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Learn to Manage Time Effectively

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Going through your day, it can be easy to lose track of the things that need to get done and accomplish tasks in a timely manner. One of the best ways to start managing your time more effectively is to take time at the start of each day and write out a list of the things that you need to accomplish.

With your list of tasks, start prioritizing each item. Note the tasks that are urgent, important, not important, and not urgent.

Start with the tasks that are most important and urgent at the beginning of the day. Once you complete those tasks, then move onto the items on your list that is less urgent and important.

Another way to be more effective in time management is to be alert for any time wasters that pop up throughout the day. One of the biggest time wasters at any company is meetings. If a meeting is absolutely necessary, make sure that theyare starting and ending on time and follow an agenda so that you cover all the important points and don’t stray off course.

Do what you can to reduce the number of telephone interruptions. Set aside time in the day for making and returning phone calls. The rest of the time, have messages taken or send calls to voicemail so that you can instead focus on the task in front of you.

Unexpected visitors are another time waster. There is no way to avoid them completely, but try to keep the amount of time spent with them to a minimum.

Firefighting is bound to happen from time to time, but if those things needing attention are less important than the tasks you have set for today, find another time slot for handling those things later in the day or week.

Another big time waster is socializing and idle conversation. Unless you work completely on your own, then you are going to have this issue. Your coworkers and employees are going to want to take a minute to stop for a chat about the weekend. Taking time for social interaction is important just make sure that you do not let it eat into the tasks you need to accomplish. Block off some part of your day for chatting and the rest of the time being productive.

When you don’t have a list of the things you need to get done each day and have them prioritized, that’s when most people begin to procrastinate. Having the list of prioritized tasks helps us to focus on what needs to be done and avoids procrastination.

Failing to have a list of prioritized tasks can also lead to indecision. You spend too much time trying to decide what to work on next and that ends with you having less time to actually get something accomplished.

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