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We all want to be more productive in our daily lives, but doing so requires managing time more wisely. This is a skill that takes practice as well as knowledge of tactics that will help you save time. This guide can help you be more productive by teaching you ways to make better use of your day.
Get Started Early
Research has shown that people are far more productive in the early morning hours, or, for those working unusual shifts, in the early parts of their shifts. This research can be used to your benefit by demonstrating the need to get up earlier each day. You can buy a special cuckoo clock or use the alarm on your phone to help you get up earlier. Setting the clock for just one hour earlier can help you make the most of your morning. That extra hour will give you time to eat a healthy breakfast, go for a quick run, and check your emails and messages before you get to work.
Create Blocks of Time
A habit that many successful business professionals have adopted is to separate their days into one hour blocks of time. For each time block, assign a specific task to complete. Since you’re most productive in the first few hours of your shift, this is the time to tackle your most challenging or most stressful tasks. Once those tasks are out of the way, you can fill the rest of your time blocks with tasks that are easier to complete. The last block of time in your workday should be reserved for returning phone calls, text messages, and emails. Other than dealing with emergencies, answering messages should be reserved for the end of your day.
Know When to Say No
Since you have planned your day ahead of time, you already know what needs to be accomplished in your workday. Those plans can be thrown off if you’re constantly pitching in to help your co-workers or partners complete their tasks. It’s certainly okay to help out once in a while, but you don’t want to become known as the “go-to guy,” or someone who can be relied upon to help everyone else out in a pinch. If you want to help, say so. Just don’t feel obligated to help out every time someone comes to you with a sad story. Instead, agree to help out a colleague if they agree to return the favor. If they let you down, make sure they know you won’t be so eager to help the next time they run into trouble.
Take Your Breaks
Believe it or not, some studies have found that professionals who skip breaks are actually less productive than those who do take regular breaks. This is because stress accumulates and wears the mind and body down, leaving the individual feeling fatigued and unambitious. When you take 15 minutes to relax, you’ll return to work feeling recharged and more productive. You can increase the energy boost you naturally experience by having a healthy snack on your break, such as nuts, seeds, or dried fruit. You should also leave enough time in your lunch break for a short, brisk walk or a quick run. The exercise will help you meet your body’s physical activity needs while keeping you alert and focused when you return to work.
Keep Your Work Area Organized
You might think you know where everything is within the clutter on your desk, but can you find anything in a hurry? Probably not. You’ll be much more productive when you keep a neat work area and assign a place for every item and each document. This will save you from having to constantly shuffle papers and supplies around when you need something. A neat work area will eliminate the time you spend searching for things, so you can use that time to complete tasks that contribute to your productivity.
Time management is a soft skill that employers will look for in a candidate, so developing the ability to manage your time will make you more employable. It will also help you get that promotion when you can demonstrate to your supervisor that you know how to work more efficiently. In this way, practicing time management skills will help you now and in your future.
