Time Management Techniques

Published on 15th April 2016 under Blog Topic - Professionals/Career Movers, Training,

“Time is the only commodity that matters” Pausch, 2007

Time management is a challenge for us all. We can hurtle from task to task, always in reactive mode and feel exhausted and frustrated at the end of the week. Here are some techniques that might help to increase your sense of contentment and peace of mind.

  1. Focus on your goals. Rather than focusing on tasks, ask yourself what would you like to achieve? Set out the tasks next and check if accomplishing these gets you closer to your goals. This will help to identify your ‘hamster wheel’ activities that take up your time but add no real value to your life or work.
  2. Tackle Meetings. At work, meetings can be a real time-waster. Check if all the meetings are necessary. Are some meetings a result of habit? Ensure everyone is prepared – every member should understand the goal, their role and the purpose of the meetings.
  3. Declutter your workspace. Spring is an ideal time of the year to clear and reorder your work space. Decide on an area and commit to completing it by the end of the day/week. Don’t forget, you have to make a mess, to clear a mess. So be patient with the upheaval it will inevitably cause.
  4. Procrastination. Everybody puts off making a decision or action. However, our reasons can be different. Some people like to have a perfect environment before they can work, others like to have all the information at hand before they can act. Try to identify your reasons for inactivity. I believe that no decision is often worse than the ‘wrong’ decision. Do something, anything, to get you moving closer to your goal.
  5. Disconnect and reconnect. Mindlessly scrolling through Facebook, Instagram, twitter etc.? PUT THE PHONE DOWN, move your body, go for a walk with a friend, go out into the garden, go to the movies. These actions will connect you to the present moment and increase your sense of wellbeing.

I challenge you (and myself) to move from a time management approach to ME management and spend time wisely