Isn’t it ironic in this age of cutting-edge tools people are more pressed to deal with time management than ever before? Technology has provided many benefits that enhance both our personal and work lives, and yet it has also contributed to many of our time management issues. The explosion of instantaneous information and connections has led to an expectation for instantaneous responses. So how do we manage our time in the face of constant distractions?
Below are 3 tips to get you started.
Step 1 – Research & Analysis
Spend 2-3 days honestly logging how you spend your time. Once armed with this journal of activity, you will be able to see if there are any obvious time wasters or issues that need to be addressed.
Step 2 – Prioritize
Evaluate and categorize the areas of your life that are important (work, family, volunteering, hobbies, etc) and in each area label tasks as Urgent, Normal, or Low priority. Your weekly and daily “To Do” lists will be much easier to create with this approach.
Step 3 – Delegate & Outsource
Stop spending time on activities that reduce your productivity. Whether it is weeding through daily emails, scheduling appointments, or waiting for a home repair service, your time is likely much more valuable than the cost of outsourcing non-income generating tasks. Delegating lower priority work projects, hiring a maid service or simply eliminating activities that torpedo time management will give you the time to focus on more important business and personal matters.
Employing these 3 simple and effective tips for time management will help you get back your valuable time.