Time is a funny thing – everyday you hear people say “I don’t have the time for that” or “I don’t have enough time for this” when in reality, time it is
an absolute constant. We never lose time, and we never gain time. There are always 24 hours in a day, 7 days in a week, and 52 weeks in a year. But, it can seem like there is much less if you don’t know how to use time management strategies.
One thing that you can do is use time to your advantage. My suggestion is that you lay out your day in half hour increments. Here is the process…
1. Write down your list of tasks – always prioritize! Put the most important tasks towards the top, and always make sure that unfinished tasks from the previous day are first on the list. Don’t be afraid to put your undesirable tasks high on the list as well.
2. Write your starting time next to task number one – if you are beginning in the morning and your start time will be 8:00 AM, write this time next to the first task on your list. Then, decide if the task can be completed in a half hour. If it can, write 8:30 AM next to task number two. If you do not think that you can finish task number one in a half hour, then you can devote two blocks (or one hour) to that task. Just begin task number two at 9:00 AM.
Continue on down your to do list in this manner until you reach the end. Make sure that you are realistic in the way that you estimate your time. Do not pretend that you can finish a difficult task in 30 minutes if it will take you an hour and a half. It is OK to devote several blocks to one task. Just keep them in multiples of 30 (1 hour, 1.5 hours, etc).
3. Step back and take a look at your proposed work day – if you have been honest in your estimations, I think that you’ll be pleasantly surprised to see your finishing time. If each task will take no longer than one half hour, you could complete up to 14 individual tasks in an 8 hour workday. That’s including a whole hour for lunch.
4. If you did not complete all of your tasks by the end of the day, save what you did not finish for the next day’s todo list.
Making lists is one of the oldest time management tips around. However, adding the new twist of blocking your tasks in 30 minute increments might be the nudge that you need to stay on task. If you keep a clock or a watch handy, you will be able to check in on how you are doing in regards to your schedule. However, if you find that you are checking the clock too often, you might want to get rid of it as it may become a distraction from productivity.
Of course, there is no way to say which time management strategies will work the best for you. My advice is to try this technique for the next few days before giving it a final evaluation. If you find that it is not helping, you can always pencil in a half hour to look for something better.
Join in on the discussion by commenting below on what strategies you use to manage your time.
About Kelli Claypool
