Time Management

Time management can do wonders.  One who has good time management is closer to success. It can reduce stress and anxiety multi-fold, and helps in improving productivity. It gives a lot of opportunities for self-improvement and ultimately helps in reaching career goals. According to a lot of professionals admission consultants, the following tips can positively impact your entire life:

• Prioritize – If you are a business person or a student or generally someone who has a busy schedule, it is highly recommended to get your priorities straight. The Eisenhower Matrix helps a lot in setting up preferences. Divide your tasks based on importance and urgency of completion. Give priority to tasks that are both important and urgent. Don’t do the tasks that are neither important nor urgent. 

• Set time limits – Assign each task a certain amount of time and stick to it. Try your best to give the right time limit to tasks. It's all dependant on how well you judged the time limits. One of the main factors to be considered while setting time limits is the difficulty of the task. Getting that right can help you save a lot of time.

• Plan ahead – Planning is the key to success. Look at your day as a time table. Always plan your day the night before, to reduce anxiety. Once you’ve planned, review whether you’ll be able to stick with the time table. Make changes if necessary. Give your best to stick to the plan. 

There is a lot of software and apps that help you to be productive and manage time efficiently. They are often free and are very useful if utilized in the right way. In my opinion, Forest is the best app in the market that helps in accomplishing the goal of staying productive. Mobile phones are the biggest distraction for most of us. Forest helps in overcoming mobile addiction. 

Maintaining to-do lists can help in remembering tasks. Completing tasks and scoring off it from the list gives a sense of accomplishment, which boosts your energy and helps to stay motivated. Another way of staying organized is by using Kanban boards. It is a simple yet effective method to get work done. It is like an advanced version of to-do lists. A Kanban board consists of three sections: To-do, In-progress, and Done. Instead of striking off a task once it is done, you have to move the tasks to different parts of the board based on its status. This method is useful when working with a team and helps to keep track of the work.

Multitasking may sound like an impressive thing, but experts warn that multitasking reduces your productivity, as your attention is split on multiple issues, instead of a single task. It is crucial to take regular breaks in between tasks. Breaks are essential to recharge your focus. If your work involves looking at computer screens for long periods, exercise your eyes regularly. Take a short walk, if possible. These steps are scientifically proven to make you more efficient and affect your health positively.

Most of us have the habit of procrastination. Procrastination is the enemy of success. Always complete your assignments as soon as possible. You can get a lot of free time that would never be possible to have, if not for proper time management. Utilize this time by connecting with our surroundings, friends, and family. Reward yourself with some personal time, and do what you love. Find hobbies that make you think creatively. Take good care of your health and hygiene. All these tips can boost your confidence and help you maintain a good reputation among your peers. 

Let’s try not to say, “I don’t have time” ever again.