How many of you find yourself saying, “I want to do [fill in the blank], but I just don’t have any time”? These days, we’re so distracted and our attention spans so diminished by the onslaught of information we get on the Internet and otherwise, it can feel like an almost impossible task to manage your time. I’d like to propose five simple time management strategies that can help you bring your workload under control.
- Think about how you’d like to structure your week and plan to accomplish one or two major goals each day. Don’t make the goals so unrealistic that they can’t be done. A major goal for any given day might be part of a bigger plan that takes a long time to accomplish.
- Take time at the end of each day to plan what you’re going to do the next day. And when I say plan what you’re going to do, I mean write out what you want to do and for how long every day. Try to stick to that schedule. If it needs to be adjusted, then so be it. At the very least, it will give you a roadmap toward accomplishing your goals.
- Be sure and pencil in time for lunch and breaks. We all need a break now and then from work. A 10-minute nap will actually boost your productivity. Set aside time for yourself during the workweek, so that it’s not all nose to the grindstone. You’re not doing yourself any favors by working nonstop.
- Evaluate what you done each day and think of what worked and what didn’t. Taking time for reflection at the end of the day will help you out in the long run. Apply the Pareto Principle, often referred to as “the 80/20 Rule”, which posits that 20% of your time produces 80% of your business. How can you maximize your time to produce the most results?
- Track your time and see what you’re actually doing and when. Think of this as being like a budget in which you track expenditures. In this case, you’re keeping track of the time you spend.
I’m offering a free time tracking worksheet, which can also be used as a daily planner. It covers a 9-to-5 work week and has room on the left side for a hole punch if you’d like to put it in a binder. It also has room at the end to make notes. I didn’t include weekends, because if you use your time well, your weekends should be your own.
If you’re interested in getting a copy, simply click here and fill out the form to get your free download.
And brace yourself for change. Remember the words of Tony Robbins: “By changing nothing, nothing changes.”