Are you usually punctual or late? Do you finish things within the time you stipulate? Do you hand in your reports/work on time? Are you able to accomplish what you want to do before deadlines? Are you a good time manager?
If your answer is “no” to any of the questions above, that means you’re not managing your time as well as you want. Here are 20 tips on how to be a better time manager:
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Last Updated on May 24, 2019
If you’ve ever wondered how to be productive at home or how you could possibly have a more productive day, look no further.
Below you’ll find six easy tips that will help you make the most out of your time:
One of the best ways to start your day is to get up early and eat a healthy breakfast.
CEOs and other successful people have similar morning routines, which include exercising and quickly scanning their inboxes to find the most urgent tasks.[1]
You can also try writing first thing in the morning to warm up your brain[2] (750 words will help with that). But no matter what you choose to do, remember to create good morning habits so that you can have a more productive day.
If you aren’t sure how to make morning routine work for you, this guide will help you:
The Ultimate Morning Routine to Make You Happy And Productive All Day
Sometimes we can’t have a productive day because we just don’t know where to start. When that’s the case, the most simple solution is to list everything you need to get accomplished, then prioritize these tasks based on importance and urgency.
Week Plan is a simple web app that will help you prioritize your week using the Covey time management grid. Here’s an example of it:[3]
If you get the most pressing and important items done first, you will be able to be more productive while keeping stress levels down.
Lifehack’s CEO, Leon, also has great advice on how to prioritize. Take a look at this article to learn more about it:
How to Prioritize Right in 10 Minutes and Work 10X Faster
One of the biggest killers of productivity is distractions. Whether it be noise or thoughts or games, distractions are a barrier to any productive day. That’s why it’s important to know where and when you work best.
Need a little background noise to keep you on track? Try working in a coffee shop.
Can’t stand to hear even the ticking of a clock while writing? Go to a library and put in your headphones.
Don’t be afraid to utilize technology to make the best of your time. Sites like [email protected] and Simply Noise can help keep you focused and productive all day long.
And here’s some great apps to help you focus: 10 Online Apps for Better Focus
Focusing, however, can drain a lot of energy and too much of it at once can quickly turn your productive day unproductive.
To reduce mental fatigue while staying on task, try using the Pomodoro Technique. It requires working on a task for 25 minutes, then taking a short break before another 25 minute session.
After four “pomodoro sessions,” be sure to take a longer break to rest and reflect.
I like to work in 25 and 5 minute increments, but you should find out what works best for you.
A learning strategies consultant once told me that there is no such thing as free time, only unstructured time.
How do you know when exactly you have free time?
By using the RescueTime app, you can see when you have free time, when you are productive, and when you actually waste time.
With this data, you can better plan out your day and keep yourself on track.
Moreover, you can increase the quality of low-intensity time. For example, reading the news while exercising or listening to meeting notes while cooking. Many of the mundane tasks we routinely accomplish can be paired with other tasks that lead to an overall more productive day.
A bonus tip, even your real free time can be used productively, find out how:
20 Productive Ways to Use Your Free Time
No matter how you execute a productive day, make sure to take time and celebrate what you’ve accomplished. It’s important to reward yourself so that you can continue doing great work. Plus, a reward system is an incredible motivator.
Additionally, you should reflect on your day in order to find out what worked and what didn’t. Reflection not only increases future productivity, but also gives your brain time to decompress and de-stress.
Try these 10 questions for daily self reflection.
Featured photo credit: Unsplash via unsplash.com
| [1] | ^ | Inc.: 12 Things Successful People Do Before Breakfast |
| [2] | ^ | Daily Blog Tips: Writing First Thing in the Morning) |
| [3] | ^ | Real Time Board: Prioritize, plan, communicate and complete tasks with a RealtimeBoard Priority Matrix |
