Do you often feel overwhelmed by the amount of work you have to do? Do you find yourself missing deadlines?
Sometimes it feels as if there just aren’t enough hours to get everything done in the typical 9am-5pm workday. From answering calls, and writing proposals, to liaising with clients- you may find yourself struggling to keep on top of everything.
To help you get more out of your day, we’ve compiled a list of our favourite time management tips:
Prioritise
It’s only natural to put off the most difficult and undesirable tasks and instead focus on those which are the easiest to complete.
While this may be the case, prioritising your tasks in order of urgency and importance is vital in effective time management.
One of the best ways to prioritise tasks is by writing a to-do list where tasks are ordered based on their level of urgency.
To ensure you’re sticking with your list, your to-do list should be kept in a place which is easily accessible, such as one your desk or typed up on your computer.
Stop Multitasking
It’s very easy to get caught up in multiple tasks at once. While it may seem like you’re getting more done, multitasking wastes time and reduces productivity levels. Experts estimate that switching between tasks can cause a 40% loss in productivity, where the quality of work is also negatively affected.
To achieve the best results possible, focus your undivided attention on one task at a time.
Find Out Where You’re Wasting Time
Many of us waste time throughout the day, whether it be spending too much time reading emails, scrolling through Facebook, texting or making personal phone calls.
In a survey conducted by salary.com, 89% of respondents admitted to wasting time every day at work:
- 31% waste roughly 30 minutes daily
- 31% waste roughly 1 hour daily
- 16% waste roughly 2 hours daily
- 6% waste roughly 3 hours daily
- 2% waste roughly 4 hours daily
- 2% waste 5 or more hours daily
Becoming aware of how you are wasting your time is an important step to effective time management.
In order to gauge how productive you are during the day, use a spread sheet or a piece of paper to track everything you have done in a single day and how many minutes you spend on each activity.
By doing so, you will be able to see where you’re wasting the most time. When tracking your day, it is important that you do not change your behaviour as it defeats the purpose of the activity.
Remove any Distractions
Now that you’re aware of your biggest time wasters, you will be able to remove these unwanted distractions.
According to Network World , the average person touches their phone 2,617 times per day, during an average of 132 sessions! Putting your phone on silent and out of sight will reduce the temptation to check your social media.
Closing irrelevant browser windows and removing any unimportant emails is also a great way to remove any distractions.
Stay Motivated and Reward Yourself
Staying motivated at work is extremely important in your overall productivity and satisfaction. Whether it be rewarding yourself with a cup of coffee for finishing a proposal, or stepping out of the office for a short walk once you’ve achieved a set of tasks, small rewards can be great motivators for keeping on track with your schedule.
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