We are living in a dynamic world that has so much in store for us from the moment we wake up to the moment we fall asleep. Everyone has obligations of their own ranging from school, to work to hobbies and free time activities. Hence, we spend all day doing something that we might be required to, however, the way we manage our time is what decides whether we will be able to complete everything in time. Thus, one of the most efficient soft skills to have in this time and century is the time management skill.
But how do we do that? One might ask. Well, the secret is in learning what works best for you and doing it at the required time, not procrastinating it because then it interferes with the other activities. So, let’s say you want to play blackjack games online, go to the tennis club, finish the last pages of that book, talk to your aunt and uncle on the phone, go for a beer with friends, and finish up the painting in your room. You can check off all this list if you know how to manage your time. In today’s article, we will show you strategies on how to do just that, so let’s go ahead and get started.
Set Clear Goals and Prioritize
First, you must set clear goals and priorities for what is most important to what is least important. How do we do that? Well, it is quite easy. For instance, if you must do three things that qualify as leisure activities, then you go ahead and list them from the one that will benefit you the most in the long term to the one that might simply give you a moment satisfaction.
So, let’s say you want to learn how to play chess because it helps you focus at work, then this activity should be somewhere on the top as it is contributing to your overall performance at the job. In such cases it is important that you prioritize all the tasks that you must do throughout the day, so that you know what to do first and what to do last. Of course, this is something that only you can know best as you know what you want to do and what you want to achieve in the future.
Create a Schedule and Stick to It
This step is particularly important because you get to know yourself better by knowing when your brain and body is more prepared to do a specific task. For example, let’s say you have come to find out that reading first thing in the morning gets your motivation going, then you make a habit of reading at least one page first thing when you wake up. Or, you might have understood that when you go to the gym at night, it makes your body release all the stress and bad energy that was accumulated from the day. In that case, you go to the gym at nighttime before going to sleep.
Technically, you must know yourself, your needs and preferences and what works best for you when. Once you know that, you are good to go. You would simply need to create a schedule and stick to it, and it is guaranteed that whatever success you are trying to achieve, you will get it.
Practice the Pomodoro Technique
Another advice that we will give you in order to be able to master time management as a skill is by learning and practicing the pomodoro technique. You might be asking, what is the pomodoro technique? This might be the most popular technique when it comes to time management, as it was introduced as early as the 1980s but is still truly relevant today and a lot of people incorporate it in their lives to better manage their time. This technique is all about doing the tasks in short intervals.
So, for example, you have ten things on your to-do list. You do the first thing for 25 minutes and try to complete it as much during this time, then you take a break right after the 25 minutes pass. This is particularly helpful for people for whom it is difficult to keep their attention span active for longer periods of time and those that cannot concentrate. This way, you will be using your concentration at its maximal capacity as you are able to do things when your brain is performing best.
Conclusion
Knowing yourself, remaining focused, and having the flexibility to adjust are all part of the ongoing process of learning how to manage your time effectively. It is important to begin by writing down specific objectives and creating a schedule for your day. Useful strategies, such as the Pomodoro Technique, which divides work into manageable parts with pauses in between, might come to the rescue. In addition to that, you can also use online tools that will boost your efficiency in the tasks you are performing. Getting rid of distractions from your work is also essential. However, keep in mind to take pauses, strike a healthy balance between work and personal life, and look after yourself. You’ll be able to maximize your abilities and make the maximum money with consistent practice and dedication.