Having difficulties managing your time? Maybe a little reorganization will help you out.
Clear the clutter
If you keep things organized at home as well as office, it will free up a lot of your time. To clear the clutter, begin by throwing away useless things. This includes junk paperwork and mail. Make sure you repeat this process at regular intervals.1
While you’re at it, you can also clear your email inbox and web browser.
If you visit some sites regularly, you can add them to your favorite list. Or you can set your browser’s homepage to a particular website. This will make it easier for you to reopen it.
Cut the interruptions
It’s a good idea to keep all conversations to the point. You can keep a clock with you and try to limit the conversation to a few minutes. Don’t check your emails every few minutes. Instead, keep fixed time intervals when you’ll check them. If you have to meet someone, visit them instead of waiting for them to visit you. This will give you more control and you can decide when to leave.
If you think cutting down the conversation time is difficult, try these phrases:
“I understand your problem” … “I appreciate you took time to speak with me”
“However, I really need to finish something important” … “However, this isn’t the best time right now” … “Can I call you tomorrow and I can discuss things in detail then?”
Prioritizing
Use the simple A, B, C system to prioritize your tasks.
- A is for high priority tasks
- B is for important tasks
- C is for non-essential tasks
You can use a calendar for your appointments. Your emails can also be prioritized by adding flags. Sometimes it’s best to handle one thing at a time instead of multitasking. Also, make sure you split a big project into small chunks and complete one bit before handling the next.3
Keep updating your to-do list so that you know the work that has to be done the next day.
Achieve work-life balance
It’s not very easy but you can achieve a balance with these tips:
- Use lunch breaks for healthy activities like walking instead of work-related things
- Decide your personal priorities and plan ahead
- Take short breaks every day and use that time to relax or to talk to a friend or family
- Plan to have one day each week when you leave the office on time
With these steps, you can manage your time effectively.
Resources
- Gutmann J. The Stress Workbook. Sheldon Press, London 2000
- McMahon G. Time management solutions for management practitioners. Stress News p7-9. International Stress Management Association, London. 2000
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