We’ve all been there. You’re at the grocery store in line at the fast checkout lane and the person in front has well over 15 items. The cashier is ridiculously slow, and the customer just pulled out a War and Peace size book of coupons. You need to be home in 5 min because the kids will be home from school, and they will be hungry, and you live 10 minutes away. Time management is a trait which many do not institute yet should. There is nothing that shows we are a hot mess like the lack of time management. It’s difficult to maintain our composure when rushing around like a chicken with our head chopped off trying to complete our daily responsibilities. So, here are some tips to help manage your time and get the most out of your day.
- Record how you spend your time.
We can’t manage your time if we don’t know how we spend it. Simply write down the time you start an activity, what you are doing, and the time to complete said activity. It is recommended to do this for at least one week. Two weeks would give you a better sense of your time usage.
- Cut Out Time Wasting Activities.
Time wasting activities include social media, watching TV, idly talking on the phone, playing Solitaire or Roblox, etc. The average time spent just on social media is about 109 minutes a day! Facebook alone takes up nearly an hour of that time. I had a coloring app on my phone. It was fun and great for relaxing. But it did not take long before I started spending too much time on it. One day I realized I was on the app for over three hours. When I recognized this, I thought, “What have I accomplish today? NOTHING! I spent all my time on the coloring app!”
If you cut out the time wasters you will be amazed at how much time you have available to do something productive. If you don’t want to cut them out entirely, at least limit your time by setting a timer. If you know you only have 10 minutes, you will not get caught up in idly goofing around and get work done. If you use social media for work, the time limit can help you stay focused and not get caught up in the memes, videos, and posts that don’t serve you.
- Record the Established Appointments First.
If nothing else we know the time of our dentist appointment, our work schedule, even the time for yoga class. These are established and can be jotted down in our planner so that we can plan the rest of the day accordingly.
- Create a Routine.
Now that we know how we spend our time, eliminated the time wasters, and blocked out the time for the established appointments, we can set a routine based around those parameters. You know you wake up at a certain time. Make it a habit to do the same time each morning. For example, I wake up about 5:30 am. The coffee maker timer has my coffee brewed when I get up and already know what I am going to eat. (See meal planning.) At 6:00 am, I spend about 30 minutes meditating. This allows me to get inspired, focused and ready to take on the day. Then, I wash my face and brush my teeth, then journal. I know the time it takes to complete these tasks which gives me the ability to plan other activities. One task leads to the next creating a good habit and easier routine to follow. The more you go through your routine the easier it gets and the less time it takes to complete them.
For the work routine, you can start with checking your email first (scroll through and filter out the spam and emails that are not a priority.) Then, make any phone calls needed for the day, finish any unfinished tasks from yesterday, and go from there. The idea is to create a routine that works best for you. Its also advantageous to be flexible since life happens when we’ve made other plans.
- Prioritize.
One of the biggest setbacks to time management is lack of prioritizing our tasks. When it comes to money, paying the power bill is a higher priority than ordering take out. It’s the same with our to-do list. Helping your child with a school project is a higher priority than watching the webinar you know will be available until the end of the week.
- Give Yourself Extra Time.
One of the biggest things that messes with our schedules is underestimating how much time needed for a task. For example, I often think that going to the store will take about 20 minutes. This is a mistake because it takes 10 minutes just to drive to the store and another to drive back. Not to mention how long it will take to put the groceries away. All in all, the task will take about 45 to 50 minutes. So, to be safe, I now give myself an hour for the task because life happens when you’ve made other plans.
- Find a Planner That Works Best for You.
Everyone is different. What works for one person does not work for another. This concept includes how you organize your time. I know some people who use their phones to schedule appointments and manage their time. I’ve tried doing that and I typically end up getting more stressed out. So, I have a paper organizer. I use the two-page per day calendar from AT-A-GLANCE planners in my organizer. It gives me enough space to writing down my entire day with enough space to adjust things if and when needed. It also allows me to write down my To-Do list, Grocery list, my finances, reminder notes, etc. It’s all in one handheld organizer and I don’t have to worry about where I put anything. Plus, it doubles as my wallet, so I don’t have to waste time digging in my purse trying to find either the wallet or the organizer. With anything efficiency is key.
- Be Flexible.
Winston Churchill said, “To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.” That means if something isn’t working, don’t be afraid to try something different. While there is no such thing as perfection, the goal is to get as close to it as possible. Having said that, understand that change will take some time to grow as a habit. Its not going to come instantly.
James Clear, author of the best-selling book Atomic Habit: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones, says, “Whenever you put in consistent work and learn from your mistakes, incredible progress is the result.” He also says that if you have failed at reaching your goal, its not the goal that’s at fault. It’s the process. The things you do to achieve that goal is what needs to be adjusted, not necessarily the goal itself.
Ultimately, the idea of managing your time is to be as efficient as possible. Its no good wasting time and energy on a system that doesn’t serve. Do not be hard on yourself if what you’re doing isn’t working. A time management system takes practice and constant re-evaluation. These tips are designed to help you find a system that allows you to use your time in the fullest. Instead of counting the minutes, make every minute count.
Resources:
https://www.uswitch.com/mobiles/screentime-report/
AT-A-GLANCE Planners and Organizers:
Atomic Habit: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones:
Cultivating Elegance 