Do you constantly find yourself wishing that you had more time to get tasks done? In today’s world, time like money has become valuable and very limited. A whole day can go by, and you realize that you haven’t completed even a quarter of what you set out to do.
Luckily, there are some steps you can take to ensure that you can get as much work done. Here are 6 tips on how to save time so that you avoid overwhelming yourself.
1. Set Priorities
The first key to avoid getting overwhelmed is to know the difference between what is urgent and what is important. Sometimes what you may consider important may not necessarily be an urgent task. E.g. Responding to a coworker’s email regarding a future event is important but not urgent. However, sending a job application that is due say at 5 pm is urgent.
Both tasks are essential but taking time to complete urgent tasks and then moving on to those that are important is the best way to manage your time. Creating a “to-do” list is a good way to prioritize, especially at the start of every day. Tips On How To Make A Practical To-Do List
2. Break Down Tasks
There are days when I wake up with so much enthusiasm to do different things but still end up staring at my laptop screen for hours after 5 p.m. The reason for this is that I don’t usually know where to start with my tasks. Once you have your priority list then you can move on to chunking down tasks into small pieces.
If you are working on a project or an article, start by subdividing the work into sections. Remember, the smaller the sections the better. This way you will be able to focus on one thing at a time, see your progress and avoid overwhelming yourself.
3. Avoid Multitasking
As much as multitasking may seem like the best way to get different tasks done, it is the worst way to go about each day. Studies show that switching from one task to another leads to a loss of time and productivity as well. You end up doing different tasks less effectively because your attention span is not at its prime. Instead of trying to balance, focus on one task at a time and by the end of the day you will realize that you are done with tasks without overwhelming your body.
4. Delegate
Looking for an extra hand is one of the best ways to avoid overwhelming yourself. Select one person or a couple of people with experience, interest and the required skills for that task. Then, explain about the work and your expectations. Later, you can check up on their progress and assist where necessary. However, try your best not to take over the responsibility.
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5. Manage Time Wasters
You can reduce the time spent on time-consuming activities or distractions by following these tips:
Set aside time to respond to emails. This will help to prevent piling them up to the point where responding becomes overwhelming.
Meetings
Unless a meeting is very important avoid scheduling meetings, especially on days you know you have tasks to complete. On the days when you have important meetings, start and end meetings on time. Additionally, use recording software or choose someone to take notes.
Visits
Visits can end up being time-consuming. If a friend or family member asks to visit, decide on a day and time when you are less busy. You can also share your work schedule with them to make it easier to plan for meetups in the future. This will also help to avoid distractions during your workdays.
Phones
Try your best to avoid small talk to ensure that you remain on track. One of the things I realized about working with friends is that it is usually easy to lose focus. There are times when I will call my friend to ask about something important then we end up having a casual conversation. Before we know it, an hour has gone by just chatting.
Another way to avoid distractions is imposing screen limits. This makes it easier for you to avoid checking notifications. In case of urgent messages, the voice-to-text feature is the best way to take notes or draft messages.
6. Focus On Your Health
All work and no play is the worst way to go about each day. Schedule time to breathe – engage in self-care activities, watch movies, take a long nap or take part in an outdoor activity. Taking time to relax will help you to rejuvenate mentally and physically. Having a calm mind makes it easier to accomplish tasks faster.
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