Co-Founder Taliferro
Introduction
You've probably heard that time management is one of the essential skills to have. And it's true! Without proper time management, you can be overwhelmed with tasks and feel like your life is spinning out of control. But there are many different methods for managing time, you might even feel overwhelmed by all the options. I know because I drift in and out of this position myself. Luckily, though, I'm here to help! I'm going to give you tips on managing your time more effectively so that you can get more done in less time, and have more free time left over for other things.
Become a Multitasking Master
The first thing to understand about multitasking is that it's good a good skill to have. People who are good at multitasking tend to be more productive and successful than their counterparts who can only focus on one task at a time. The key to doing this is practice; you must ensure that your brain has the ability and muscle memory built up before attempting it in real life. Here are some tips for effective multitasking:
- Keep track of your needs and prioritize your tasks by importance/urgency.
- Set yourself up for success by creating work environments conducive to productivity (for example, working from home rather than an office).
- Be aware of the task switching costs: when switching from one activity back to another, there will always be some cost associated with doing so (i.e., losing momentum). You can avoid these costs by breaking down large projects into small, manageable chunks with clearly defined goals before starting them so that once completed; they will result in immediate gratification, which will help motivate you throughout other less enjoyable tasks later on down the road.
Learn How to Say No
Another way to improve time management is learning how to say no. This is one of the hardest lessons I've had to learn. I want to say yes to everyone and everything, but it's impossible. It would help if you remembered to prioritize what you need to do and what you can do without hurting anyone or anything else. It would help if you also handled hearing "no" from others and yourself when someone isn't able or willing to help with something they were asked for earlier in the week (or even months).
The first step in learning not to feel guilty about saying no is understanding that saying no doesn't mean people will stop liking you; it just means that person needs something else from them instead of what you have available at the moment/weekend/year. It may sound like common sense now but trust me when I tell you, many times over my life, my mind raced through all these terrible scenarios about why someone would say no before finally realizing it was meant as a reasonable response rather than a personal rejection.
Stop Being Perfectionistic
Perfectionism is a bad habit. We all know this, but it's hard to break. Perfectionism comes from the idea that everyone will appreciate and admire your work if you do something perfectly. The truth is, nobody does anything perfectly all the time, it's just not possible. You can't be perfect all the time, so why try? Ultimately, it gets in your way of productivity and makes you feel overwhelmed by failure when things don't go according to plan or are "imperfect" in some way.
This doesn't mean giving up on quality standards; instead, focusing on excellence instead of trying to be perfect at everything. By striving for excellence instead of perfectionism, you're more likely to achieve positive results anyway because it frees up your energy so you can use it more effectively elsewhere, such as being productive.
Ditch Distraction
Focus on one thing at a time. Close the door, put your phone on silent, and turn off your email notifications so you can concentrate fully on the task.
Make a list – when starting a new project or tackling an overwhelming task, it's easy to get overwhelmed by all the possibilities and possible solutions that arise from jumping into action without thinking through each step carefully first. Making a list of everything you need to do, and when, will help keep you focus, organize, and be productive without getting overwhelmed or stressed by all that needs to be done. Learn Your Productivity Triggers:
- music?
- list making?
- food?
Just figure out what motivates you, and do more of that thing.
Plan Ahead
Planning can help you get more done by helping you be more efficient, organized, and on top of things. If you know that you have a big project coming up next week, start thinking about it now so that when the time comes, you've already got your plan of attack in place and can start working immediately.
Planning also helps with being productive because it gives us an idea of what needs to get done and how long we have to do it. We know when our meetings are scheduled so we can plan accordingly and ensure time is built into our schedule for breaks or other things that need to happen during those times.
Take Breaks
Did you know that taking breaks can boost productivity? Sometimes, you need five minutes away from your desk to refresh and refocus.
Don't Overthink, it's easy to overthink situations, especially when they involve coworkers or clients. Do not overthink what could go wrong; focus on the task instead.
Keep a clean workspace, no one likes clutter. Clear off your desk so it feels more inviting and uncluttered. This will give you more space to work with and make everything look neater.
Conclusion
These time management tips can help you achieve more productivity. Remember, the best way to manage your time is by being organized and sticking to a routine that works for you. Don't be afraid of change, sometimes it's necessary.
Tyrone Showers