Time. That elusive passage of moments that flies by when we don’t want it to or slows waaaaay down when we want it to hurry up. Time itself doesn’t change. It never moves at any other pace than it’s own perfect managed beat. We move forward with it, filling our schedules and hoping to keep it all managed.
What’s your relationship with time? Is it your friend? Enemy? Do you ever feel like you are in a race against time? When we talk about time management it’s about how we manage our tasks inside the parameters of time. If we are honest though it isn’t time we are managing but ourselves! Use these 10 tips to manage your time more effectively.
I received free product in exchange for this post and hosting a giveaway. All thoughts are authentic & my own. *Affiliate links * [Read my full policy here.]
10 tips to manage your time more effectively
We cannot manage time. No matter how much we wish we could harness it. So why are we talking about time management? We each have the same amount of time, no more no less, as anyone else. So how do some people accomplish so much with their time? What we can do is be effective as we manage ourselves and how we use our time.
Would you agree that time is our most valuable resource? It is after all the one thing we can never get back! Have you ever found yourself wishing you had only had a little more time? What if you could put effective practices into place to open up your time? Would you do it?
In my post on setting achievable mini goals I shared about how empowering the freedom of our choice is! What impact would treating time like your most precious commodity make in your life? Our time is beyond precious and I want to come alongside of you to help you be in control of your use of time!
Manage Your Time More Effectively With These 10 Tips
1. Prioritize:
Start your day by listing out all the tasks that need to get done. Take the time to list out what you need to get done in order of importance. Whatever thing it is you are doing at any given time is the thing you are currently prioritizing. As I sit here in the evening there are all sorts of things I could choose to do over writing this post.
The concept of a priority is to do what is most important before what is less important. It is more important to me right now to be doing what I am doing than to be doing any other thing. Once you have identified all of your tasks, sort them by importance. Then focus on them one at a time. One tool I like to use is the Eisenhower box to rank tasks by importance and urgency.
2. Show Procrastination the Door:
Whatever it is you don’t want to do – do that first! Get the unpleasant, difficult tasks out of the way! They are dragging you down. If it is hanging over your head you need to move it up on your priority list. Once you have dealt with this tough task your mind will be free and you will have more focus for other tasks at hand.
Brian Tracing calls it eating the frog. They are the ugly things, unmotivational things, you don’t want to do. Unfortunately the longer you do not do them the more they weigh you down. Get them out of the way so you can move on!
3. Remove Distractions:
Distractions and interruptions come calling all day long. You must be intentional about creating a space for yourself where they cannot access you. Close your door when you have work you must get done.
Guard your time and communicate you are unavailable until your task is complete. Put your phone away! Seriously, set your phone aside, try putting it on airplane mode or silent for a set period of time while you work. Identify the things that distract you the most and remove them.
Yes! You read that right. Focus on one task at a time. Your brain is only capable of focusing on one thing at a time. Multitasking is Switch Tasking. You are not doing multiple things at once. You are switching back and forth between multiple things, using up precious time and brain power as you do.
Every time you switch between tasks you lose focus and your brain has to re-engage. We have made this switch tasking sound efficient when it is the opposite. While you might be able to pull it off in the end it leaves you unfocused, losing you time and quality in your work.
5. Bulk Task:
Group similar tasks together. Batch your tasks by keeping likewise tasks together to to avoid switching from task to task. Spend a chunk of time on batched tasks instead of little bits all throughout the day. For example, only check and respond to emails twice a day, designate half an hour in the morning and half an hour in the afternoon.
Then stick to only doing those specific tasks at those times. You can choose how to order your day. If you like to get all the little tasks off of your plate group them together first thing in the morning. This will free you up to give more focus to challenging or difficult tasks.
6. Create Systems and Routines:
Stay organized to save you time. Use a planner and a calendar to schedule items and events. Set aside specific times in your day to take care of certain duties. I have a mentor who loves to say “Nothing changes if nothing changes.” Routines while boring or uninspiring help us to get the mundane out of the way so we are freed up to truly live.
When you leave multiple things undone, they only pile up until they become one huge overwhelming time drain! Instead make one change at a time and build your routine. If you keep up with the daily tasks you will create a system that allows you enough time for other things.
I like to set aside specific amounts of time and not leave a task during that time. We are losing our ability to concentrate and focus. By setting a time boundary we are retraining ourselves to stick to one thing. Part of good time management is committing to seeing your aim through. The more times you have to return to something the longer it takes you to do it in the end.
It’s also important to know when to say yes and when to say no. I’m huge on boundaries. Boundaries changed my life. If you know me in person, there is a pretty good chance we’ve had a conversation about them. Time boundaries work both ways. When you say yes to something, put parameters around it for yourself. Make sure you have a place for it in your schedule and then schedule it in. Take the time to evaluate things and feel free to say no when you need to.
