How to manage your time

By Ananya Aggarwal

In this day and age, time management is a critical skill to have in order to get the most out of each day. Many of us are extremely busy whether it is with sports, multiple jobs, family, or maintaining friendships. Try using these methods to properly manage your time and maximize your performance.

1. Track your time

The most obvious first step when it comes to time management is figuring out where your time is going. You might think you are spending only 20 minutes checking your messages when in reality you have spent an hour on it. This way, you can see what is stealing your time and may come to the realization that it is a waste.

2. Set limits to a task or project

Set aside a certain amount of time for each task so you can avoid distractions and procrastination.

3. Make sure to plan ahead

Every night or early in the morning, it is important to think about and even write down what you are going to accomplish tomorrow. Instead of waking up and wasting time planning your day or panicking and wandering aimlessly.

3. Change your schedule to maximize your performance

Find the time of the day you are the most productive and adapt your day around that time and get all of your important work done during that period.

5. Leave buffer time in between tasks to take a mental break

Recharging your brain is crucial and giving yourself a break will actually boost your performance. Try to take a walk, workout, talk to a friend, or eat something in between tasks.

6. Stay organized

There are many different ways you can stay organized whether that is keeping your workspace clean or getting an online calendar to set up reminders and have a legit schedule at your fingertips.

7. Do less

Slow down and be aware of what you are doing and focus on the task at hand. Stop trying to multitask, and create more value and effort into each thing you do, that way you don’t have to come back to it when you realize you did a poor job.

8. Prioritize your tasks

Figure out which of your tasks are the most important and do them first. Sometimes when you do this you also realize that another thing you were going to do is actually a waste of time and you don’t even need to do it.

9. Use all your time even when you are waiting

Whether you are at a dentist or doctor appointment waiting, you can always have some kind of work on your phone to do or just simply read a magazine. You can be planning for the next task while waiting or looking at spreadsheets.

10. Stop trying to do so much

Find someone qualified to outsource a task so you can focus on the bigger projects. You will save a lot of time if you can pay someone else to do easier tasks that you can use for more complicated projects.