6 Time Management Techniques To Try!

Do you frequently miss deadlines? Are you consistently struggling with time management? Do you often set out to do one thing only to find that you’re doing something else? Do you frequently feel bad that you aren’t able to achieve all that you set out to do during the day? If you answered yes to one or more of the questions above, you probably experience time management problems.

Unfortunately, no one wants to hear the excuses. If a report or a project needs to be completed by set deadlines, they need to be in and completed, period. No stories, no explanations, no reasons! That said, if you’re finding it difficult to manage your time, the following proven time management tips will surely help.

1. Plan the Day the Night Before

There are advocates of making lists in the morning. While that is okay and works for some people, studies have shown that preparing for the next day the night before –particularly right before going to bed, actually enhances productivity more than making the lists in the morning.

2. Set a Time Limit for Each Activity

The best way to get the most out of each day is to set a time limit or every activity. For instance, if you have a meeting for 30 minutes, let it be for just 30 minutes. If you need to create sales funnel between 1pm-3pm, do just that and try to finish everything. If you can’t finish everything in one go, work on them in stages.

3. Avoid Multitasking

I know it seems better, but in the long run, it just leaves you with many half-finished projects. Focus on one thing at a time. If you need to reply to emails, focus on that. If you need to engage with your customers on social networks, commit 20 minutes solely to that. Research has shown that the brain can only focus on one thing at a time. Take advantage of that.

4. Use Electronic Facilities

For instance, instead of waiting at the office for a fax to come in or be in the office to send one, you can do it on the go without any worries using an online fax system. You can access the fax via your email electronically, print it wherever you are or just email it to those who need it, all from your mobile device or laptop. It’s the perfect tool for doing business without being tied down to one spot. Anything from utilizing online fax service to save time & money on printing to embracing webinars and Twitter chats versus business traveling.

5. Delegate Tasks That Are Beneath Your Skillset

No matter how talented and skilled you are, you can’t do everything. As you succeed more, you’ll find that your time is better spent on more important things. So, learn to delegate to competent people and trust them to do a great job while you focus on things only you can do.

6. Turn Off All Email and Social Network Notifications

As innocuous as these two items seem, you’ll be surprised at how quickly they drain your time - not to mention the fact that they are major distractions. One moment you’re checking a friend’s Facebook status update, the next you find something interesting on LinkedIn and before you know it, you’ve spent 2 hours doing nothing! So, turn those things off and just get to work.

While we all want to achieve many great things, it is also important that you avoid setting yourself up for failure. Only take on things that you can achieve and set realistic deadlines. Taking on more than you’re capable of will not only drain your time, but will also negatively impact your self-confidence and productivity. Good luck and all the best

This article was written by Matthew Hall. Matthew used to be a habitual procrastinator but one day had a huge wakeup call. Ever since he has worked every day to focus more and become an organizational expert. To learn more about Matthew and time management, visit his Google+. 

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