8. Care About The Quality of Your Work:
Give your tasks an appropriate amount of time. Spend the time you need to do them well. Do not short yourself to simply get it done. Effective time management does not have to be about squeezing in as much as we can. Good time management should be about using our time well.
By caring about the quality of your work from the beginning you will accomplish your tasks well. This means you won’t have to waste time later coming back to them to fix mistakes or redo them all together.
9. Give Yourself a Break:
Give yourself regular times of rest and recuperation. An important part of time management is to not burn yourself out. If you are too stressed out, overworked or unfocused you will fail to concentrate on the tasks before you. Being well rested and refreshed will naturally lead to better time management. When you are living in a cycle of hurry, stress and drain, you waste time because you are too tired to spend it wisely.
Time management does not equate to being productive at all times. If you think time management is about always getting a bunch of things done, stop. Time management is about freeing your time up. If you had “more” time, what would you do with it? Since we only get 24 hours a day (and we need to spend some of them sleeping!) it’s about making the most of our time to live joy filled lives! Make sure that you are getting times to recharge.
Don’t neglect your passions, times for adventure. Take care of yourself. Take little breaks throughout the day to refresh your body and your mind. Take a walk or sit and read for a little while. Taking care of yourself is an important use of your time that affects your overall use of time.
I wear a watch for several important reasons. The first of which, is that it keeps me from using my phone to check the time! Remember tip number two to remove distractions. I am never distracted by checking the time on my watch. Secondly, when I wear a watch I feel less obsessed with time.
Checking the time ceases to be an act of boredom. Instead it becomes useful and practical. Thirdly, watches are beautiful! Which leads me to the most exciting part of this post! I have teamed up with Jord Wood Watches and am hosting a fabulous Giveaway! (Update: This giveaway has ended)
What’s your favorite time saving tip? Let us know in the comments!
Update: GIVEAWAY CLOSED {Enter the Giveaway for your chance to win a $100 E Gift Code to the Jord Wood Watch of your choice!} (Update: This giveaway has ended BUT head over HERE for my current giveaway through October 1, 2018!!!) They have gorgeous and unique watches for both men and women.
The moment I opened my package from Jord it was delight upon delight. I already knew how beautiful my new watch would be. I could hardly contain my excitement as my already high expectations were exceeded. It was immediately obvious to me that this is a company that cares about quality. I opened my package to find a beautiful wooden box engraved with a J for Jord.
The box even has a little drawer on the bottom to store your extra band link and cleaning cloth that come with your watch. I opened the wooden box to find my gorgeous watch nestled inside, perfectly wrapped around a darling burlap pillow. I selected the beautiful women’s watch the Dark Sandalwood and Emerald Frankie. This is one cool watch. The deep and vibrant green called to me and is complimented by the depth of the dark sandalwood band. I am in love.
Spring has arrived in full bloom and I have been enjoying everyday outings about town and slow afternoons writing at the coffee shop. I’ve been exploring streets I’ve never seen before and taking hikes up pretty green hillsides picking bouquets of wild flowers. Everywhere I go I love wearing my Frankie Jord wood watch. Because wearing a watch isn’t always about keeping time, it reminds you to make time to do the things you love.
Update: GIVEAWAY CLOSED {Go enter the Jord Wood Watch Giveaway now! One lucky winner receives a $100 E Gift Code towards their choice of a women’s watch or a men’s watch.} All other entrants receive a $25 E Gift Code. Giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m., Wednesday, April 12, 2017. The $100 and $25 Gift Codes will expire June 30th, 2017.
We have a winner! Congratulations Taylor of MeehanderingBlog for winning!
Have a fabulous time management tip of your own? Share it with us!
It’s time to take action! Have you ever created a list of awesome goals only to go month after month without accomplishing them? What is it that makes some people…
As a single woman living halfway across the country from my family I am overfilled with gratitude at the kindness and thoughtfulness that my community of friends constantly shows me….
October through December seem to be wonderfully filled with so much holiday cheer and festivities. As December winds down our focus begins to shift to starting the new year fresh….
Want to know how to gain focus? Multitasking could actually be what’s getting in your way. Let’s face it multitasking is a myth. There I said it. The days of…
You’re welcome Rae. Let’s file coffee time under much needed self care and recharging. I call that time well spent!
I love this! I’m definitely going to start practicing some of this!
So happy to hear that Brianne. Thank you so much.
These are such great tips. For me, my phone is the WORST distractor!!! I need to literally put it in the other room!!
I feel you Chelsea! Nothing more distracting than the phone now. Too many things you can do on it. That’s a great way to remove distraction! Literally remove it. 🙂
Naomi, I love this. I must say – your productivity posts have become some of my most favorites! Love the point about showing procrastination the door and the point about caring about the quality of your work. That’s something I’ve always done – I never wanted to complete a task, unless it was done well.
