Time Management Techniques and Tools

Five Tips To Increase Workplace Time Management

Manage your time…

We all get 24 hours in a day. Making those 24 hours work for us in terms of productivity is an ever-elusive Holy Grail. The problem is, you’re not really managing time. What you are managing is you. Once you realize the power is in your hands to manage your hours, it becomes easier to manage your workload. Below are five tips to help you take control of your day and maximize your productivity so you can have a better time at work.

DECREASE INTERRUPTIONS. When we toggle between screens, actions and devices, we’re constantly interrupted by notifications, emails, phone calls or texts. This makes it difficult to dive deep into projects. Just when we think we’re getting somewhere, a new screen pops up and stalls our action. These interruptions increase stress and dissolve productivity by making us feel busy without achieving much. To gain more focus, turn off devices and shut off all pop-up windows and notifications.

GET CLARITY. Many times, we are unsure of what the next step should be. By not prioritizing tasks and defining the next action, productivity stalls. To get clarity, you may need to meet with your supervisor or boss and simply ask. If you are the boss, determining the next action on a project, getting clarity, and moving on to the next step will get you the results you want.

GET PRODUCTIVE, NOT BUSY. It’s tempting to start with the easiest items on your to-do list just to check off boxes. However, to get out of busy mode and be truly productive, think quality over quantity. Ask yourself which actions will help accomplish your revenue goal? What actions will bring more peace, money, or whatever it is you’re working towards?

STAY AWARE OF TIME AND ITS PASSAGE. It’s difficult to  manage time when you aren’t sure what time it is. I once worked with a client who was continually late for meetings, so we got him a watch, a desk clock and a large wall clock. These simple changes provided the reminders he needed to shift his attention and be on time. If time is stalling your productivity, make sure you have several clocks, large and small, throughout your workspace, and set alarms if you need to.

BATCH TASKS. You can group similar tasks or actions together. Often, those similar tasks require the same resources and the same set up. Rather than racing back and forth between separate errands, strategize your productivity so you go through similar items on your list in one block of time.

You can run your day or your day can run you. These techniques can help you better manage the way you work.

This article was previously published in the April Issue of Green Living Magazine

Margo Crawford is a Productivity Coach with Wave Productivity. She works with entrepreneurs, small business owners and business professionals to help them get more focused, organized and productive in their workplace. Contact Margo at 602-6778275 or email [email protected].

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