5 Time Management Tips
February is a favorite month for me for so many reasons. One of those reasons is that it is National Time Management Month! To know me is to know that time management is everything and that sometimes it makes me go crazy. However, it helps me also say sane. Isn’t that weird?
My friends always joke with me that I am always on time. Let me brag that I have won, “Most Likely to Show Up First” for plenty of events. I’m always one of the first people on conference calls and meeting deadlines.
Why does time mean a lot to me? Well, it’s something that you cannot get back and that is very valuable. It is also respectful especially when it deals with other people (Zoom meetings, showing up on time to events or meetups scheduled in advance). My dad was previously in the military and whew, let me tell you. That man did not play when it came to time. Therefore, it’s basically in my blood.
Below are 5 Tips For Time Management (in no order):
1. MAKE CLEAR GOALS
Create to-do lists for daily, weekly, and monthly goals. It is important to prioritize what needs to get completed and also what deadlines are coming up.
2. STAY ORGANIZED
From calendars, to lists, to post-it notes, find a way to get all your stuff in one place. Some people love to use physical calendars and lists however, I am more of a digital type of girl! I love all things apps because I am always on the go. I rather have everything in one place that syncs together (yay, the cloud). Below are a few apps that I recommend for digital life:
Notes
Notes app on iOS
Calendars
iCal
Google Calendar
Lists
Reminders App on iOS
Notes App on iOS
3. SET BOUNDARIES
Listen people, learn how to say NO. Learn how to disappoint people when your goals are on the line. Learn how to .. set boundaries. If I could underline all that I would. Setting boundaries is so important because if you don’t you can fall out of track. Saying yes to everything when you already have so much on your plate, horrible idea. I barely fall into pre-pressure because some things just have to be understood by people. Sometimes it is important to even set boundaries so you are able to rest and take personal time for yourself. Below are ways to tell people no, kindly!:
Ask for a rain check.
Be honest about what is going on.
“Sorry, I would love to however. ..”
4. SET TIME LIMITS
Don’t overdo it! Set time limits for events or tasks. Some examples would be:
Take an hour to check emails in the morning and reply.
Spend the next hour organizing documents.
Spend 30 minutes creating a to-do list for the day.
Take a 10-minute break.
Spend 2 hours working on a project.
Setting time limits is important because you won’t overwork yourself. When you know your time limit, you know how much time you have to work on something therefore it can be motivation to get something done. On my digital calendars, I set alerts to remind myself that I have ten minutes left.
5. TAKE BREAKS
This is so important. Go outside. Get some sun. Stretch. EAT. Just step away and take a break. So simple yet, effective. It makes a big difference in your work, I promise.
Here is a checklist that you can save to help you out, also please pin on your Pinterest Board. Sharing is caring :)
Stay safe, be healthy, and mindful of yourself.
