Effective Time Management Tips for Professionals
Professionals are crying out loud for more time in a day to the universe every day. Some end up quitting while others end up dead. However, many do not realize that it is not the lack of time that is responsible for the mess they are in but the way their time is utilized. There are various ways one could save the amount of time wasted every day. If you are part of the crowd that feels that more hours are in order so that you can do your job well, you need to think again.
Identify areas in your life that you spend most of time on and figure out what is keeping you from completing what you are doing in a fraction of the time you now take. You will realize that a little discipline can turn your life around. In this article, you will be briefed on four immediate things you could do to take back your time.
Get Your Clutter Organized
The most time consuming factor faced by professionals is getting rid of the clutter at the workspace. The unprofessional way in which it is organized because of the hectic schedule can get the better of you within a short span of time. Yet, you scratch your heads to find out where all the hours went and why your work is still pending.
Take a day off or a few hours to get your workspace in order. When you have a neat working area, you will find that you will feel better. You will be able to figure out where you have kept your things without needing to siphon off all the unwanted things that would have piled up on top of it. Thus, you will be able to find what you are looking for faster and hence, complete your work in a shorter span of time.
Delegate When Necessary
Some people have the tendency to do everything by themselves. This is not only an unprofessional behavior but can be taxing on the time you have on hand to do what you are paid for. Delegating tasks to team members where necessary needs to come as a second nature to you. This does not mean that you push your job to someone else. It means that you utilize your resources at hand well in order to maximize your time and rid yourself of tasks that someone else is paid to do.
Follow the FIFO Rule
You need to have a task scheduler such that whatever task comes first, you complete first. This solves the problem of putting off tasks that are boring but could prove to be consequential when you have no time at hand. Also, you will not forget about any tasks that need your attention just because you pushed it to the bottom of the pile. Strict discipline in following this rule will ensure that your time is managed efficiently.
Stop Saying Yes
When your colleagues try to please their way into your time with their questions and gossips you need to put your foot down and let them know you are working. It may seem strange to your colleagues as well as yourself at first. However, when you keep your socializing to the lunch hour your attitude will be respected and you will not waste precious time. This will ensure you have enough time to finish your tasks, initiate new ideas as well as socialize with your colleagues and clients.
In summary, professionals in this era are stressed about having less time when they have the same amount of time as anyone else. This is due to the unnecessary distractions which can be easily overcome by time saving tips. Organizing and keeping the work space clean, delegating work that someone else is paid to do, following the FIFO rule and stipulating time for certain things at certain time would greatly enhance the amount of time you will have on hand.
