Managing time is tricky business. Sometimes, what you need are some quick time management tips to get your day under control. Here they are:
- Take Control
- Limit Email Time
- Limit the Definition of Emergency
- Learn to type FAST
- Put your phone on Do Not Disturb
Don’t let others manage your time for you! If you look at your calendar and see nothing but back-to-back meetings all day, that’s exactly what you’ve done. Cancel or reschedule at least a few of them. After all, there must be at least a few tasks (important to you) than at least some of these meetings (important to someone else). Once you’ve freed up that time in your calendar, block it out as “MY WORK” time, so others are not tempted to book you in to yet another meeting.
Answering email all day is a sure-fire way to lose control of huge gobs of time. An egg timer (real or virtual) has many applications when it comes to time management tips. Set a timer for a reasonable amount of time–say, 30 minutes–and once it’s up, that’s it! Time to move on to a task. Make an agreement with yourself before the day starts about how many times you will do email, and whether it’s 2, 3 or 4 times, stick to that agreement.
As the famous saying goes: Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part. Despite the fact that many people will try to interrupt your day with what they perceive to be emergencies, be critical in deciding whether they’re right. Dealing with someone else’s emergency can lead to a future emergency for you, when you are distracted from dealing with your obligations in a timely fashion. Think in this context when deciding whether or not you can defer the request, with utmost politeness and sympathy, of course.
This may seem like an odd time management tip, but think about it: if your job involves working at the keyboard all day, think about how much time you would save by ramping up your typing speed significantly. When people ask me how I get so much done in a day, I often reply that I type fast–and while they may think I’m joking, I’m not! Take an on-line typing tutor course, and keep practising until you’re burning up the keyboard. You’ll be amazed at how much faster you get through that inbox, or finish off that report.
If someone really needs to reach you, they’ll figure out a way. Not turning on Do Not Disturb on your phone is like inviting interruption: it’s just a matter of time. Of course, don’t do this all day–similar to your email schedule, figure out a good balance of reachability versus work time, but better to lean toward more Do Not Disturb time. After all, you can always return voice mails, on your own schedule.
These time management tips will point you in the right direction. Use the momentum you will build from gaining control of some of your time to get your day in gear. Combine these with some tips to stop procrastinating for the ultimate double dose of productivity.
