11 Top Tips For Effective Time Management

11 Top Tips For Effective Time Management 11 Top Tips For Effective Time ManagementPosted October 13, 2011, by Josie ChunTime management is all about making the most effective use of your time and working smarter, not harder. It requires planning, and then sticking to the plan and that takes discipline. According to the Pareto principle or 80/20 rule, 80 per cent of results come from 20 per cent of effort. That means that of all the things you do, 20 per cent are vital and 80 per cent dont contribute much. Just think of how much you would achieve if you focused more effort on the 20 per cent that really mattersSo for the workaholics out there, weve put together 11 tips to help you maximise your time1. Set clear goalsIts important that you know what your short-term and long-term goals are this will enable you to differentiate between whats important and whats not. Its only when you know where you want to go and what you want to achieve that you can figure out exactly what needs to be done, and in what order. Once you are clear about your goals, you can plan and prepare a sequence of action steps to achieve them.2. Make a to-do listTo-do lists are your best friend. They can increase your productivity by 20 per cent, help to clear your mind, and save you energy and stress. Start your day by spending five to ten minutes planning your activities for the day or, better still, prepare your list the evening before. Write out your tasks either on paper or on your computer. Break down large or complex tasks into smaller pieces chunk them down into do-able, manageable units that dont feel too big or daunting, and focus on one at a time. As you complete your tasks, cross them off its a very satisfying feeling3. PrioritiseTheres a good chance you wont get everything on your to-do list done, but make sure you get the most important things done. That means you have to prioritise the tasks on your list and figure out what is actually most important, as well as most ur gent (not necessarily the same thing). Its helpful to number your tasks or assign them ABC status by giving the most important tasks an A, the next most important ones a B, and so on.4. Make a scheduleUsing your to-do list and prioritisation as a base, make a schedule for the day and for the week, including time for breaks and contingencies. The schedule needs to be realistic, with padding for interruptions and unscheduled events. How much contingency time you need to build in will depend on the nature of your work. Having a schedule means you wont have to waste time and energy thinking about what you have to do next just follow your schedule.5. Stop procrastinating and just do itEveryone is guilty of procrastinating, but for some its a chronic problem that is a major obstacle to success. You know that looming report or assignment isnt going to go away, so you just have to bite the bullet and get stuck in. Its important to look at the causes of your procrastination is it becau se youre waiting for the right time or mood, underestimating the time required or difficulty of the task, fear failure (or success), or have just developed a very bad habit? The only way to break a habit is to consistently act in other ways so stop putting things off and just do it.6. Manage your emails and phone callsFor many, emails and phone calls constitute the single biggest obstacle to effective time management. Unless you need to be constantly available and accessible, avoid continuous email notification and let your phone go to voice mail these things can suck up untold minutes and hours, and make you repeatedly lose focus. You need to give yourself solid chunks of time to concentrate on your work. Read and respond to emails in blocks only a few times a day so youre not constantly chopping and changing what youre doing. This may necessitate reconditioning others and their expectations of you, so they wont expect immediate responses but will know that you will respond at specified times.7. Keep a time logIts useful to track your daily activities and how much time each takes. This will give you a realistic view of how you spend your time, as well as what interruptions there are, and you might be surprised by how much time certain tasks actually take or how much time is wasted in ways you dont even realise. Also note what your energy levels and focus are like at different times of the day. This will enable you to figure out which activities you should be doing at what time of day you should schedule your most challenging tasks for when your energy level is greatest. For example, if youre most focused and creative in the morning, then use that time to do your writing or brainstorming, and dont waste that time responding to emails.8. Take regular breaksBreaks will keep your mind fresh and you will be able to return to your work with better focus. If you work straight through, you will put in more hours but work less productively. Stick to allotted b reak times. You might want to try the Pomodoro technique to see if it increases your productivity. In this time management technique, you work in 25-minute segments (Pomodoros) with 5-minute breaks between each period, and a longer break every four Pomodoros. Some people swear by this technique as a way of increasing their focus and efficiency.9. Put good systems in placeBeing organised and having good systems for filing emails, computer documents and papers will save you many valuable hours in the long run so spend some time initially setting up your systems, then you wont have to worry about it.10. DelegateYou probably dont have time to do everything yourself, so if you can, delegate less important tasks, or tasks that would be better performed by someone else.11. Learn how to say noThis is extremely important your time and resources are limited, so you cant say yes to everything and accede to every request. You have to stick to whats important and know when to just say, No.Learn ing how to squeeze more into your day, and knowing how to make the most of your time is essential to your career and work/life balance So put our tips to use and see your productivity soar ResourcesMy first resumeCover letter for my first jobCareer Insider StoriesShelley Lask - Body Positive Health & FitnessInterested in becoming a?Human Resources OfficerGeneral ManagerBusiness ManagerAccountantOffice AdministratorPopular Career Searchesimportance of time management in accountingtime management techniques at workeffective communication skillspersonal time management techniques11 top tips for effective time management CoursesBachelor of Social WorkEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Health AdministrationEnquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of Criminal JusticeEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Allied Health AssistanceEnquire Online Enquire OnlineJosie ChunRelated ArticlesBrowse moreCareer progressionPay/Salary7 Signs Youre Being UnderpaidBeing underpaid and c an frustrating. 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