Why is it we have a problem with managing our time? 

The reason is simple, we think we don’t have the TIME.  So, a catch 22 then?  So, we spend our days rushing around doing a million and one things and not really achieving anything.  This causes us to feel stressed, dissatisfied, unhappy, annoyed, worried etc. etc.

For me, as someone who helps clients manage their time better, it can be frustrating as there are some very simple ways to solve this problem and make life a whole lot easier. 

We simply need to commit to a few changes in our daily, weekly and monthly routines and this is very often where the problem lies.

We are after all creatures of habit and we do not like change.

The actions below are not difficult to embrace but do you have the commitment??

So here they are, my tips for better time management:

Declutter – Spend some time clearing the space around you – your desk, your office, your home, your mind!  Once there is space whether actual or metaphorical, you will be surprised by how much more focussed you can be.  This WILL result in more productivity, more effectiveness and most importantly that feeling of enormous satisfaction when you have achieved what you needed to that day.

Planning – If you go through your day with never having any goals you will not be as effective as you could be.  So, plan.

Take some time to sit and think.  Many of us never do this.  Sit down and make a list, stick it on a post-it, it doesn’t matter.  If you have thought about what you want to achieve in the day, week, month or year that is the important bit.  Planning can be a bit of an art and it takes effort to make it work.  Once you have done this, block out time in your calendar to enable you to achieve those plans and commit to do them.  You will find that more time will be spent on your business than in it and this is how we grow.

Have a buffer – It is all very well planning and blocking time out in your calendar but if you don’t add in “buffer time” then it can all fall apart very quickly.  Never over commit yourself.

If you add back to back items in your calendar and then you have an emergency at home or a client suddenly needs a task completing that day, it will all go to pot very quickly resulting in you just playing catch up all the time.  So, leave some space, to walk the dog, pick up the kids from school and leave at least half an hour between appointments or tasks that you need to complete, because things invariably run over.  It may seem that I am telling you how to suck eggs, but it is amazing how many people simply don’t do this.  I didn’t and I learnt from experience!!  Trust me buffer!!

Prioritise those actions – What are your most important tasks?  Decide and then commit to completing them.  Work out your priorities for the day and make sure that you get them done no matter what.  To manage your workload effectively, knocking a few things off the list each day will make a difference and lighten the load.

Stop procrastinating – We all do it, we sit there procrastinating, over thinking and putting things off.  Stop now and just get on with it.  Sometimes we can plan, plan, plan but we will never think of everything and therefore we never achieve what we want to or it takes three times as long as we would have liked.  Just because we were too frightened to do it.  Take that plunge, you might achieve something great.  What is the worst that could happen?

Focus – We all have trouble with this, your phone buzzes, you get a text, there is an update on Facebook or an interesting article on LinkedIn and we get distracted.  The problem with distractions is that does not help our effectiveness and productivity.   Put those phones and devices to one side and concentrate on the job at hand.  Giving a task, project etc. your full attention for a couple of hours with no distractions is well worth it and you will get far more done.

Finish – Once you have started, finish.  How many times have you started a job and not finished it?  It is still sat there looking at you and has been for the last month.  How nice would it be if it was no longer sat on your desk?

And last, but not least, once you have implemented all the above keep at it.  Stay organised, don’t let things slip again.   Old habits are hard to break, but by creating new habits around time management you will not only feel a larger sense of achievement but life will run smoother and you will be able to create the business/lifestyle that you want.

I hope that that you have found these tips useful.  If you would like to discuss other ways to create more time and productivity, I offer free discovery calls, so please do contact me at emma@theumbrellatree.co.uk or visit my website www.theumbrellatree.co.uk.