Recent campaigns are (hopefully) helping us become more aware of the world we live in and the environment around us in order to reduce, reuse and recycle our waste. But have we ever thought of what we could manage to achieve if we reduce the time we waste on a day-to-day basis?
We all wish that there was more time in the day when the day is over we look back at what we accomplished. Oftentimes we wonder where all of those hours went. If you find yourself in this position, then time management might be an issue. We’re all just a little bit crunched for time. We say things like ‘There’s not enough time in the day,’ or, ‘I don’t know where I’ll find the time,’’ and I never have time for myself.’’
Time management begins with organisation
Time management isn’t something that a select few understand. In fact, you can effectively manage your time as long as you get organised first. Without organisation, it is difficult to see just what needs to be accomplished during the day. When you get organised with your time, you not only increase your ability to manage your daily tasks effectively, but you also increase the likelihood of putting time where it really counts. A prerequisite to effective time management is to set goals you need to achieve.
Scheduling Tasks
Without scheduling tasks things might remain undone – suddenly it’s the end of the day, and you haven’t completed your most essential tasks. If it’s down on your calendar, then you must be responsible and make sure its gets done. It’s that simple. Start by prioritising the essential tasks you’ve identified that keep your targets up to speed.
Meetings
We might have come across the phrase “Meetings are there to take minutes and waste hours” and unfortunately, unproductive meetings are a reality at work. Don’t get me wrong – face-time is important and, in a world which is becoming digitally-driven, direct contact with clients or employees will certainly help to strengthen those relationships. But too many meetings can be draining and some petty issues can be easily sorted via e-mail or a quick phone call.
Multi-tasking
Multi-tasking is usually perceived as the ability to do multiple things at once. However, at times we need to be careful not to end up switching between multiple tasks. I prefer effective prioritisation of tasks over multi-tasking, particularly since certain tasks cannot be done concurrently, especially when using the same brain processing part. The ideal compromise is to always prioritise on productivity.
Flexi-work
Flexi-work can also help productivity at work. It is a known fact that not everyone is productive at the same time – some of us are early birds while others are night owls. The 8 to 5 work-day mentality is not only old but is quickly becoming obsolete. Technology is helping a lot in this and aside from noticing less rigid working hours, even the office location is becoming more flexible. Nowadays, owning a smart phone or tablet helps you stay connected anytime, anywhere.
Remote work
Remote work can be useful for time management since it helps motivate employees more by letting them work in their own environment, thus increasing the employee’s efficiency and indirectly helps to lower commuting stress as well as reduce office distractions.
For any guidance about your career and to discuss new job opportunities please do not hesitate to contact our team at VacancyCentre or [email protected].