Five Ways You Can Maximize Time
“Even as we speak, time is running away from us. We must seize the day.” Horace Ode.
Time is a priceless resource that life gives us access to from the very second we are born. From that moment, we continuously invest it into our careers, dreams and our relationships. Yet it is a wonder how we go about in ignorance of how essential time is to our success. What separates people on different levels of success is their use of time. It is in the details of how we spend every moment that we can determine our success or failure. For as long as we treat time like the precious resource it is, we will never regret the investments we would have made.
Here are five important tips and on how we can effectively use time:
1. Planning
Being organized before working on something is a good place to start. Draft a work-plan with reasonable time allocations for every obligation you have. In order to estimate the time you need to perform a task, you must test your skills and level of knowledge on the task at hand. For example, if you need to make a presentation for a product review meeting, you will need to prepare slides of data. Having the slides prepared and in chronological order will help you estimate the time you will need to make your pitch.
List each objective down and allocate time to accomplish it. It is also important to list objectives according to priority. Start with the most pressing agenda and work your way through your list.
It is important to prepare ourselves mentally before taking on each task. Waking up early is a good way to kick start your day because your mind is still fresh after a good night’s rest. Doing a bit of exercise or mental reflections will clear up your neuro pathways, making you more effective in the execution of your plan.
2. Discipline
“We must suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons.” Unknown.
There is no point in drafting a timetable if you will not stick to it. Train yourself to follow your plan. This is easier when you set realistic goals. Unrealistic goals could leave you with a lot of incomplete tasks, which results in frustration. Remember that you are not in a competition with anyone else but yourself. Your goal is to be better than you were yesterday. Completing something that used to take you longer in a shorter space of time is progress- proof that you are winning in the battle against time.
Never put off for tomorrow what you can do today, for tomorrow will bring new challenges that will demand more of the little time you have. Procrastination is a perfect way to waste time because you can never regain the time lost.
Eliminate all distractions. Create an environment that is conducive for progress. Most people work better in quiet spaces, while others prefer background noise while they go about their business. Find and set up your ideal environment. There is no preset model of the best work environment as it differs from one person to the next. All you need is to create a space where you can exercise discipline and get things done.
3. Determination
“If something is important enough, even if the odds are against you, you will still do it.” Elon Musk.
One thing that guarantees one’s success is their determination to accomplish their goals. Before indulging in something and investing time in it, be sure that it is what you want to do. Figure out how important it is to you. Develop a hunger to see the desired outcome and work towards that. Be certain that it is worth investing your time in. Once you establish that, you will harness your strength and use it on a specific target no matter what comes your way.
4. Take a break
“No matter how much pressure you feel at work, if you could relax for at least five minutes every hour, you would be more productive.” Joyce Brothers.
The last thing you want to do is to wear yourself out before completing a single task. Take slight breaks in between. Make sure you add them to the timetable so that you can account for your time. This allows you to clear your mind and re-energize before resuming the grind. It is advisable to leave your work space and enjoy your recess elsewhere. Once you have refreshed, you are more likely to make more progress and waste little or no time.
What is the best way to recuperate?
Do an activity that is unrelated to the work you are doing. However, make sure this activity does not absorb too much of your time. It should be something that relaxes you and requires less mental muscle. Examples include taking a walk, journaling, meditating or any activity that will get your mind off the pressure of work. You can use this time to eat as well, so you have the energy to take up your work with the gusto it deserves.
5. Account for your progress
It is important to self-motivate by rewarding yourself when you use your time well. Evaluate your progress. Are you maximizing your time? Evaluation will show you where and how to improve. Reward yourself for every task you accomplish on time. It motivates you to keep improving your time management.
If you want to maximize your time and use it productively, you must be deliberate about tracking your use of this resource. Once you assess how much time you are productive on a weekly basis, it becomes easier to plan your week and see results in the tasks you accomplish. You can close the gap between where you are now and where you want to be by learning how to manage your time.