What is the one thing that you use everyday that you cannot recover? You guessed it – Time. Knowing this, it is absolutely essential to protect this valuable asset at all costs. There are countless time management books, workshops, seminars, and the like because it is the one asset we all have an equal amount of. I remember a movie that really put time into perspective some years ago called, In Time. In that movie, it was possible to gain or lose more time, especially those with the deepest pockets. In reality, we get what we get and that’s it. Since we only get so much of it and aren’t sure how much until we run out, it would be wise to learn how to manage it. Here are 5 time management tips to help you achieve success in life.
#1: Learn to Say “No”
There is probably nothing more difficult for people than to say no. We all want to support others and be a good friend, neighbor, co-worker, etc.. The thought of disappointing those around us is just too much to endure. The problem is that there are more people in our circles than we have time to give. In the social media world we live in, we are now exposed to more potential interactions than ever before in history. That is a wonderful thing for connecting with others, but it is terrible for preserving and managing our time. If you want to be successful at time management and in life, learn to say no.
“The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.”
Warren Buffett
#2 Keep a To-Do list
One of the easiest ways to manage your time is to keep a to-do list. Anyone who rises in the morning and leaves their home without a written list of action items for the day will lose time. You can probably recall many times thinking to yourself, “Where did the time go?” A solid to-do list will keep you on track in understanding exactly what needs to be done before your co-worker steals your focus and time. My wife, who primarily stays home, has expressed the importance of a to-do list for running our home. The occupation really doesn’t matter, you should keep a to-do list if you want to manage your time and be productive each day.
#3 Use a Calendar
While a to-do list is great, it is also important to use a calendar for managing time effectively. One downside of a to-do list is not being able to get to everything on the list. This can lead to discouragement and give you the impression that you aren’t being productive. It is still possible to use too much time on each task, therefore, wasting time even on a good thing. Keeping a calendar will allow you to schedule your entire day. You can take the items from your to-do list and determine how much time you will need for each. If you schedule 30 minutes for a task, you will be forced to put hyper-focus on it until completion because you must move on to the next. If you see it on your calendar, you are more likely to focus and say no to distractions.
#4 Complete Important Tasks First
This one can be quite difficult but it is essential. Oftentimes, your most important tasks are also those that require the greatest level of energy and focus. You should tackle those important tasks first if you want to be effective at time management. Most people perform best in the morning while their energy tank is still full. If you tackle the bigger tasks early, it will be a good use of this energy and help you progress quickly. One book that I would recommend for a more thorough explanation of this is, “Eat That Frog” by Brian Tracy.
#5 Eliminate All Distractions
This is a big one. You can do the first 4 tips and still waste a ton of time if you don’t eliminate distractions. The biggest distraction for most people is their phone. Imagine that you have said no to your co-worker who asked you to grab coffee at the bistro. You have a solid to-do list that is plugged into your calendar. You are now working on your most important tasks first. Then, the one “person” you couldn’t say no to starts talking – your phone. The constant notifications will never allow you to fully focus on your tasks and will instantly suck all of your time up. You will find that the 30 minutes you scheduled for each task is now lost. It is the same with email, for those in an office environment. You won’t be able to get those minutes back, all because of distraction. If you want to be effective at time management, you must eliminate all distractions and stay focused.
“When you work, work. When you play, play. Don’t mix the two.”
Jim Rohn
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