How To Manage Your Time More Effectively!
So much to do with so little time! Donβt we all have the same problem?
For ages, I believed that there purely wasnβt enough hours in a day to get everything I needed done. However, over time, Iβve come to realise that anyone can finish any amount of work in a well managed 24 hour day.
Itβs time for you to take control of your day! Take control of every hour at your disposal and make the most out of every moment! Life is short and time is precious, so why not start now?
So, letβs get started! Here are β15 Ways To Manage Your Time More Effectively!β
WHAT IS TIME MANAGEMENT?
Time management is defined as the way you organise and plan tasks in a specific time frame. Time management is so important when it comes to being productive and motivated because it allows you to get more done in less time!
In this post, Iβll be discussing how to take control of your day by increasing your productivity and managing your time like a pro! This will help get closer to achieving your goals and dreams!
I hope you enjoy it!
SET TIME LIMITS:
Time blocking is a great way to set time limits for your day, allowing you to get more work done in a specific amount of time.
I recommend using a weekly hour slot planner to plan your day with every hour. Want to get a free weekly planner? Sign up to my weekly newsletter below!
For example, one afternoon, you may say that you will finish your school homework from 3:30 until 5:00. After dinner, you will work on a specific assignment from 5:30 until 7:00.
When you allocate time for doing specific tasks, you are more likely to get them done during the day! Donβt forget to use alarms or timers to ensure you donβt go over time!
PLAN YOUR DAY AHEAD OF TIME:
Though I love to-do lists, sometimes they can be overwhelming. By looking at tens of tasks that you have to do, youβre honestly setting yourself up for procrastination!
To ensure that youβre doing the right things, choose 5-8 tasks to complete per day. Whether they are big or small, long or short, make sure at least half of these aid your long term goal!
I recommend writing a specific to-do list for your day just before you go to bed, so you can see it as soon as you wake up.
SET GOALS AND REWARDS:
Setting goals is a great way to boost your productivity and work toward achieving your dreams! They are extremely important to planning your day and allow you to keep on schedule.
Since achieving your goals can be hard work, however, it's important to reward yourself along the way to continue to spark your motivation!
Your reward could be anything, some examples including a treat, a movie to watch or even a nap.
PRIORITISE!:
Having a to-do list is a great way to manage your daily tasks.
However, it is important to prioritise your list depending on how important and urgent these tasks are.
Prioritising is key.
Important and urgent tasks are tasks that need to be completed right away. Important but not urgent tasks are tasks that need to be completed, yet not in a hurry. Not important, yet urgent tasks can ideally be delegated to someone else (if possible!) And tasks that are not urgent or important can usually be eliminated unless they are leisure activities that you may complete for fun.
Here is an example of an importance chart:
Learning the skill of setting priorities is a great skill to have. It allows you to complete work that boosts you towards your goals, rather than complete the crappy, unimportant tasks.
BLOCK OUT DISTRACTIONS:
Sounds really obvious, I know.
But distractions can be a big problem for a lot of us, and can really waste our time.
So, to avoid wasting time on distractions, take some time to try and get rid of them. Turn off your phone, clean up that mess and mute the TV!
FIND YOUR DISTRACTION TRIGGERS:
Now, blocking out distractions is a great way to boost our productivity. However, sometimes it isnβt as easy as flipping a switch.
Sometimes we have to start from the root of the problem, the distraction trigger.
Identify your distraction trigger and fix the problem. Here are some examples:
Your phone buzzing makes you want to pick it up
Walking past the fridge makes you want to open it
Sitting on the couch makes you want to turn on the Tv
SCHEDULE TASKS:
As previously mentioned, time blocking is a great way to fit your tasks into your day!
You know how at school you always know exactly where youβre meant to be and when youβre meant to be there? This is how your entire day needs to look!
Taking into account school, transport, extracurriculars and daily tasks, find what parts of your day are free to finish off excess work!
If you really wanna get stuff done, creating a schedule is needed! I recommend using an hour slot schedule!
Hereβs a few extra scheduling tips:
Donβt sign up for too much
Focus on one high priority task per day
Leave time to relax and unwind
Divide your day according to task category
BREAK UP BIG TASKS:
Breaking up big tasks into smaller tasks is a great way to achieve more in less time with more motivation.
