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Tips for Helping with Time Management

Focus on First Things First.  It sounds like a no brainer.  But most of us don’t do it.  That is: getting our highest priority tasks done first and most often.  Often, these tasks get relegated to “later” while we cross off easy, low hanging to do’s that make us instantly feel good.  Distractions and procrastination take control.  We are being reactive instead of proactive with our task list.  Try this to cut out this madness.  At the end of the day, on a stickie note, write down the three most important tasks you are going to do at the top of your day (even if one of those is just the first step in a bigger project).  Post it to your computer screen, desk, or smart phone.  The next day, before anything else, do them.  Hey, stay away from that email in-box.

Erika Salloux – Living Harmony  

 

I like to keep a basket by my back door as my “out” box. Everything that needs to go out like library books or store returns, goes there. I grab the items from the basket as I go out the door, and don’t have to spend time looking for them. My daughter has her own basket for her backpack and books, and it works for her too!

Elizabeth Goodsell – That’s Neat Organizing  

 

When you have a complicated task to tackle, break it down into steps. Write each step on an index card. Get out your calendar, and, starting with the date on which the task needs to be completed, work backwards, assigning each step a completion date so that everything is finished a day or two before your deadline to allow for unexpected time glitches. Then, on the day you've assigned to complete that step, set a timer for 15 minutes to start. You can work on anything for 15 minutes! When the timer goes off, if you're on a roll, keep going. If not, move on to something else, and rejoice in your small victory of completing at least part of your bigger task! 

Lisa S. Griffith – The Organized Way  

 

Make sure to put the important items in your calendar first. We all tend to think we will get to them or do them but the truth is, unless it is scheduled, less important things fill your time. For example, look at your calendar on a Sunday for the upcoming week. Schedule at least an hour that week to tackle your most important task. If you don’t have a large block of time, schedule a few mini sessions. You will be amazed at how much you can get done if it is scheduled in your calendar.

Dawn Link – Resolutions Organizing 

 

1.  Assign a home for things, so you can find what you want when you need it.

2.  Delegate tasks and responsibilities. Remember it doesn't need to be perfect, it just needs to be good enough.

3.  Do at least one item on your to do list before checking your daily email. 

4.  Open and process your (snail) mail daily, instead of letting it pile up.

5.  If something takes less than 3 minutes to do, do it now and get it over with.

Janine Cavanaugh - Professional Organizer

 

Avoid 'multi-tasking' as nothing really gets done well and on time.  Take the time to finish each task completely before moving on to the next one.

 Avoid reading your emails first thing in the morning. You will be surprised how quickly you can get pulled into the 'vortex' and one hour has gone by.

 Like in Kindergarten, give yourself transition time.  If you think something will take you 20 minutes- give yourself 35 minutes.

 Over-booking yourself or booking back-to-back appointments creates unnecessary stress.

Zele Avradopoulos – Z Organize   

 

Time Management (or Life management, as I'd like to call in my coaching/organizing practice) starts with knowing how you currently utilize your time in your everyday life. If you have no idea what that looks like, I recommend you to start with the first step of Tracking Your Time for at least a week, and ideally two weeks.

- As you track your time, do not waste any on trying to make it accurate to the minute, just estimate your time blocks as accurately as possible.

- Also, make a note of your energy level as you track. This will show your biological high and low energy times as well as pinpoint the activities that drain your energy.

- At the end of the tracking period, sit down and assess all the activities that go on in your life and ask yourself:

o Which ones can I eliminate?

o Which ones can I delegate successfully? To whom?

- After eliminating and delegating, assess the open time slots on a given week.

- Then match the open slots to desired activities. For example: 9 AM-10 AM on Tuesdays is my Organizing Time. Or 7 AM-8 AM on Fridays is my Exercise Time, etc.

- Schedule these on your calendar.

- Assess your success, give yourself kudos for a job well-done and be flexible in changing your system. Life is ever changing and your time management strategy will too as you move forward. I wish you great success in your efforts.

Sibel Babacan – Dr Bee Organizing Solutions

 

Especially with my AD/HD clients... Use an interval timer that chimes ever so often.  (I like either 6 minutes or 10 minutes.)  This helps develop a better sense of time by first externalizing.  Eventually that timer gets internalized.

Matt Reid - The In Place   

 

Set time limits for time-sucking activities such as Facebook, email, surfing the web and TV. For example, give yourself 10 minutes to check Facebook at lunch. Otherwise, you could be sucked in for hours looking at pictures of a friend of a friend you don’t even know! Getting a handle on your electronic activities can be a great way to reclaim some valuable minutes, and for many people even hours, in your day.

Sarah Brooks – Organizing Boston   

 

It saves a lot of time in the long-run to do quick tasks as soon as they come up. For example, when you receive updated contact information for an acquaintance, add the new information to your contact management system right away. In the time you spend (1) remembering that you have new contact info, (2) tracking where you jotted down said info, and (3) writing "update contact info" on your to do list, you could have already completed the task and be on to the next or something more fun!

Leslie Huikko - Nicely Done Organizing

 

Having a hard time setting SMART goals for 2012? Try this “Give Yourself an A” exercise: Pretend you are going to get graded at the end of the year based on your accomplishments, but you will accept nothing less than an “A.” Now, write a letter to yourself that starts with: “This year I earned an A because…” Then, continue writing the letter, listing all the important goals you want to accomplish and how you will accomplish them. When you are finished, review your letter with someone you trust (a business partner, your spouse,  your accountability partner) and start working on your projects! Don’t forget to review your letter often and at the end of the year to ensure you got your “A.”

Tamara Myles – Tamara Myles Consulting    

 

  

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