Managing Your Time – 5 Tips for Working Smarter not Harder
- Sue Whitaker
- Apr 16
- 3 min read
We have all been there I am sure when you feel like there is not enough hours in the day and as soon as you have achieved one item off your to do list, another three may appear. There can be certain times of the week or year where it feels like you have less time to do things.
What I have come to realise a lot of the time is that you can be putting pressure on yourself when no-one else is. There are a lot of apps out there to help you schedule things and organise yourself but here are my 5 top tips, regardless of the tools you use that can help.
Time Blocking – If you have numerous things to achieve, rather than having a long to do list, which you struggle to get down, blocking out time to focus on one task at a time can be a productive way to approach it. You can also block time out for breaks, appointments and other activities so you can look at focusing your time in small blocks rather than a long period of time.
Knowing when your most productive – You may have heard the phrases 'early bird' or a 'night owl' as different individuals have different times of the day when they are more productive. There is no right or wrong but knowing when you are most productive you to decide when to schedule the shorter and less complicated tasks versus the longer and more complex ones.
Thinking and reflecting – When you take in a lot of information, your brain needs to process it subconsciously. This is what I call ‘thinking and reflecting’ time, it is not being productive in a tangible sense, but it can be where your get more creative ideas or thoughts. The key point is this is achieved best when your conscious self is doing something else, like going for a walk, exercise or other non-work activities.
Manage expectations – People will come to you asking for your advice, input or help and will often feel like their request is the one you will do first. Most of us have multiple stakeholders that ask us to do things and therefore it is important to manage their expectations upfront. Do not make the mistake of promising to deliver something sooner than they are expecting, put extra time in for when unforeseen issues or challenges will arise.
Setting boundaries – With technology today, it feels like we are expected to be available 24/7, but we all have our own interests and hobbies outside of work. Establishing boundaries and ensuring that you stick to them, means you are respecting your time and energy. There will be times, where it may be necessary to adapt to deliver something, but do not let it become the norm.
Remember, mastering time management isn't about doing more, it's about doing what matters the most!
Written By Sue Whitaker, Independent People & Performance Consultant
The Modern Mind Group offers outsourced people (HR) and performance services. Taking a modern approach to business is the answer to increased profits, highly engaged teams and record breaking results. The Modern Mind Group use their own Emotioneering® Business Formula as a framework alongside the Emotioneering® Blueprint Scorecard to measure success with each business that they work with. Offering a personal and unique service. Competent, reliable and approachable consultants.
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