It is very common to hear the clause “time is money” but how true is this? Arguably, time has become everyone’s most essential commodity in this era, so no one can afford to waste it. Thus, no one has the luxury of time to waste, be it carrying out tasks at the workplace, lifting weights at the gym, or even playing popular online casino games.
Therefore, it becomes essential for people to lay hold on the best ways to maximize the time on their hands. As such, in this lesson, we shall look into how everyone can best master the clock.
Track Your Time
The first step to time management is tracking your time and finding better ways to optimize it. This is handy, especially for those with bad time management skills.
Also, tracking your time helps you identify areas where you spend excess time that can be avoided. For instance, if you get distracted from the tasks by checking your emails for extended periods, you can curb it. Tracking your time helps you stay accountable and remain strict with yourself.
Implement the SMART System
SMART is an abbreviated form of a goal-oriented system that helps people set achievable goals. The system is developed in stages so you can make the most of your time without feeling too encumbered.
The acronym SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Thus, when setting your goals, scrutinize them based on this acronym and see if they fit. By doing this, you help yourself stay focused on what you need to achieve and why you need to achieve it.
Draft Out A To-Do List
One tip to mastering the clock is setting up a to-do list. This list should be a simple outline of the tasks that need to be carried out without giving thought to their order of importance. With this, you can have a good idea of what you need to do without forgetting any along the way.
Prioritize Your Tasks
In every area of life, whether workplace, personal, or even gym, it is essential to set the right priorities. And this is where creating a to-do list comes in handy. This way, you get to look at what you need to do and choose which ones are more important.
However, getting things right with workplace priorities may differ from other aspects of life. This is because they often tend to be more mundane, more time-bound, and less long-term. Therefore, if you have an essential task that needs handling based on a deadline, that counts as a short-term priority.
As you complete these projects, you can tick them off on your to-do list, leaving way for the remaining ones. It helps give the feeling that you are managing your time correctly.
Delegate And Say No
In life, no one is an island, and as such, everyone needs the help of others at some point. Do not be too self-confident to the point where you don’t ask for help when needed. If this is the case, it won’t be long before you start feeling burnt out after ticking off only a few tasks.
Delegating tasks to other people also helps you avoid missing deadlines. Only be careful that you do not ‘over-delegate’ so you don’t have your colleagues feeling like you’re just taking advantage of their availability.
In addition to this, do not be afraid to say no to projects you know you don’t have the time to handle. Be polite about it, but also stand your ground and explain that you’re occupied already.
Take Intermittent Breaks
Contrary to what many think, taking breaks in between tasks aids productivity. The primary purpose of doing this is to re-energize yourself for other jobs that you have to do. However, ensure you do not fall prey to the temptation of resting longer than is needed.
You can employ the Pomodoro technique to help with this issue of taking regular breaks. This technique works in a way that you work for 25 minutes and take a break for 5 minutes. This way, you can complete necessary tasks while also taking Intermittent breaks.
Make Use Of Productivity Tools
Nowadays, several online tools help maximize your productivity and help you track your time; make use of them. All you have to do is look for the one that best suits your needs and implement it in your daily routine. And if online distractions are the problem, you can use internet blocker tools to control your access to social media to focus on work.
Final Comments
In mastering the clock, it is essential to keep your tasks in the most uncomplicated manner possible, regardless of their complexity. This simplicity would help you achieve your primary goal of time management.