Thank you so much Summer! That makes me so happy to hear. Yes! It’s such a good feeling too when you know you have done your best.
Oooh how I need help in this area. Thanks for this post.
Thanks Aleida! We all could use a little extra help with time management!
Love these watches! Great post.
Aren’t they just goregous! Thank you so much!
Interesting point on multitasking. I am eternally trying to prioritize and focus. Sometimes I think slowing down is key. Aloha!
Julie http://alohalovely.com
Thanks Julie. I was introduced to this idea in a seminar once and it changed my view of multitasking forever. Slowing down is good. We don’t have to rush just to get things checked off!
Time management is something I’m always working on! Realizing that multi tasking “isn’t a thing” was a hard lesson to learn but it makes so much sense. Great post!
Thank you so much Vanessa. Me too. I used to think multitasking made me sound more productive. I really started asking myself what was I struggling with and what would help me manage my time better. Now I make adjustments as I figure out what works best for me.
As a procrastinator, I’m always looking for new ways to fight it, so I’m definitely going to try these.
Absolutely! So many things start as mind over matter, especially because procrastination is born out of not feeling like doing something!
Outstanding post. Cheers and way to be unstoppable with time!
Hey Rhonda! Thank you so much. You are too sweet.
maybe if i had myself a beautiful wooden jord watch i’d manage my time a little better. lol. thanks for the tips (:
Very true Jessica! A beautiful watch makes telling and managing time more enjoyable 😉 It certainly doesn’t hurt!
I love this list!! I used to be the worst with procrastination! I’ve since gotten a lot better with it, but it’s definitely something I need to keep an eye on. Your point on multitasking is also really interesting! I always thought multi-tasking was a great thing, but you’re completely correct! All you’re doing is splitting your time between different things. I could probably get more done if I wasn’t trying to do everything at once. Such an awesome post!!
Thank you so much Rachel. I used to think the same thing about multitasking. When I first heard it called switch tasking it was such an eye opener and a total game changer. I try to be more intentional with my tasks now.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
This is exactly what I need right now (as I casually sip coffee and avoid doing work). Thanks for these tips!
Rae | Mindful Rambles
You’re welcome Rae. Let’s file coffee time under much needed self care and recharging. I call that time well spent!
I love this! I’m definitely going to start practicing some of this!
So happy to hear that Brianne. Thank you so much.
These are such great tips. For me, my phone is the WORST distractor!!! I need to literally put it in the other room!!
I feel you Chelsea! Nothing more distracting than the phone now. Too many things you can do on it. That’s a great way to remove distraction! Literally remove it. 🙂
Naomi, I love this. I must say – your productivity posts have become some of my most favorites! Love the point about showing procrastination the door and the point about caring about the quality of your work. That’s something I’ve always done – I never wanted to complete a task, unless it was done well.
Thank you so much Summer! That makes me so happy to hear. Yes! It’s such a good feeling too when you know you have done your best.
Oooh how I need help in this area. Thanks for this post.
Thanks Aleida! We all could use a little extra help with time management!
Love these watches! Great post.
Aren’t they just goregous! Thank you so much!
Interesting point on multitasking. I am eternally trying to prioritize and focus. Sometimes I think slowing down is key. Aloha!
Julie
http://alohalovely.com
Thanks Julie. I was introduced to this idea in a seminar once and it changed my view of multitasking forever. Slowing down is good. We don’t have to rush just to get things checked off!
Time management is something I’m always working on! Realizing that multi tasking “isn’t a thing” was a hard lesson to learn but it makes so much sense. Great post!
Thank you so much Vanessa. Me too. I used to think multitasking made me sound more productive. I really started asking myself what was I struggling with and what would help me manage my time better. Now I make adjustments as I figure out what works best for me.
As a procrastinator, I’m always looking for new ways to fight it, so I’m definitely going to try these.
Absolutely! So many things start as mind over matter, especially because procrastination is born out of not feeling like doing something!
Outstanding post. Cheers and way to be unstoppable with time!
Hey Rhonda! Thank you so much. You are too sweet.
maybe if i had myself a beautiful wooden jord watch i’d manage my time a little better. lol. thanks for the tips (:
Very true Jessica! A beautiful watch makes telling and managing time more enjoyable 😉 It certainly doesn’t hurt!
I love this list!! I used to be the worst with procrastination! I’ve since gotten a lot better with it, but it’s definitely something I need to keep an eye on. Your point on multitasking is also really interesting! I always thought multi-tasking was a great thing, but you’re completely correct! All you’re doing is splitting your time between different things. I could probably get more done if I wasn’t trying to do everything at once. Such an awesome post!!
Thank you so much Rachel. I used to think the same thing about multitasking. When I first heard it called switch tasking it was such an eye opener and a total game changer. I try to be more intentional with my tasks now.