week. Therefor, I try to plan my big projects on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. I leave Thursday and Friday if possible for catching up on customer requests, everyday office tasks, and planning for the next week. I run a small publication company, so I have found it helpful to have any writing pieces due on Wednesday or Thursday as well. This is because most of my team has shown better writing skills and productivity at the beginning of the week as well. Hope this helps get you organized!
May 19, 2016
I learned to saved all of my administrative tasks for the end of the day. It is nice to complete these tasks in the morning and get them out of your way, but the morning is usually when people are the most productive. So instead I dive right into any big projects first thing in the morning until 3-4 pm. Then I save the every day tasks like responding to emails for the end of the day when I don't have as much energy.
Feb 22, 2016
Make sure you find time for yourself as a person. Those thing that are not essential, don't bring in money, but keep you sane. I need to find time for workouts or my back hurts... I also need some time for coffee with my best friend or phone my mom regularly, otherwise I spend valuable time feeling guilty for neglecting people for tasks.
Also, the non-essential stuff, if you keep something on the back burner for too long it will burn - find time once a month to complete several non-essential tasks.
Jan 27, 2016
Thats the question? Lol the secret to staying sane? Gosh. I think insanity during growth is normal. When you're working on systems and maintaining some stability is when its easier to work within the parameters of a time management system. Personally I use time-blocking. It gives me time to focus on things guilt-free. I know that the email can wait; that dinner will get made; that everything has a slot. And it is in 1-4 hour slots. So I can relax!! I hate running around like a chicken with its head cut off = 15minute appointments. I wrote an article here on it: http://www.mosaichub.com/resources/resource/the-definitive-time-planning-technique
And then, sigh, hug your loved ones and be thankful for all your have. it makes it all worth while. :)
Jan 15, 2016
I'm pretty laid back with my business. It's running on auto-mode now and there's no fires that need to be fought. I need to add some fuel to the fire because there is so much to be done and so little time.
Aug 5, 2014
It totally depend of your daily route some people love to work in night other in a day some divide the work in 3 shift ,check your working habit and according to that make a plan it work or give me complete chart of your daily activity than rest leave on me.
Jun 2, 2014
SIRI. I use it to remind me of things all day long. You can set it with addresses to remind you to do things when you arrive at that location or you can set them for a specific time of day. This saves me all the time and gives me peace when I think of things in the middle of the night and can just ask SIRI to remind me in the morning.
In general use your best judgement to prioritize effectively and delegate when possible. Provide realistic deadlines and be open and honest with people about your status on things.
Take time to re-charge and break away to keep you motivated and engaged in the work.
May 24, 2014
Great question Kobus - while many non or semi-productive approaches exist, I only coach my VIP clients with this one single strategy for 100% results. After 36 years, I now guarantee my results in writing. That's right.
As time itself doesn't need to be managed (7pm comes after 6pm daily, without fail ;-), the question instead is what do we achieve with the time we have, to serve us best. We after all are the CEO of the most important project we will ever work on ... us!
First thing, determine the TRUE deadline (seldom/never the 'walk on water' or the 'I'd like to have it by' deadlines provided by others). Then offer whatever you can provide on the spot (if any) or in a reasonable, negotiated timeframe that meets the TRUE deadline. This way you will never be working late, missing your child's school play to get the work done by 8am next day .... when not really needed until 3 weeks on Tuesday ;-)
Want to find 2+ hours a day that you don't know you have? Ditch all limiting beliefs and negative emotional attachments to them. Presto! What will you do with your newly found 4+ weeks of time?
How soon will you decide to let me know how I can be of further service to you?
Paul
Thanks - this is a little thing that people often forget... A fresh mind (and body) makes you so much more productive, even if the efforts of getting refreshed takes time out of your busy schedule! Thanks for your answer.