Do you over commit? Have a hard time saying no? Are you overwhelmed with projects and activities?
The way you manage your time can have a big impact on your health. With effective time management you can reduce stress, use your time more effectively and improve your quality of life.
Here are 10-time management tips to get you started and help manage your stress level.
- Create a daily schedule
- Planning your day can help you gain more control of your life.
- Jot down a to-do list and put tasks in order of importance.
- Say no to non-essential tasks
- You may not be able to turn down extra work from your boss, but try to find places you can reduce your involvement or responsibilities.
- Think twice before you agree to be part of teams/committees that are not part of your core job.
- Delegate
- Review your to-do list and see if there are jobs you can pass on to someone else.
- Take the time you need to do a quality job
- Doing the work right the first time may take more time up-front, but can save time in the long run.
- Break large, time-consuming projects into smaller jobs
- Work on them for a few minutes at a time until you finish them.
- Practice the 10-minute rule
- Decide to work on a dreaded task for 10 minutes each day.
- Once you get started, you may find you can get into a rhythm and actually complete the task.
- Getting started is often the hardest part and causes you to procrastinate.
- Think about how you’re spending your time
- Keep a diary of everything you do for three days to see where your time goes.
- Look for time wasters and develop ways to spend your time more wisely.
- Get plenty of sleep and physical activity
- Being alert after a good night’s sleep can improve your focus so you can get your work done in less time.
- Physical activity gets the blood moving and increases your ability to concentrate.
- Check out a time management course
- Either an internal course or an external course at a local community college, community center or university can provide you with insights and skills you can put into practice.
- Take a break
- Too much stress can make you feel disorganized. When you need a break, take one.
- Go for a walk, do some quick stretches at your workstation, or take a vacation day.
*Information referenced sourced from our vendor Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois
