Time management hacks to help you work smarter, not harder.
There are never more than 24 hours in the day. If you are not managing your time well, you will struggle to reach your goals at work and other goals in life. You have the same amount of time as the next person, whether you are rich or poor. It is all about how you manage your time. We have put together a list of ways you can manage your time effectively.
Set some goals.
If you want to have a good time management strategy, setting up some goals will be a great place to start. Define your goals in clear and attainable terms. To help you set a goal, you could use the SMART methodology:
Specific: Clear, defined and unambiguous goal.
Measurable: Your goal should be measurable. This will help you keep track of your progress and accomplishments.
Attainable: Make sure the goal is attainable and easy to achieve. It should stretch your abilities but still remain possible.
Realistic: The goal has to be reasonable, resourced and results-based. The goal also has to align with your other goals and it should matter to you.
Time-bound: You should have a target/deadline for your goal. You will have something to work towards and will motivate you to achieve the goal. This is also going to help prevent everyday tasks from taking priority over long term goals.
Create a good time management system.
A good way to actually manage your time effectively is to find a system to help you do it. A great system is the quadrant system. Split your activity into 4 quadrants based on urgency and importance. Things are either urgent, important, both or neither. The items in the not urgent and not important section are the tasks you should stay away from/ should be at the bottom of the priority list.
Work smarter not harder.
Working smarter isn’t about trying to complete all your tasks in one day. It is all about simplifying how you work. Do things faster- if you have tasks that involve working on a computer- using keyboard shortcuts will make you type faster which is a great time saver.
Download tools and apps that can boost your productivity such as these.
Using the phone wisely: instead of writing emails, pick up the phone and talk to the person. If you need to communicate with someone in the same office or building, go and talk to them.
Manage your energy
To reduce stress and loss of focus, avoid overworking. It is okay to take some time out and have a break. Doing some exercise can help boost energy and enhance concentration and memory.
Divide your workday into segments.
Try working in intervals. Don’t work for more than 2 hours straight. Work for 50 minutes to an hour and then take a 20-minute break to recharge.
Turn off social media alerts
Social media app notifications/alerts can take up a lot of your time and distract you from your tasks. You don’t need alerts every moment or need to know everything happening on social media. What is most important is focusing on your tasks at hand.
