Do you want to know the secret to maximising your time? As humans, we tend to give attention to things that demand an instant response, such as phone alerts, and put off important tasks, such as going to the gym. But it doesn’t have to be this way. You can learn to make the most of your day by prioritising tasks according to importance and urgency. Here are some tips to help you stay on schedule:
Switch off
If you want to become more time-efficient, you need to switch off from the things that will distract you most. The messages you receive on Facebook, Twitter and your phone will all be there when you come back. So, make a point of unplugging from the internet and putting your phone on flight mode until you’ve finished your work.
Keep commitments to yourself
Have you ever considered how funny we humans are? If a friend asks us for coffee, we say yes, set a time and date and make sure to keep to our commitment. But rarely do we make these commitments with ourselves. Perhaps you’ve wanted to write a book, grow a garden or get into shape. In the same way you’d schedule this in with a friend or boss, schedule it in with yourself – and stick to it. This is when it’s important to have a clear idea of your priorities and goals.
Be picky about your tasks
Sometimes, the hardest part of having a productive day is knowing where to start – especially when there are 100 items on your to-do list. The trick is to limit your list to no more than three achievable items. It’s better to focus your energy on one task at a time and complete it well, rather than rush through a long list and feel as though you’ve failed if you didn’t manage to finish everything.
Be a little bit rude
Lastly, it’s important to learn how to put your work ahead of others’ demands. Ignoring people’s calls and texts, and turning down their invitations might be seen as rude – but when you have a job to do, you have a job to do. Offer to see friends at a later date and apologise later for not returning their calls. When these people see how committed you are to your personal goals, they will respect you for it.
How do you manage to make the most of your time?
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