The 5 Best Ways to Manage Your Time

By Danielle Cobb, Communications Coordinator

Looking at your entire day from a bird’s eye view can be a daunting task. When your to-do list keeps getting longer and the day shorter, staying focused on the job ahead often seems impossible. In reality, you can’t do everything in one day.

Learning what’s important and what can wait until tomorrow is crucial to productivity, and your sanity for that matter. Over time, you pick up different tips and learn what works best for you. Here are some time management hacks I’ve learned along the way.

Get Organized

Organization is key. It’s a motto to live by, if not one of the most important lessons to learn.

Start the day by making a to-do list, then prioritize tasks by what absolutely needs to get done and what can wait until later. To make life a little easier, group similar items together. If you know you have 20 emails to write, knock them out in one sitting and check it off your list.

Tackle Heavy Hitters Early

Instead of putting off big tasks until later in the day, tackle them first thing in the morning. Some call this “eating the frog first.”

We often procrastinate and leave the most important items until last, yet the longer we delay, the harder they become. You’ll have peace of mind knowing the tough stuff is out of the way and the rest of the day will be that much easier.

Take Breaks

Our minds aren’t meant to run continuously at full bore all day long. And if you’re like me, staring at a computer screen all day doesn’t help.

Take a break to recharge and refresh. You’ll come back energized and with a fresh perspective.

Though it might seem like a good idea to power through, your brain may start to retaliate around 2 p.m. Even if you don’t take a traditional lunch break, it’s good to get out and take a walk or workout.

Your mind will thank you.

Minimize Distractions

When you’re constantly checking and answering emails, perusing social media, or checking your phone, it’s incredibly difficult to get anything done; and producing great work is nearly impossible. Try to minimize distractions by setting aside time throughout the day to check these things. Maximize productivity by blocking off time to focus on specific tasks. If you have a project that really needs attention, disconnect yourself entirely (even if it’s just for half an hour) so you can bang it out. You’ll save time and be able to get a lot more done throughout the day.

Get Adequate Sleep

This may sound like a no-brainer, but getting a good night’s sleep is important for productivity during the day. Quality shuteye will help you stay focused and be on top of your game. Lack of sleep doesn’t only affect work life, but your personal life and overall wellbeing.

Managing your day for maximum productivity and efficiency can be tough. The tips above are what I find to be most helpful, but if you have some secrets of your own, please share them in the comments below!

 

Check out some similar blog posts below:

Kicking The Shit Out of Option B

Your Competitive Advantage is Being Human