9 Effective Time Management Strategies

It's no secret that effective time management is essential to success. Therefore, since we all have 24 hours to work with, why not make the best use of it? 

Unfortunately, many of us often tend to fritter away time by engaging in unproductive activities, procrastinating, and finding ways to avoid important tasks. 

Luckily, we can improve our ability to get things done by managing what we do and when we do it. 

Here are 9 effective time management strategies to help you:

1. Make a to-do list that prioritizes your tasks. Tackle your most demanding and difficult tasks first and when your focus and energy are at their peak. Not only will you accomplish more, but you will also do it in less time. Likewise, the chores that are less pressing and require less focus and energy can be taken care of as the day winds down. 

2. Remember to take short breaks. As I discuss in my article 9 Proven Ways to Increase Productivity, it is important to take breaks and refresh. Breaks give you a chance to regroup, rejuvenate and refocus. Working too long without a break is counterproductive and can derail your time management efforts. 

3. Assign a time frame for each task. According to Parkinson's Law, a task shrinks or grows according to the time you assign to it. Assigning a time frame for your tasks allows you to utilize effective time management fully. 

For example, when you give yourself 30 minutes to complete a task, you will likely finish it in 30 minutes or less. If you give yourself 45 minutes to complete the same task, you could dawdle and stretch it out unnecessarily. 

4. Clump similar or related tasks together and complete them all at once. Not only will you save energy by not going back and forth to complete similar tasks, but you will also save time. 

For example, if you have to go out on an errand to purchase supplies, what else can you do while driving? Do you need to renew a passport or license? Do you need to mail something? Even if some of those tasks are not due, you can do them without making a separate or special trip. 

5. Use a combination calendar/agenda/organizer. To manage your activities, you must know what, where, and when they take place. A calendar/agenda/organizer will keep all such activities front and center. 

Many great time management tools are available, such as Google Calendar, your smartphone, or any computer. Being organized also helps you prioritize your tasks better. 

6. Know your limitations. It stands to reason that no one can do everything all the time and do it quickly. Don't hesitate to delegate or eliminate a task if you know you have other commitments or obligations. 

Trying to accomplish something you know you are not equipped to do will cost you time, not save it. Admitting you cannot do something is fine, so don't hesitate to assign or hire someone else to complete it. 

Example: Trying to patch that hole in the roof when you have no carpentry skills or have never tried it before. The time you would waste doing it incorrectly would only cost you time and money in the long run. 

7. Let go of perfectionism. Quite often, those of us with perfectionist tendencies waste more time trying to be perfect than getting a good job done. Most things don't need to be perfect, only practical and functional. 

Examples of perfectionism would include:

• Constantly trying to improve things by redoing them.

• Obsessing over small details

• Imposing unrealistically high standards

Indeed, focusing on doing a good job in a timely and efficient manner would better serve our time management skills than the quest for perfection.

8. Simplify your workflows. By simplifying your tasks, you will work smarter and get things done more timely. Ways to do so include breaking down big tasks into smaller, more manageable ones, eliminating unnecessary steps, and evaluating and streamlining the process. 

"Everything must be made as simple as possible. But not simpler."  Albert Einstein

9. Remove Distractions. Removing distractions lets you focus on the task and ultimately get it done more quickly and efficiently. 

Distractions include surfing the internet, checking emails, answering the phone when in the middle of your work, and watching television. Distractions also interrupt your workflow, which can be difficult to regain.

Effective time management not only contributes to success but is contingent upon it. Review these helpful strategies and endeavor to implement them into your routine.