William Penn (yes, the Quaker Oats guy) once said:
“Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.”
Time management is an aspect of productivity that will determine the way we live. If we use our time poorly, we will never be able to get things done. If we use our time wisely and properly, life’s obstacles will seem 10 times easier to surpass.
It seems very simple, yet we can never seem to grasp the concept of how time can shape our workflow and overall productivity. The quote above by William Penn shines light on the struggle we tend to face when it comes to time management. Not only can it be intimidating, but some might not even know how to approach and correct the flaws in their time management when they already have it in place.
Today, I will share the top 3 easiest ways to manage your own time. These tips will not only help make you more productive, but they will also help you build healthy habits that will benefit your overall workflow.
Tip #1: Use a To-Do List
Many of us have probably stumbled across a scenario where we just can’t seem to remember things. Our days can consist of way more than we might expect and it can be quite the challenge to manage it all.
On top of that, loads of errands that have to be completed and jobs that need to be done tend to correlate with disorganization and clutter.
Luckily, a to-do list can solve all of these problems and more.
A to-do list can be broken down into 3 main benefits: structure, motivation, and the relieving of stress
1. To-Do Lists Provide Structure
Whether we are tackling a project, following through with a plan, or even creating a schedule for the next day, it always seems we can’t keep things in order within our brains. This always leads to a waste of time trying to figure out what needs to be done that day.
Well, you might be happy to hear that it’s not your fault. Our brains are for holding things, not remembering things. All of the short-term tasks that need to be done throughout the day are typically something we are incapable of retaining all day.
Creating a to-do list—either physically or digitally—can provide structure. One of the big factors of time management is being consistent. If you provide yourself with structure and organization, it will make it that much easier to keep a steady workflow.
The structure of a to-do list allows you to plan out your day with organization and will provide a smooth operation. With this pre-determined structure, you are now capable of keeping all your tasks and notes in one compact source. Allowing you to be more efficient rather than forgetting and potentially wasting time trying to remember all of the minuscule and trivial things that would populate a to-do list.
2. To-Do Lists Provide Motivation
Some would say that motivation is one of the biggest factors determining our productivity. It allows us to get work done without discipline and willpower. With motivation, we are able to get started on our daily tasks and to-dos quicker and easier.
It may come to your surprise that a to-do list can provide a consistent supply of motivation. Just the motion of checking off boxes is satisfying and provides a sense of completion that would be unprecedented without a to-do list.
Motivation and desire are the emotions that lead you to want to be able to do that again. This new sense of drive is going to keep you going throughout your day without any mental tolls that might have occurred without a to-do list.
3. To-Do Lists Relieve Stress
You’d be surprised at how simple it can be to reduce stress. Just writing things down and planning out your to-dos can significantly affect the way you feel. This will not only keep you mentally healthy, but it will also reduce burnout.
Not only does writing make you feel more relaxed, but it also allows you to write down all of the homework assignments, daily plans, or even grocery lists and structure them in a way you prefer. Essentially taking all of the clutter out of your brain and putting it all out on paper.
Another key part of stress is that everything will kind of float around in your thoughts. It’s important to understand that thoughts are spontaneous; therefore, it can be hard to focus on one thing without losing your thought to another. This can be overwhelming and will give off a sense of disorganization; leading to more stress.
When you take all of these tasks that are taking up your brain and you organize them, it provides a sense of refreshment. As all of your previously spontaneous thoughts start to translate into words on paper, it is much easier to stay focused without the factor of spontaneity.
Tip #2: Notice the Excuses
Most of us are probably familiar with the saying “I don’t have time” and some of us tend to use it daily. The truth is that this saying is only a myth. Excuses are one of the most common obstacles that get in the way of one’s productivity.
Throughout your life, you will inevitably encounter work that you don’t necessarily feel like doing at the moment. Subconsciously, you will start to make excuses for yourself. These excuses will reach your thoughts without you even realizing them. Here are some examples:
- “I need a break or else I’ll burn out.”
- “I have three days to study so I should hold off for now.”
- “I don’t have the time for this.”
While some of these reasons are rational and can sometimes be true, they are most commonly used as an excuse to blow off work; therefore, this is a form of procrastination. Eventually, you will start to develop a habit of justifying your choice of procrastination, rather than making the wise decision of getting things done and saving yourself some time for the future. As you slowly start to make the right decisions, you will begin to reduce that habit; therefore, bolstering your time management skills.
One of the biggest factors defining your time management is either embracing your work or departing from it. The excuses pave the road that allows you to run from your work, but eventually, you will hit a dead end with a huge pile of work sitting there for you.
As you start to notice these subconscious excuses and fake alibis, you will start to notice major positive benefits in your productivity and how much you can get done in shorter amounts of time.
Tip #3: Learn to Evaluate Opportunities
Opportunities are endless. Anyone can choose what they want to do when they want to do it, and how they want to do it.
These boundless opportunities and possibilities can come across as very overwhelming. Choosing between multiple paths and making sure that you committed the right one is something that not many people know how to do.
So why am I telling you this and how does it correlate with time management? As opportunities start floating your way, it is crucial that you have a habit of evaluating them. The goal here is to be capable of making decisions that you know you are committed to, rather than wasting your time on something that you, later on, realize that you don’t enjoy or feel intrigued by.
If you decide to commit to building a business with your friend, but you find business boring and repetitive, then you’ll most likely end up wasting your time and bailing out in the end. This would have never happened if you had previously evaluated your decision and realized that you never particularly found business interesting.
Approaching your opportunities with a sense of evaluation could potentially save you a fortune of time and sometimes even money.
Evaluation can be done with an “absolutely or absolutely not” mentality. The whole idea behind this mentality is to make a decision with a clear and concise answer. Answers will only include:
- “I absolutely want to take this opportunity and I know that this decision interests, excites, and makes sense to me and my personal goals.”
- “I don’t want to even approach this opportunity because it does not sound interesting, exciting, or worthwhile.”
This mentality helps close the gap between the answers of yes and no. There is no maybe, potentially, or possibly.
This thought process keeps you from taking chances that you’re not sure about. When you are unsure or skeptical about an opportunity, but take the offer anyway, you will most likely bailout later on; making it a complete waste of time.
This concept of being cautious of your commitments isn’t to make you scared of taking opportunities and chances. Taking risks and failing is how you learn and gain experience which is a key factor in life. Rather, it is a tool for you to use so that you don’t overthink your decisions and possibly commit to the wrong ones.
Again, evaluating your opportunities and decisions can save you lots of time that could be used to find something that you truly enjoy and can eventually expand on.
When you implement this mentality into your everyday life, it will help you make clear decisions that you are sure about rather than committing to choices—especially big and important ones—that you aren’t sure of.