How to Improve Time Management (5 Keys to Time Management)

Are you constantly chasing deadlines? Learn and discover how to improve time management with these tips and hacks, so you have plenty of time for everything.

We can already picture you in your office, working late as usual and cramming over “this” and “that.” You’re definitely stressed out and losing hair by the hour. If only you had managed your time wisely, then you’d have plenty of space for every important task.

Now, you can’t focus because you’re thinking, “How come other people seem to have enough time for everything? How can I practice better time management?”

Well, the secret is to control time with the power of effective time management. How can you accomplish such a feat?

Through this blog post, where we’ll show you how to improve time management, as well as the must-have skills to increase time efficiency.

What Does Effective Time Management Means? And Why Does It Matter?

Effective time management means being able to organize your time wisely so that you can use your best resource in the best possible way.

The advantages of effective time management include reduced stress, more opportunities and higher productivity.

In short, you get great results in less time and enjoy more freedom, and focus on the things that truly matter to you.

What Are the 5 Keys to Time Management?

About 89% of people confessed that they were guilty of wasting their time at work every day. They want improvements, but with so many distractions (social media, phones and whatnot), it’s getting harder and harder to achieve effective time management.

You can start doing something about it, though, by unlocking the 5 important keys to time management, below.

  • Set Reminders

    Why do you need to set reminders? Simple, so you won’t forget about anything and stay on track.

    Make a list of the tasks you need to complete for the day or week, and then set a reminder for each of them—like a 20-minute reminder before a meeting starts. Time management success is knowing the tasks that you need to prioritize and being prepared to take them on.

  • Plan Out Your Day

    You can’t just throw your energy from one task to the next without purpose; effective time management involves planning out your day and having intentionality in the work that you do.

    Note deadlines and tick off completed tasks from your list.

  • Work with Time Limits

    When you have a countdown waiting to explode, you’re less likely to get distracted. So, for every task that you do, you have to set a mini-deadline that will create an intense focus.

    But if ever you don’t finish, you can always come back for it later and work on other responsibilities. That does the trick to freshen up your mind and gain new perspective.

  • Keep a Routine

    When you have a routine, you have a sense of control, no matter how chaotic a day gets. You’ll work through it all while sticking to your schedule. That way, you’ll steer away from procrastinating and avoid a stressful situation.

  • Block Out Distractions

    Turn off any buzzing devices that might make you lose your concentration—online stores or social media. Block them out at a particular time so you can create a more productive working environment. In this way, you’re more likely to complete the things you need to do in less time with no mistakes.

More Tips for Time Management Success

Let’s make more productive time—even though we’re getting the same 24-hours each day.

What Are 7 Tips in Time Management?

Find out below the difference between cramming to keep up and getting things done on time.

  • No to Multitasking

    If you think you’re doing more because you’re juggling many tasks at once, you’re wrong. Divided focus means not performing at an optimal level.

    You see, your brain is designed to focus on one thing at a time. If you stretch the bandwidth, you’re diverting brain power, hence, reduced efficiency and productivity.

  • Start Early

    You’ll be more productive if you start your work early because you’ll have more time to prepare and plan out how to tackle an assignment rather than procrastinate. So, if you can get up ahead of schedule, the better.

  • Identify Your Patterns of Productivity

    People have different patterns of productivity. Some of us are more productive early in the morning, while others are more efficient in the later hours of the day. You have to know which time of the day your productivity peaks; that will help you be more effective in handling a project.

    By scheduling each task the right way, you can devote more hours to critical activities and manage your time intelligently.

  • Respect Your Time

    That time you spend talking over the phone about something that has zero relevance to what you’re supposed to accomplish in a day—those hours are wasted time you’ll never get back.

    You got to respect your time. If you just randomly jump from one thing to the next, you’re jeopardizing your thinking and effectiveness. You’ll be more productive if you learn to justify the time that you spend on a workday.

  • Set a Goal

    What’s in it for you to attend this meeting? You need to know what you hope to achieve before diving into something. Otherwise, you’ll be wasting your time on a phone call or conferences that aren’t really productive.

    Think about what you want to accomplish after every conversation or meetings, and then plan your next step so that when the opportunity comes, you’ll be ready to take it.

  • Leverage Technology

    There are tons of management tools, particularly time-tracking software, that you can use to manage your time best. Integrate that into your workspace, so you can easily create and track your schedule accurately.

    These tools will keep an eye on you so you don’t stray and procrastinate for too long, or get distracted.

  • Take a Break

    Taking a break at critical points may look like you’re losing your mind—it’s counterproductive! But, on the contrary, you’ll be less productive if you’re deprived of sleep and can’t function.

    When you’re well rested, you’ll have more focus and energy to tackle a task.

How Can I Improve My Time Management Skills?

Since you asked, here are some of the most effective strategies on how to improve time management skills:

  • Create a schedule of your commitments for a day or a week and then follow it strictly, like a bible. That will keep you organized and focused.
  • Set boundaries and learn to say “NO” to side activities (ahem, aimless surfing and social media time) that might upset your priorities. Protect your time!
  • Establish a deadline for every task. It doesn’t matter if it’s personal or work-related; fixing your deadline creates a sense of urgency.
  • Stay on top of your calendar with all your appointments and important deadlines in it.
  • Set objectives, both short and long. This will serve as your motivation towards achieving your goals.
  • Prioritize the task that needs your immediate attention. That way, you won’t be overwhelmed by the repetitive, mundane task.
  • Yes, learn to delegate to someone else. There are so many benefits to outsourcing certain tasks that many companies use it as a strategy.
  • Have mercy on your brain and focus on one task at a time.
  • If ever you’re stuck on one task, move on to the next and get back to it later. This will help you be more effective with your time.
  • Avoid long hours of work. Take time to do physical activities to recharge your mind and body.
  • Learn from your experiences. Reflect on what you did wrong at that time and use it to improve your time management skills.

How to Improve Time Management with a Virtual Assistant

If you still want more maximizing-your-time hacks, then you’d be sure to find plenty when you hire a virtual assistant.

VAs are perfect for the role of a sidekick who takes on a variety of tasks that you don’t have the time for, like data entry, calendar management and bookkeeping.

When you delegate to them, you’ll be freeing up your time to be more productive at doing the work that drives your business forward.

Final Words

All those key management steps and tips will lead you to a more productive, happy life—one where you’re more focused on achieving your goals and spending your time on what truly matters.

By integrating how-to-improve-time-management strategies into your everyday endeavors, be it personal or in the office, you’ll extract the maximum value of your most precious resource—your time.

Or you can also choose to supercharge time management altogether with the help of a virtual assistant and take that next step in your business.

Find out why virtual assistants are game-changers among companies in Australia.

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