Time Management and Productivity
- Jay Homewood
- Oct 21, 2024
- 4 min read
It’s a common complaint that you’ve probably heard and probably said a thousand times as well – there just isn’t enough time in the day and you weren’t able to get everything done that you wanted to. You might even feel that you were being productive during the day, but you can’t quite explain what you achieved by the end of it.
Productivity is how we measure what we have done, usually daily. If we cross everything off on our mental to-do list, then we have been productive. This can be solely work-related or it can relate to other things in your life such as exercise, family, housework and so on. Some people struggle to be as productive as they would like to be. The key to unlocking your full potential and becoming as productive as you should is all about time management.
Time management is where you plan and organise your time to make sure you are working efficiently, which in turn will allow you to be more productive. The key elements of time management are outlined below, and these are techniques that are suggested and used frequently by highly effective people.
Plan your time
The most important thing you can do to improve your time management is plan, plan and plan some more. Plan in advance what you want to get done and how you are going to do it. The night before, plan what you want to achieve the next day, how long each task should take you and which ones are most essential. For tasks that will take more than one day, you might find it useful to plan your week and your month to capture the full cycle of completing these bigger tasks.
You also should work out when you are most productive. For many people, it’s first thing in the morning, and some others work better later on in the day. Plan to complete the most difficult tasks for the time of day that you know is your most productive, and the easier tasks for when you know you will start to wear out.
Plan your tasks
The first items you should prioritise are the essential ones. These are the tasks that have to be completed no matter what, and they should be the first to go onto your list. You can then add other tasks that are not as high a priority, but you need to make sure that your to-do list is realistic. If you write down a hundred long and complicated tasks that you want to get done in a single day, you’re setting yourself up for failure and this can demotivate you and reduce your productivity. Write down a realistic to-do list and stick to it.
Remove the distractions
There are so many distractions in this day and age, and it’s so easy to pick up your phone to check your messages only to find yourself still glued to it half an hour later. To properly harness your capabilities and be as productive as you can, you have to remove the distractions and the unnecessary activities that can eat huge chunks of your time up without you even noticing. If you plan to go to the gym in the morning, schedule the time you plan to leave the house and stick to it. Don’t wake up and scroll through your phone for thirty minutes beforehand, as it will throw you off your schedule, delay your productivity and reduce your chances of getting everything you want to be done in the day.
Another way to ensure you don’t get distracted is to identify a workspace with minimal distractions available. Find a quiet space to get your work done and keep your surroundings clear of items that might divert your attention.
Focus on your energy levels
To be productive, you need to have the energy to get things done. Getting a good nights’ sleep is an essential element of keeping your energy levels in check. Try to wake up early and don’t sleep in for too long, or before you know it half of the day is wasted. Exercising in the morning has been said to improve concentration levels throughout the day, so if you start your day with a workout, you might find that your ability to focus on your other goals for the rest of the day is much easier.
One task at a time
When you have lots of different things to do, it’s tempting to jump in and out of each task as you try to multitask. Focus only on one task at a time and use your plan to keep you on track. Multitasking reduces your productivity and your understanding of each task as you focus less energy on it, and you will find yourself jumping between tasks but not making much progress. Start on a single task, complete it and then move on to the next one and you’ll find yourself ticking off more items on your to-do list.
Take a break
At the end of each productive day, you need to switch off and relax. Effectively managing your time, being productive and getting things done is rewarding but it can also be very tiring. To avoid burnout, make sure that you include switching off in your plan. Relax and unwind and allow your batteries to recharge as part of your routine, and you’ll find it becomes much easier to transform yourself into a naturally productive and highly effective person.
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