Letβs say you have to write an essay. Rather than writing βwrite essayβ on your to-do list, split it into smaller tasks that you can achieve in shorter time frames. For example, instead you would write βresearch, introduction, paragraph 1, paragraph 2, paragraph 3, conclusion.β
SET EARLY DEADLINES:
When doing work, one of my favourite tricks is setting an early deadline. This pretty much means I make myself believe that a task is due a week (or a few days) earlier than it really is, allowing me to finish it faster.
This is not only great to make sure you finish your work and assignments on time, but to hand in drafts.
They are a great way to get on the good sides of your teacher by showing your interest and motivation, as well as getting feedback to if thereβs anything you can improve on for a better mark!
TAKE BREAKS:
Ever wondered why lunch breaks exist in school and work?
Because ultimately, if youβre doing something for too long, your brain stops working!
Whether youβre at school or doing assignments at home, taking breaks are necessary to unwind and comprehend the information you just took in.
At home, I would recommend a 5-10 minute break every 20-30 minutes, ideally walking around or going outside.
To avoid burnout and extreme tiredness, as well as refresh your mind and boost productivity, make sure to take breaks!
ANALYSE YOUR PRODUCTIVITY:
In order to be more productive, you need to know WHEN you are most productive.
Answer these questions:
Are you a morning person or a night owl?
Do you have more time in the mornings or afternoons?
Where do you focus best?
What is your preferred noise level?
At what time do you feel most focused?
By having this knowledge will help you schedule your day around your needs for working productively!
For me, Iβm a morning person who doesnβt have much time in the afternoons. I work best in complete silence on my desk so I like to do my work from 5am-8am every morning. Your turn!
NEVER MULTITASK!:
Growing up we were taught that multitasking was a great skill for getting more work done.
That couldnβt be more false. But so many studies show that multitasking is just a myth.
When you multitask, you switch between tasks. Every time you do so, you have to refocus, ultimately losing time.
For example, have you ever tried to write a paper in front of the TV? It takes double the time it would take if you had just written the paper!
So stop multitasking. Focus on one task and get it done!
LEARN TO SAY NO:
You have too much to do in so little time.
But on the weekend youβve been invited to a party, your friend has asked for help with their assignment and your mum wants you to go shopping together.
Sometimes we just have to say no.
This is nothing against helping others, but if you have priorities, you have to say no sometimes. If helping someone with something will cause stress for you, donβt do it.
I know itβs really awkward to say no to someone you know, but when it comes to time, you need all you can get!
USE THE 2-MINUTE RULE:
To prevent yourself from procrastinating over the little things, try this 2 Minute Rule!
The rule states βIf a task takes less than 2 minutes to complete, do it right nowβ Itβs as easy as that!
If you get an important email, read it now. If you have some house chores to do, do them now. If you need to remember to hand in some work, do it now!
SLEEP!:
I think weβve all made the mistake of using our nights to add extra hours to our day. And I kinda get it. Sure, you get a few extra hours of work in, but you ruin your sleep pattern and lose all of your concentration.
Not getting enough sleep will DESTROY your productivity! Believe me!
You can get so much more done in 1 hour after being well-rested, then if youβre sleep-deprived.
Not only can regularly getting less than 6 hours hours a night harm your productivity, but it also has an extremely negative effect on your health and wellbeing!
The Bottom Line:
Everyone has the same 24 hour day. No matter who you are in the world, no matter your fame, money or status, the basic principle of time remains the same. What differentiates those who are successful compared to those who are ordinary, however, is their approach.
By managing your time using the tips above, you will slowly make it towards your goal. Practise is key!
I hope this post was helpful! If you enjoyed it, donβt forget to like, comment and share, as well as follow me on instagram @miasteendream !
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO UTILISE YOUR 24 HOUR DAY! I WANNA KNOW!
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Hi, Iβm Mia!
Teen dream celebrates, supports and connects young women of all shapes, sizes, ages, races and beliefs. Our website is dedicated to helping young women find balance in life, become organised, stayβ¦
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