Majority of working Americans find their lives in the same boat; with the inability to maximize the use of their time. Time is one of the most precious commodities in life. It dictates our everyday life, whether we are rushing t get to work on time or suffering the pressures of paying bills on time. Our lives are structured to a calendar and clock. Interestingly enough, most time is wasted. Here are some great strategies to increase your productivity and recapture precious lost time.
7 Facts About Time Management
1. 43% of Americans categorize themselves as disorganized.
2. 21% of Americans have missed vital work timeframes.
3. Half of Americans claim that disorganization causes them to work late least twice a week.
4. The average employee spends 28% of their time dealing with unnecessary interruptions followed by recovery time to refocus.
5. An individual’s IQ falls 10 points when fielding constant emails, text messages, and calls.
6. Office workers waste an average of 40% of their day.
7. 40% of working adults said if they had more time, they would spend it with their family.
How Americans Spend Their Time
The average working person’s day is spent in the following ways.
Working – 8.7 hours
Sleeping – 7.7 hours
Leisure & Sports – 2.6 hours
Caring for Others – 1.3 hours
Household Activities – 1.1 hours
Eating – 1.1 hours
Other – 1.5 hours
13 Top Time Management Tips
If you want to start making the best use of your own time, the following top time management tips will get you refocused.
1. Keep a Diary
Using a time keeping diary will allow you to identify areas where you are wasting time. This way you can start to hold yourself accountable for your choices and restructure a new schedule.
2. Integrate Tim Management Tools
Whether you use a planner book, computer program, or phone app; you can keep track of your time with ease.
3. Create Goals
In order to start making change, create your time goals. This can be anywhere from watching less television each week or spending less time chatting on the phone with friends.
4. Plan Your Days
To save time, dedicate 30 minutes of your day to plan it out. This will save you more time in the long run.
5. Use Do Not Disturb Signs
If you find yourself in a time crunch for a project, hang up a do not disturb sign or close your office door from potential interruptions to occur.
6. Do Not Answer Every Message
Just because someone has the time to spend in sending you an email or text message, does not mean you have the time to response. Create new habits in not answering every message sent the moment it is sent.
7. Delegate Tasks
If you have something that needs to get done, do not be afraid to pass it on to someone else to ensure it gets completed in a timely fashion.
8. Do Your Job Right the First Time
Quantity does not equal quality. Taking the time to do your job right the first time can save you time in the long run.
9. Break Larger Tasks into Smaller Ones
This will not only break down your to do list into a more manageable one, but will also allow you to see small victories along the way. In the end, you will be encouraged to continue to move forward and get more done.
10. Tackle the Most Dreaded Tasks First
Tackling the most difficult first will allow your load to get easier throughout the day and relieve any pending stress or burdens over potential difficulties you may face later in the day.
11. Take Breaks When Needed
Too much stress can become counterproductive to you getting tasks done later one. Take a break when you feel yourself slow down or needing to refocus.
12. Identify The Best Time to Work
Identify the time when you work the best. Are you a morning or afternoon person? Schedule the demanding tasks during that time.
13. Organize and De-Clutter
Organizing and decluttering your workspace will allow you to not waste unnecessary time looking for times.
