There’s no denying it. The fast paced world we live
in today has created increased pressure on our ability to manage time. With
mobile devices, a global marketplace and the speed of business, it’s sometimes
very difficult to figure out how to balance everything (family, friends, work,
etc) and still maintain a competitive edge.
In our rushed state, we often make decisions that
create even more problems for our self. These choices may seem like necessary
measures, but they can cripple our ability to get things done.
Here are the 3 biggest time management mistakes
people make - and how you can avoid them.
1.
Taking
on too much: Often, the hardest thing in the world
is to just say no. At every turn, we are bombarded with choices about what we
can be doing or how we can spend our time. Rather than miss anything, or let
someone down, we agree to take on too much and stretch our resources to the
max.
When this happens,
we’re unable to give anything the amount of focus it deserves, which causes
even greater stress, guilt, and anxiety. To try and accomplish everything, we
usually start to multitask, which creates its own set of problems.
Multitasking has been
scientifically proven to decrease productivity, not increase it. Your quality
of work goes down. Mistakes get made.
Crucial points get missed…and your stress level increases more. It’s a vicious
cycle and it only adds to your workload in the long run.
In order to be
effective with your time, and avoid the stress and complications of taking on
too much, you must prioritize your tasks and focus on the most important ones. Don’t
be afraid to say no, to delegate, or to ask for help. Time is your most
precious resource. Guard it accordingly.
Also, look at the
systems you use and the things in your physical environment. You may actually
be able to handle an increased workload if you streamline your processes and
organize your work space. Sometimes it’s not the amount of work we take on, but
the way we go about handling it that is the real problem.
2.
Keeping
everything in your head: Our brain has the capacity to do extraordinary
things. But out short term memory is actually very limited. The more you try
and remember things you’re supposed to do - projects that need completing,
errands that need to be run, etc - the more you tax your resources and slow
down your productivity.
This is why you should
get everything down on paper. No matter how small (or how big) by writing it
down, you free up resources and allow your brain to get uncluttered. In doing
so, you gain more creativity, energy, cognitive brain power, and are able to
get things done faster – and increase the quality of your output.
3.
Having
no plan of action: Getting things out of your head is just
the first step. The next one is to plan your time. Otherwise, you’ll be blown
about by circumstance, being pulled in whichever direction seems the most
pressing at the moment. You’ll be putting out fires rather than making progress,
and you’ll move further and further away from your goals.
Plan your time and
prioritize accordingly. Spend the majority of your day on the things that
matter most. Also, make sure you set deadlines. It’s a proven fact that your
task expands to fit the time available for its completion. So, if you never set
deadlines, you’ll keep postponing what you need to do.
As you’ve probably heard before, though we refer to
it as time management, it’s really about managing yourself. Time cannot be
managed – nor can it be replenished. You only get one chance to live each day.
Your life will be a reflection of how you choose to spend that time. Make the
best of every moment.