Managing your time is one of the most important skills for any business manager and it can be a challenge. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to make sure you get things done efficiently and effectively. Here are my top three tips for improving your time management skills:
Plan your day.
One of the most important skills for business managers to develop is time management. Time is one of your most valuable assets, and it's easy to lose track of how much you are spending on different tasks. By planning your day ahead of time, you can make sure that each task gets its due attention, while also keeping an eye on how much time each task takes up.
Planning your day ahead of time isn't as simple as writing down what needs done and when; instead, think about how long each task will take before starting work on it. This way, when things go wrong (and they often do), you'll have some idea about whether or not there's enough time left in the day for everything else that needs doing--and if there isn't enough time left over after fixing whatever went wrong first off then maybe rethink what order those fixes should happen in!
Keep things in perspective.
You should always be able to keep things in perspective. Don't get too caught up in the small details, or you'll never get anything done. Make sure you're prioritizing the right things, and don't let your work stress you out so much that it takes over your life.
Don't look at your smartphone during meetings.
You have a meeting, you're in it and someone has their phone out.
They're looking at their phone and not paying attention to what's going on in the meeting. That's just rude! It's also extremely disrespectful of other people's time and energy, because they could be using that same time for something more productive or enjoyable--like playing with their kids or working on something else that matters to them.
If you want people around you at work or school who are engaged and energized by what they do every day, don't allow this behavior in meetings (or anywhere else). If someone has an urgent message from their wife/husband when there is no pressing reason why they need to check it right now (or ever), politely ask him/her not check his email during our meeting because we all know how easy it is for these things become habitual behaviors without realizing how much damage they can cause over time."
Try to schedule important deadlines a week or more in advance.
-
Don't put off important tasks until the last minute.
-
Don't wait until the last minute to start working on a project.
-
Don't wait until the last minute to start studying for an exam.
-
Don't wait until the last minute to start planning a vacation, or any other activity that requires advance planning (and thus, scheduling).
Take breaks after completing tasks to increase productivity.
When you finish a task, give yourself a pat on the back and then take a break for at least 10 minutes. The break doesn't have to be long, but it's important that you get away from your computer screen and do something else for awhile. You could go outside and walk around if it's nice out (or even if it isn't), read a book or magazine, play video games or watch TV--anything that will let your mind wander away from work is good!
It's also great if you can find ways to make these breaks fun by doing something enjoyable during them; this will help keep them from becoming boring tasks themselves instead of opportunities for rest and relaxation. For example: If I'm taking an online course on Udemy during my lunch break at work every day and want some variety in terms of what I learn about each day (instead of just watching videos all afternoon), I might try searching YouTube for educational videos related to whatever subject matter interests me most--and then watch those instead!
Don't check email while on vacation or attending important events.
You can't control what happens in the world, but you can control how you react to it.
If your inbox is flooded with emails from co-workers and clients, don't check them during important events such as vacation time or family dinners. The same goes for personal time: If you're going out on a date with someone new and want to make a good impression, don't look at work emails while spending time with them!
Don't multitask when it comes to phone calls, texts and emails.
There are a few things you can do to improve your time management skills when it comes to phone calls, texts and emails.
-
Don't answer the phone when you're busy. It's tempting to answer every call that comes in, but if someone is calling while you're working on something important, let them go to voicemail so that they know that now isn't a good time for them or the company. You'll have plenty of time later in the day (or tomorrow) when everyone has had their chance at being heard by you!
-
Don't check email while talking with someone over the phone or face-to-face--and vice versa: don't interrupt conversations by checking messages on your phone! Make sure both parties know where they stand--for example: "I'm sorry but I need some uninterrupted time right now; can we continue this later?" Then stick with it! Don't allow yourself any distractions until everything else has been taken care of first so nothing falls through the cracks due to poor planning/time management skills...
Consider working from home one day per week to decrease distractions and increase productivity.
If your company allows remote work, consider working from home one day per week. This can be an excellent way to increase productivity and avoid distractions. When you work from home, there are fewer people around who might distract you, so it's easy to stay focused on the task at hand. You also don't have to worry about commuting or getting stuck in traffic because everyone else is driving into the office at the same time as well!
Additionally, if there's any way for you (and your family) not to spend so much time away from each other during business hours--and especially if this will help someone get more done--then why not do it? If we're going by numbers alone: some studies suggest that employees who telecommute see a 40% increase in productivity over their counterparts who don't telecommute; others say there's no difference between remote workers' output versus those working in offices full-time; still others claim that teams consisting entirely of remote workers outperform those with mixed office/remote participation rates across all metrics except customer satisfaction (which may be due more closely linked with communication quality than anything else).
Focus on the important things first, then move on to less urgent matters later in the day (or week).
-
Focus on the important things first, then move on to less urgent matters later in the day (or week).
-
Do what is needed first, then do the fun things.
-
It is ok to do the fun things, but you need to do the important things first.
-
Do not forget about your personal interests; however, it is also important that you don't let them take over completely.
Improve your time management skills by following these tips!
-
Take frequent breaks
-
Don't multitask
-
Don't check emails during meetings
Conclusion
We hope these tips will help you to improve your time management skills and increase productivity. If you have any other suggestions for us, please let us know in the comments below!
No comments yet