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One cannot stress more upon time management for your complete life management. You manage time, so you manage your life. Stress comes in many cases as a result of bad time management. Not necessarily you can do everything if you manage it well, but you can certainly make the most out of your life.
You will meet success more often in your life than failure. You will be a better employee, a loving and responsible family person and will be considered among effective people in your circle. Better time management will give it you all and you can cut down on your stress level significantly.
More often people want to do all planned things properly but at the end of day fall short of time. May be you had planned more things than you could do, but a close look at the day’s activity may tell a different story. So here is a list of things you try to implement mechanically till they become a habit and second nature to you. It is said if you do a certain thing for 21 days, it becomes a habit. So program yourself for next 21 days with the skills and observe the results in the end.
- Before you even think of skills, see where the hole is and seal it there itself. Point is observe yourself on a typical day ( not a holiday ) and note down on a paper your activity on an hourly basis. Do not be cautious, be honest and do not correct yourself at least on that particular day. In short be typically yourself on a typical day. By typical we mean, a normal working day for professionals, a normal day for housewives, a college open day for college goers etc.
- Analyze that note of hourly activity log and you will be surprised to see the amount of time that can be saved. Show that to one of your close person and ask for his opinion. The very next day you will be full of ideas on better managing your time. No matter if you could implement only 10 percent of your ideas. Stick to this plan and see the results after 21 days. Check out the other tips.
- Prioritize your work. Of course easier said than done, but you have to. You may have some long term goals, some short term and a few immediate. You need to set time for each of them.
- You need a proper planning for each your work. It is rightly said that 80% of unfocussed effort generates only 20% results. So give time to planning, even for a minor work. Because sometimes altering sequence of works saves you time. Never mind a bad planning. Good judgment comes from experience and experience comes from bad judgment. So initially just go ahead, you will improve on every outing.
- Make it a habit to do any short term work on an hourly basis and a relatively long term work on daily basis. Keeping track of work at every hour makes you aware of things done and to be done. It will keep you on toes and you will be in total control.
- Keep the “works to do list” written a note in your pocket for initial few days. Do not be embarrassed or ashamed to do it, you will soon do it mentally but till then just keep it doing.
- Focus on one thing at a time. Break things down into small steps. It depends upon personal choice, but still pick the difficult one first. Don’t think much and just get hands dirty. Things will be clear as you go on.
- Do not postpone small things like sending a mail, keeping bills in place at home, paying bills, calling someone over phone etc. These 2 minute works if done then and there when it comes to your mind, will certainly save you time and keep you stress free.
- Learn to delegate some works from your “to do list” if they can be. Some work can be passed on to others.
- Take breaks when it is needed and find some time for exercise. Health problems pose as major stressors in one form or other. Being health conscious saves you time in long term, keeps you happy and stress free.