Time Management
We all have 24 hours, 1,440 minutes, or 86,400 seconds in a day to be productive...
But why do some people seem to accomplish way more than others - even though we all have the same amount of time?
How do they do it?
The answer is quite simple: They’ve mastered the skill of time management.
But let’s be real: we all get busy, overwhelmed, or distracted, and quite frankly, managing our time isn’t always that simple!
The good news is, there are some little hacks that you can apply into your life to become successful at it.
If you’re tired of running away from important but difficult tasks and you’d like to really learn how to train your mind to become more focused and productive, then try these 10 hacks for ultimate success:
1. Plan your day
Prioritize your tasks by tackling the ones that will give you the most return for your time, and take out the rest. You’ll get fewer tasks done, but you will be more efficient.
2. Create a To-Do list
Make your list as clear as you can and put it where you can see it at all times. And most importantly - make it short! Longer lists make you busy and not necessarily productive.
3. Do the Hardest Task First
Your creativity and motivation are at its peak during the morning, so take advantage of it by doing the hardest task on your list first. As your energy wears off, you can move on to easier tasks.
Also, by doing this, you’ll be less likely to procrastinate, more likely to build momentum, and you’ll have a sense of accomplishment for the remainder of the day.
As Mark Twain famously said: “Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you for the rest of the day.”
Famous and successful people like Oprah & Thomas Edison follow strict daily routines - they set up a time to wake up, start working, work out, and when to relax.
Remember - peak productivity isn't about luck. It’s about habit and commitment.
5. Simplify your decision-making
Are there any techniques you use to simplify your decision-making process on a daily basis?
Mark Zuckerberg wears the same shirt every day - so did Steve Jobs. Now, I’m not suggesting you do the same but the idea is to find some decisions in your everyday life you can automate.
After you do this, you can enjoy more time and abundant energy to focus on things that matter most to you and be more productive.
6. Take advantage of off-peak hours
Do you have the habit of buying groceries on Sunday afternoon when the store is busiest? Do you hit the gym at 5:00 pm when everyone else does? Why go to movies on the most popular nights? Do things at off-peak hours and you won’t have to wait around to accomplish what you want!
7. Maintain a fit body, mind & spirit
By the way that is my beautiful city of Toronto, Ontario. Canada. CN Tower standing tall.
Make sure to keep your mind sharp by stimulating it and tapping into your creativity. Fulfill your spirit by doing things you love and keep your body healthy by working out consistently. Don’t forget to get enough water and sleep!
When you take time to take care of this, it will reflect on your productivity levels the next day.
8. Declutter your space
Are you constantly looking for things misplaced around your house or your work space? Does your office or home cause you more stress than peace?
Did you know by spending 10 minutes each day decluttering one area of your home or office, you’ll be less likely to be distracted and stressed?
9. Treat your time like money
If time is money (which most of us agree it is) why give it away? It’s important to say NO or decline some opportunities. Your main goal should be to take on only the ones you know you have time for and that you truly care about.
10. Master these essential life skills
Take time to become more efficient by looking for trends. Did a task take longer on a certain day or time of the day? Did you find that you've more productive in the morning, or at night when everyone’s asleep? What can you do to improve?
Find the time when you’re most focused and the tasks that need the most concentration, so you can be more effective.
And remember. Being “busy” is nothing but being preoccupied with lots of unfulfilling activities. Anyone can be busy.
Choose to be productive! Remember what you choose to do with that precious amount of time will dictate the quality of your life.
One of the hardest things since I became a member here at WA is finding a way to balance my time.
I will give so many hours to my WA e-mail, then I would visit my site see if there are any new updates and make sure my site health is up to par. Next I will search for something interesting and perhaps write an article. Problem is what about all the other stuff, it gets neglected, and the mess piles up to a point of where I get frustrated.
Well I was looking at some ways of finding ways to balance my time and I came across. I do plan on applying this time management method. Maybe you are like me and find there just is'isn't enough time in the day to do the things that need to be done on a daily basis and also find some time to relax.
I hope you may find some value in this post, and can use it for better time management.
Wishing you all the best,
Michael
Recent Comments
27
A great list of what we should all be doing Michael. Some excellent advice is included.
Derek
I managed five, maybe six at a push. Such a good list Michael. I'm with Fleeky on this, put it on the wall. Oh, imagine, two hanging rails, one for identical trousers and one for shirts. Deep joy.
Nothing like a good system or process to increase efficiency. Just be sure to retain a tiny bit of flexibility to remain adaptable to daily changes that come your way.
It's something like running trains. Sometimes you have to put a train in a siding to let a higher priority train pass. Then it's back out of the siding on to the main to continue to destination.
Hi Kc, thank you for commenting. Nothing in life is concrete. Things change on a daily basis. Totally understand the train analogy.
Michael
Great post. I like your ten hacks for time management. I agree with all but one "do the hardest task first".
I do it the opposite. My reason for doing it this way is that sometimes the difficult things will also waste a lot of valuable time.
I use my WA training course as an example, When I spent an entire day trying to get something and not grasping it; the minute I moved on I realize I have accomplished so much.
I will then go back and challenge the one I have been having an issue with and it always work out because my mind is clear that I have accomplished all I had charted for the day.
There is no wrong or right way in doing things, just chose the one that suits you best.
Blessings.
MazieD
Hi Mazie, thank you for commenting. I see your point. The main thing is having a routine that works for you.
Best Wishes,
Michael
Hello,
There are some great points here to enable us to manage our time efficiently.
Some that I do and some that I need to start doing. I’m guilty of being distracted.
And my “to do” lists seem never ending.
Thank you for the tips.
Louise
Hi Louise, thank you for your comments. My to do get's neglected all too often.
Best wishes,
Michael
This is very well-written and packed full of good advice. For me, it's one thing to know what's needed; and another to actually do it. Having it written out, as in your post, is extremely helpful. Thanks for taking the time to do this!
Hi Thomas, thank you for commenting. Due to the fact that things keep piling up for me, I need some way to organize my day.
Best wishes,
Michael
See more comments
You provided an excellent list, Michael, thank you! I'll try to be a bit more efficient at a few of these and perhaps it will help me.
Hi Fran, thank you for commenting.
Michael