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Effective Time Management Tips

Time can be difficult to manage, since it’s a limited resource and you can’t control it in the same way you manage other aspects of your life. Time is finite in that we’re all given the same number of hours in a day. Because of this, time is one of your most valuable resources. To get the most out of your available time, manage it wisely. Prioritize what you do with your time according to what you deem to be the most important things in your life. 

Double Check Your Goals and Objectives

To ensure that you use your time wisely, create effective goals and objectives. This is especially important when making plans and setting the steps you need to take. Take time to make sure you use SMART goals. Using these more detail-specific goals, helps you to meet and measure your success, while also fine-tuning the plans to be more effective. 

Prioritize Tasks by Overall Impact

The best way to manage and use your time effectively involves identifying the tasks that are most important. Prioritize your task list by what needs to come first in the sequence of events and what makes the most impact on your goals and objectives. Prioritizing your tasks helps you to work more efficiently, which enables you to get more accomplished in the time you have available.

Set Deadlines and Time Estimates

Setting deadlines and meeting them is very important. In order to set realistic deadlines for yourself, you first need to have an idea how long it takes to complete each task. If it’s a new task, do it and then note the amount of time it took. In task lists, include a time range for how long each task and the time needed to complete the whole project. Being conscious of the time needed for the project will help you schedule your work more effectively and meet your deadlines on or before the due date.

Value and Use Time Wisely 

Because time is a limited resource, you want to be mindful of how you use your time and conscious of where your time is spent. It’s ok to take breaks but if you need to meet a deadline, it’s important that you stay on task as much as possible. You can’t expect to take a 2-hour “break” each day and get your work done on time. 

It’s also important for you to respect and value other people’s time. Whether you are in a home-office or you go to a company office, it’s important to be considerate of others’ needs. Just because you have time to talk, doesn’t mean others have that luxury. In addition, if you are a manager or have a similar position, make it a top priority to value other people’s time by being on time for meetings, paying employees on time, fostering a team spirit, and helping out others when you can.

Schedule Everything

To help manage your time, create and use schedules for each area of your life. Be sure to include down-time or off-the-clock time. In each calendar/schedule, fill in the vital things first and work your way to the end of your day. Once you have scheduled the most important parts of your life, you can see how much time you really have left to add more to your plate. Consider using yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily calendar pages in order to get a quick-view reminder of what you need to do next. Remember to set reminders for the most important tasks, like meetings, appointments, and obligations to others.

Delegate to Free Up Time

You don’t have to do everything yourself. You can free up some of your time by delegating responsibilities and tasks. Delegating responsibilities and chores to your spouse or kids can give you enormous amounts of time to do other things. This is a great option for busy parents. Not only do you get more time, but you also teach the kids or others new skills, as help make them more independent and responsible.

You can also pay someone to do things that don’t need your unique personal touch. For example, even non-family members can mop the floor or do other types of cleaning; the teen next-door can cut the grass, the babysitter can wash and dry the dishes or clothes, etc.

When you need to manage your time more effectively, implement these tips into your daily routines each day. Get more done in the allotted time and even find free time to do whatever is important to you.