10 Important Techniques to Manage Your Time
In everything you do, especially when it comes to your job search, your productivity is of paramount importance. To effectively increase your productivity; however, you need to assess your time management. Are you using your time effectively? Can you do things differently to accomplish more?
You aren’t born with good time management skills, you learn them. The more you practice them, the better you become.
Here are 10 techniques you can use to increase your time management.
1. Review your schedule
How can you know where you’re headed if you don’t know where you are? Auditing your time will let you know what you need to address. Some people have a difficult time saying goodbye to coworkers while others just can’t put the phone down. An audit will show what you waste time on.
Pro Tip: You can either use a notebook or download an app for your phone.
2. Set Goals
Having a destination in mind is part of the journey. Your goals may be large like “get a job” or they may be small like “Eat lunch.” You will want to set both types. Make sure your goals are achievable and realistic so you don’t end up lost in frustration. The best way is to think of your large goals and then step back to imagine what steps it will take to achieve those larger goals.
Pro Tip: Set your daily goals in the morning so you can reassess every day.
3. Create a plan
Once you understand where your time is spent and have a set of goals to achieve, you can establish a plan that will help you get there. A plan is a set of tactics and strategies that will help you reach your goals. Much like your large and small goals, you will have long term processes that will span for days and take effort and smaller steps like those found within this article. You will need to be mindful of when you make your decisions.
4. Prioritize effectively
Some decisions and actions will take you closer to your goals while others will lead you further away. You want to accomplish those things that will lead towards your goals first so you can feel a sense of accomplishment. Then, you’ll know that you’ve made some progress before looking at things that aren’t as important to your overall goals.
5. Set time limits
When you prioritize your efforts, you can set time limits on them so you know you’re achieving your goals under certain conditions. Set your limits after you’ve tracked your actions for awhile so you know what the optimum time should be. You don’t want to cut yourself short on time and cause stress for failing to reach your goals.
6. Learn to say no
Sometimes, we find ourselves overwhelmed by the tasks we perform. Perhaps it’s our spouse asking for help with the dishes, sometimes it’s a co-worker looking for dating advice. What matters is that sometimes, you can say no.
Pro Tip: People will understand why you sometimes can’t help if you give a fair reason.
7. Learn to delegate
Sometimes you don’t have to do it all. You have a support network around you. All you have to do is ask. Of course, they may be in the same situation as you, trying to achieve their own goals. Over time you can come to a compromise and get help with your to do list while you help with theirs.
Pro Tip: Ask your family to help clean up so you can focus on your job search.
8. Eliminate distractions
After your audit, you will have a pretty good idea of how you waste time. It could be your phone, Netflix, Minecraft, or the lady in accounting you speak to at the water cooler. When you are mindful of your distractions, actively set them aside.
Pro Tip: Set your phone aside unless you’re using your phone specifically as a tool to increase productivity.
9. Use a scheduler
Scheduling your day is a great way to establish your efficiency. There are a number of apps you can use to set up your day. You can work in some time for breaks, but don’t let yourself get too distracted from your primary goals.
10. Take care of yourself
Being healthy is one of the most important elements to achieve your goals. Things you can do to work more efficiently include:
· Get enough sleep
· Eat properly
· Stay hydrated
· Practice good hygiene
You can master time
By effectively using these tips, you can take control of your time. The positive nature of feedback will help you achieve even more. Remember to review your plan periodically to ensure your goals are in line with your true needs and assess whether your strategies are working. The end result will be a strong balance between your personal life and your professional one.
What’s your favourite step? What do you think you need help with?