These days, electronic devices have become our personal assistant when it comes to scheduling. Calendars, reminder apps and more now dictate our daily schedule and keep us on track. This is an excellent tool that is beneficial in a variety of ways. However, it’s the unscheduled obstacles that often get in our way and cause us to get off track. Consider the following tips to help you overcome obstacles.
Time Management Tips That Work
- Don’t Waste Time – It’s difficult for many of us to admit that we waste precious time every day. While relaxing on a Sunday afternoon surfing the internet and social media sites is a fun way to spend a leisurely day, when it comes to business it’s not. Have you ever arrived early at work only to sit at your desk and spend a few minutes surfing Facebook and other social media sites for fun? Before you realize it about 30 minutes are wasted and your work day began without you. This means that you are already 30 minutes behind on your schedule for the day. This causes panic, stress and the feeling of being overwhelmed. Stop wasting time by dedicating a special time of the day for personal fun, entertainment and more. Try to keep it out of work hours.
- Prepare for Emergencies – If you notice that an unscheduled event pops up a few times a week that throws you off schedule, it’s best to expect it and plan for it. This means you should clear up about four hours within your work week to dedicate to unforeseen situations. Doing this will allow you to stay on track with your regular schedule and allow you time to manage any emergencies that arise during the work week.
- Prioritize – When obstacles arise, prioritize your day. For example, your day might start out perfect. You arrive on time to work, complete your tasks on your schedule and go to a lunch meeting across town. On your way back from a successful lunch meeting you get stuck in traffic that delays you by 45 minutes. Once you arrive at your office, take a look at your calendar and create a priority list. What needs to be completed by the end of the work day? Then focus on completing your priority list. You might have to take care of the items that are less of a priority the next day during your lunch hour. Or, you can arrive early as work the next morning to get a head start.
There are only 24 hours in a day and some of it needs to be spent sleeping, eating, exercising, studying, working and spending time with family. Life can throw some difficult obstacles at you, but it is the way you react and manage the situation.