Do you also feel like time passes by so quickly that 24 hours doesn't seem enough for you to finish everything you need to do in a day?
Perhaps you don't, but a lot of people nowadays are usually rushing their tasks, chasing after deadlines and racing from task after task. But most of the time, people also slows down and concludes that they don't have enough time and as a result their effectiveness are affected and sometimes this makes things stressful for others. But the truth is a lot of their time are also wasted for unnecessary things and activities.
If we think about it, there is something we could do to save more time accomplish more task and reduce the stress we feel, but how? Effective time management. Our time management skills will surely help us to be the master of our own time.
How can we manage our time wisely and effectively? Here are some ways or suggestions that can help. These are the steps I tried, so I can be the master of my own time.
Steps to Managing Time Effectively
Plan. Before, I used to do things spontaneously every day, but it usually results to a lot of important tasks being left undone. The start of my day seemed to be full of endless tasks but at the end of the day, the more important ones are left out. Sometimes just thinking about doing tasks and duties makes me dread the day and as a result I end up procrastinating, specially when I don't really know where to start. So planning is really important. Before I go to sleep at night, I write notes about the next day's activities, a to-do list. Writing a list is really helpful specially if you have a lot of responsibilities. It will help you to stay on your schedule. List the things you need to do from least important to most important or vice versa and after completing each task, cross it out or put a check mark as an indicator that it is already accomplished or completed.
After writing and listing everything, you might think that you can't do or finish everything on your list, so the second suggestion will surely help'
Set your priorities. Previously, I mentioned that you can try listing your target tasks from least important to most important and vice versa. But if you have a lot of things to do, try to put a number on each task on your list according to its importance. Try to follow everything that is on your list, but don't be too strict on yourself, there may be times that you need to make some exceptions depending on the circumstance. Don't hesitate to make adjustments if there is really a need to do it. Also remember that you don't have to rush doing things. Rushing will only lead to ineffectiveness. How about delegating some task to others if it is really urgent? When setting priorities you have to learn to distinguish which task is urgent and which task is important. Not all urgent matters are important.
To be truly effective in managing your time, you have to select the most appropriate and important matters as your priority.
There is no specific rule on how each individual should organize their time. Try to discover which is the best step you should take to make sure you can effectively manage your time. If you have the control over your time, you are more likely to accomplish important things at the end of the day. Though there may be some task left for the next day to do, you will have more satisfaction if you know that you have made efforts to do the important things rather than the unimportant ones.
Save Time. Have you ever experienced waking up early, but instead of doing some task after waking up, you end up staying in bed doing nothing, like some says, you end up 'counting the lizards on the ceiling'? Or did you ever sit on the coffee or breakfast table and just watched the coffee or the food become cold? It usually happens to some people. This may seem normal, but doing this, more time is wasted for nothing.
How can we save our time?
1. Set your daily priorities.
2. Determine your goals.
3. Work first on the tasks that are most important.
4. Instead of writing a message, an email or chatting to a person, make a phone call. It is better to talk directly to the other person than to waste your time typing what you want to say or waiting for a reply.
5. If possible, delegate some tasks or works to others.
6. Do things one at a time. Trying to multitask sometimes only ends up ruining your concentration and as a result you may not finish the important task as soon as possible.
7. Eliminate procrastination.
8. Do not focus on playing mobile games.
9. Set a deadline.
10. Don't try to be a perfectionist. It will only delay you from finishing your tasks.
Awesome suggestions! I must say, setting goals and priorities is really important. I haven't tried writing a list of my task but I think it is worth to try it.