Work Smarter: 5 Time Management Tips

At the start of the day, the world is your oyster. You know exactly what you want to do and have the skills to do it. However, by the time 5 PM rolls around, you aren’t through your to-do list, and it’s messing with your goals. If this sounds like you, you might have a case of mismanaged time.

It’s the age old saying: Work smarter, not harder. Good time management is all about staying organized, prioritizing and setting clear, obtainable goals. If you are at a loss on managing your time, here a few helpful tips to get you back on track!

Find Out What You Are Doing With Your Time

All your time is going somewhere. But where? Grab a planner and physically record what you are spending your time on. You have to find out where your day is going before you can make a plan.

Block Distractions

Does Bob from accounting come to your office every day? Does that email need to be answered right now? Distractions are the number one cause of mismanaged time. If face-to-face meetings and overflowing inboxes are a part of your workday, try designating hours for open office and then close your door for the rest of the day. As each email comes in, don’t immediately address it. Instead, prioritize it. If it’s anything but urgent, it can be shelved.

Stop the Multitasking

Yes, you can multitask… but can you do it well? A study by the University of Utah says that only 2% of workers can multitask effectively. While it may seem like a good idea to take on everything you can, it’s not. It’s quality versus quantity.

Discover Your Sweet Spot

In the course of every workday, there’s a golden hour of silence. This may be the morning, just before coworkers get in. It could be in the afternoon when everyone goes for lunch. Put this time on your calendar. This is when you need to accomplish the bulk of your workday.

Don’t Overexert Yourself

The human brain needs breaks! In the same way that you wouldn’t just drive your car without an oil change every so often, you shouldn’t overexert yourself either! Leave time in your day for no screens and quiet.