We all want to work smarter, not harder, right? 

Honing your time management skills and increasing your productivity will help you do just that. If you find yourself constantly pressed for time, procrastinating, or just overall feeling unproductive, I hear you. Unfortunately, when life gets busy, it gets harder and harder to find time for yourself. But with the help of these five tried-and-true time management tips, you’ll be on your way to becoming the queen of productivity! 

1. Make a schedule and stick to it. 

When it comes to getting more things done in a day, time blocking is king. It doesn’t help you to make a loose schedule without timestamps. Because you might find that an activity that should’ve taken you only 30 minutes took you more than an hour if you’re not mindful of time. So, list out your to-dos using time blocks to keep yourself on track to hit your daily goals and remain focused on the tasks at hand. 

2. Perform a time audit on yourself. 

Not sure where all your time goes? It happens to the best of us. One minute it’s 10 a.m., and then by the time you look up, the day is over, and you’ve accomplished less than you planned. Save yourself from this cycle of unproductivity by taking a hard look at how you spend your time. Use a timer to track your tasks for one day, and then use what you learn to schedule out your activities with the proper amount of time allotted for each. 

3. Take frequent breaks. 

When you attempt to power through the workday without giving yourself a break, you only hurt your workflow and decrease your quality of work. Breaks are necessary for restoring your mind, body, and focus, and so do yourself a favor and take at least a five-minute break in between your tasks. 

4. Do your hardest work during your peak productivity level. 

We all have a window of time where we’re at our peak productivity levels. For you, this might be those first few hours of work in the morning, or it could be late at night when the house is quiet. Whenever that window is for you, make the most of it by scheduling the tasks that require the most mental energy. This way, you can use your “off” hours for activities that don’t need much out of you, resulting in a workflow that’s better on your mind and your quality of work! 

5. Learn to delegate.

Sometimes we just can’t do it all. There’s nothing wrong with asking for help if you need it, and more than likely, at least 20% of your responsibilities can be delegated to someone else. Here’s an example of just a few tasks that you can outsource to other people: 

• Housekeeping 
• Administrative work 
• Calendar management 
• Grocery shopping 

It’s not easy being a busy body, but you can use these tips above to make your workdays flow with more ease and less stress! 

 

HOW DO YOU STAY PRODUCTIVE?