Time management - tips and tricks
We all need a little boost from time to time. Try these tips and tricks to give your productivity strategy or method a boost.
N° 9: Limit the length of tasks
Tasks expand to occupy the time allotted to them, according to Parkinson's Law (Parkinson's Law asserts that any task in an administration expands until it fills the whole time allotted to it). If you give a task two hours instead of one, the amount of work necessary to finish it will simply grow to fill the entire two hours.
Return to your time audit and identify any tasks that took longer than planned. Set a time limit for doing these tasks. Setting limitations will assist you in concentrating and working more efficiently. You will also avoid drifting, which is the expansion of a project as a result of tasks that are not well defined or controlled.
If you are still exceeding these time constraints, review your work structure and determine whether you need to devote more time to these tasks in the future. Small time-wasters, such as unplanned breaks, can also be reduced.
N° 10: Add a "completed" list to your "to do" list
Unexpected tasks will always arise during the day, no matter how well you plan. Make a separate list of them next to your to-dos for greater satisfaction at the end of the day.
On Sundays, reflect on your achievements from the previous week and congratulate yourself on your successes. This evaluation period will boost your confidence and assist you in planning for the coming week.
N° 11: Be a day ahead
Many people believe they perform better under deadlines and postpone their job until the day before it is due. However, this is not always the case. Projects frequently take longer than planned, making their completion challenging.
Set a shorter deadline for yourself and stick to it. Make a plan to turn in your work a day before the deadline.
N° 12: Don't reply immediately
Don't react to e-mails or texts as soon as they come. In your downtime, process e-mail in batches and catch up on phone conversations. When working on highly focused activities, close e-mail or messaging programs to avoid distractions.
N° 13: Prior to a meeting, decide what you want to accomplish
Even though they are necessary and vital, some meetings may be a time waste. Everyone has been on a Zoom call that has lasted much too long. Make sure you have a clear purpose in mind before the meeting to guarantee effective and punctual meetings.
Create an agenda and distribute it to meeting attendees ahead of time. You and your team will squander less time and return to work faster.
N° 14: Plan breaks between tasks
The human brain passes through basic rest-activity cycles, or BRAC for short, during activity and rest hours. The brain changes from a state of high alertness to a state of low alertness every 90 minutes. We begin to draw on emergency energy reserves after operating at high intensity for more than 90 minutes.
Scheduling a break every 90 minutes or so might help you stay focused and productive throughout the day.
Next time we will talk about time management tools.
In the meantime, feel free to contact me to discuss how I can help you manage your time better!
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