{"id":6194,"date":"2011-05-09T21:30:06","date_gmt":"2011-05-10T05:30:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/?p=6194"},"modified":"2013-09-10T11:27:23","modified_gmt":"2013-09-10T19:27:23","slug":"time-management-basics-get-on-top-of-life-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/time-management-basics-get-on-top-of-life-today\/","title":{"rendered":"Time Management Basics: Get On Top of Life Today"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Do you wish you had an extra hour in the day?<\/p>\n

Perhaps you struggle to get everything done \u2013 or you find that you only manage to get projects completed in a huge rush before a deadline.<\/p>\n

Maybe someone\u2019s told you that you have \u201cpoor time management skills\u201d. Maybe you believe that\u2019s simply who you are. You envy people who seem to be on top of everything \u2013 but you don\u2019t think you could do the same.<\/p>\n

The truth is, time management is a skill, and one which you can learn. <\/strong>There are a huge<\/em> number of books, blogs, audio programs and seminars on the subject \u2013 and you probably feel a bit overwhelmed by all the information out there.<\/p>\n

Here, I\u2019m going to stick to the basics. These are all simple \u2013 but hugely effective \u2013 ways to improve your time management, starting today.<\/p>\n

#1: Make a To-Do List<\/h2>\n

Your to-do list takes a lot of pressure off you. Instead of getting to 11am and wondering what the heck you\u2019re supposed to do next, you\u2019ll have a clear list of tasks which you want to complete during the day.<\/p>\n

It takes less than five minutes to make a to-do list at the start of your morning \u2013 but it can save you hours<\/em> of wasted time over the course of a day.<\/strong> Plus, having everything written down means you\u2019re not wasting mental energy on \u201cmust remember to buy milk\u201d.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t get hung up on making your to-do list perfect. Just jot down, in a few words, any tasks which you want to get done.<\/p>\n

You can write out your to-do list on paper, in an online calendar, or in a specific piece of software \u2013 whatever works for you.<\/p>\n

Do it:<\/strong> What tasks are on your mind for today and tomorrow? Get them onto paper.<\/p>\n

#2: Pick One to Three Important Tasks<\/h2>\n

Having at to-do list is a great start. But if you\u2019re like most people, your list may well contain more tasks than you can get done during the day \u2013 especially if you end up getting interrupted (or distracted).<\/p>\n

Our natural instinct is to prioritize by urgency: we make a start on whatever\u2019s got a hold on our attention \u2013 probably something due today or tomorrow. It might not be a very important task at all, and it might not even be truly<\/em> urgent. (Can\u2019t that email wait a few hours? Do you have to answer all your calls as they come in?)<\/p>\n

At the start of the day, decide what one<\/em> thing is most important.<\/strong> Then, if you want, pick another one or two tasks. Get these out of the way first, and you\u2019ll find that all the urgent stuff still gets done.<\/p>\n

Do it:<\/strong> Pick one<\/em> important task to get done today \u2013 something which will give you a sense of satisfaction when you complete it.<\/p>\n

#3: Reduce Procrastination<\/h2>\n

A little bit of procrastination is probably inevitable \u2013 and healthy. Often, when you\u2019re idling, your subconscious is still working away on a problem.<\/p>\n

Too much procrastination, though, can be a huge problem. If you waste hours of the day because you can\u2019t bring yourself to tackle the tasks on your list, you may well end up working late to finish everything. <\/strong>Procrastination isn\u2019t particularly relaxing, either: you know that you\u2019re supposed to be working, so you can\u2019t really switch off.<\/p>\n

If you find yourself wasting a lot of time, look for ways to avoid the distractions that lead to procrastination. Block websites which eat up your time. Turn off your internet connection while you\u2019re writing. Don\u2019t sit down with a book, telling yourself you\u2019ll just read for ten minutes, when you\u2019re planning to clean the kitchen.<\/p>\n

Do it:<\/strong> Ask yourself what you\u2019re wasting time on. How can you avoid procrastinating in this way?<\/p>\n

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#4: Work in Short Bursts<\/h2>\n

When you try to work solidly for hours on end, you inevitably end up getting tired and distracted. But if you work in short, focused bursts, you can get a huge amount done.<\/p>\n

I know writers who\u2019ll write, non-stop, for ten minute bursts at a time. It doesn\u2019t sound like much \u2013 but their word count soon adds up. You\u2019ll probably want to work in longer bursts (maybe 30 minutes or an hour).<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a well-known adage that work expands to fill the time available<\/em>.<\/strong> When you know you\u2019ve only got half an hour to clear your inbox, you work faster. You\u2019ve almost certainly experienced this before: perhaps when you had a deadline coming up, or when you were trying to get something finished off before 5pm on a Friday.<\/p>\n

Do it:<\/strong> With your next task, set a timer for 30 minutes and see how far you can get!<\/p>\n

#5: Track Your Time<\/h2>\n

This is a slightly more involved technique, so I\u2019ve saved it for last. If you\u2019ve tried out the other tips on this list and you want to improve your time management even further, then try keeping a time log.<\/p>\n

A time log is simply a record of what you\u2019re doing when. It might look like:<\/p>\n