Each of us are granted equally with 24 hours a day and understanding how to make the most out of this time is essential to productivity, especially at work. Time management is more than merely cramming every possible responsibility into your daily schedule but rather figuring out techniques and strategies that allow you to tactfully allocate tasks throughout the day.  

By adopting the right time management method, it enables you to stay on pace and facilities the smart planning needed along the way to ensure that you do not get sidetracked from your initial focus. In fact, being organised in terms of your time lies at the core. Not only does effective time management skills result in better results at work, but it also has advantages outside of the office too. 

Why does time management matter?

In an in-depth workplace survey conducted by Atlassian, it has been pointed out that employees are constantly wasting their time on things that bring about little business value during working hours. Poor time management skills subject them to being drowned in email, stuck in dead-end meetings or easily distracted by non-work-related tasks. 

By spending too much time on tasks of little account, employees are inclined to overlook certain work that requires a higher level of concentration and prioritisation. This phenomenon will hinder employees from making any tangible progress on their important tasks, making it harder for them to move forward in any aspects of their career.  

Additionally, their productivity can take a serious hit if this pattern continues to perpetuate. The lack of effort in time management will greatly debilitate one’s productivity as well as impact the workflow of entire projects.  

Tips for effective time management

Below are some tips that you can start adopting to ensure that your time does not go to waste during working hours:  

      1. Focus on prioritised tasks  

Determining which tasks should receive more attention and efforts is imperative since we always want to put our best foot forward when we start our day. Sorting the most important items can help you see the big picture and avoid spending extra time on emails or unnecessary meetings. 

      2. Set attainable goals 

By setting goals that you know you can certainly achieve that day creates a sense of achievement and allows you to see that you are using your time wisely. This method can also greatly boost your productivity and morale at work, keeping your spirit up to go tackle other responsibilities. 

        3. Limit multi-tasking 

Multi-tasking seems tempting since it gives you a degree of busyness that is often associated with productivity, getting two things done in a time span of one. However, multi-tasking does not always work out the way you wanted it to. Most of the time, this form of working will lead to mixing things up or works that are perfunctorily finished.  

       4. Blot out distractions 

Try to put your phone and mailbox on silent when you are concentrating on a task or in a meeting. You might think it will take only two seconds to peek at your text message preview, but this action might lead to 30-minutes straight of scrolling aimlessly without getting anything done.  

       5. Set time limit to complete certain tasks   

Time blocking can help you gauge the time needed to finish a certain task so you can start planning ahead in the future. This method also enables you to be completely absorbed with the task and gives your colleagues a heads-up as to whether you are available during that time frame.  

        6. Take a break between tasks/sessions 

Taking a break between your tasks or meetings is of great importance in terms of maintaining stamina and focus throughout the day. Getting a coffee, drinking water or chatting with your colleagues can help take your mind off your problems for a while so you can revisit it with a brand-new perspective later on.  

 Explore more on how you can tackle burn out to stay ahead of the game here