3 Quick Tips to Improve Your Time Management Skills

Do you have a hard time with time management?

Are you always late?

Do you struggle to complete tasks in the time allotted?

Could you use your time more wisely?

If your answer is “yes” to any of these questions, there may be room for improvement in the way you are managing your time. Fortunately, there are a number of strategies you can use to improve your time management skills.

It’s never too late to become a better time manager. And here are 3 simple tips to help you manage your time better.

Place value on your time

In order to have better time management, you need to understand the value of your time – perception, attitudes, and actions. Everyone values their time differently. Each of us has the same hours in the day. It really is about how we choose to use the time we have that will make the difference.

Think about the tasks you do each day. You might even want to keep a log of how you spend your time for a week to gain a clear understanding of what you do and when you do it. Then give some thought to how you have been using your time and look for opportunities to make changes. 

How much do you make an hour? Are you spending time doing things that actually cost you money? One example might be running out to get ink for the printer. That could easily be two hours out of your day – by the time you get in your car, drive to the store, get distracted by all the other items you forgot you needed, head back to the office, and get back to work.

If you make $100 per hour doing what you do, that little trip just cost you $200. Cha-ching!

These days, you can order a lot of things online. That will save you time and money.

What about spending time doing tasks others could do? Examples might be bookkeeping and social media management. If you LOVE doing these things, great. If you don’t love doing them, find someone else who can do them and focus on other priorities. Your time would be better spent doing things you do well and do love doing.

The point is that your time is valuable, so always make sure you are treating it as such.

Identify your “prime time”

Your prime time is the time of day when you have the most energy.

Are you a morning person?

Do you feel re-energized after lunch?

Are you a “night owl” who works best at night when there are fewer distractions?

Whenever your “prime time” may be, USE IT!

You are apt to be more productive and focused during this time. So, work on your most important tasks during this window of time. 

Use the 80/20 Rule  

The 80/20 Rule is a running theme for The Productivity Experts. Start your day working the first 96 minutes on your most important task. This is the first 20% of your day.  

It may be a project that needs a finishing touch, a new client’s file you need to read through, or completing parts of a large project.

Once you have completed those tasks, then you can start on the rest of your day with general work such as email, voicemail, meetings, or making phone calls, etc.

By doing this, you will make steady progress in making sure your most important tasks for the day get the time and attention they deserve, and you will always have accomplishments to celebrate at the end of every day.

Better time management will make for a more productive day. So IGNITE your performance each day with these quick tips, and never stop looking for ways to master the art of time management.