How Can I Better Manage My Time?

Do you have a routine or a schedule you follow every day?

Have you set aside some time for social media?

Are you overstretched each day?

Do you use online tools?

Do you outsource work to colleagues and family members?

Do you like what you do?

Set a fixed routine to your day and you'll find that you're more productive. If you've not done this before, start today. Get up in the morning and as a first thing, write down the list of activities you have to do and allot a time for each. Make sure the times you set are realistic and are sufficient to finish that job without feeling too overwhelmed. Such a structure can help you to manage time smoothly.

Social media can zap your time simply because it is addictive and engaging. You will take a break from work to check a simple message on Facebook and before you know it, you would've spent more than half an hour on it, thereby pushing your schedule behind. To avoid such incursions and the resultant loss of time, set aside a certain time of the day for social media and enjoy this time. Just ensure you don't go beyond it.

All of us have limitations as humans - we have only 24 hours in a day. So, make sure your schedule and timelines are realistic so that you can continue working on it without feeling overwhelmed. More importantly, this is essential to ensure that your interest sustains in the long run.

Start using online tools to track your time. For example, if you have about five jobs that need to be completed at work, set an online alarm or reminder that will tell you when you're close to the time you've set for each alarm. Such a streamlined way of working can help you to be highly productive and you'll be surprised to see how effectively you use the available time.

It's about time you start outsourcing your work to colleagues and family members so you have fewer things to do in a given time. This will not only help you to use your time well but will also make you feel less tired both mentally and physically. Just ensure that you give the right job to the right person, so you don't end up reworking on it.

If this is your career or something you do for a large part of your day, it is time to address it right away. There is a limit to how much you can push yourself to do the things that you don't like. If this is your job, look for an alternative. On the other hand, if it is a household chore, see if there is a workaround for it.

Great! But just make sure you don't overdo it as this may lead to frustration and fatigue. Keep your work within established timelines so you look forward to it each day.