Three Foolproof Time-Management Techniques For Saving Time At Work
Ever get the feeling that there aren’t enough hours in the day? You’re not the only one. We all want to save time at work. That’s why there are tons of articles out there offering “office time-saving tips” or “time-saving techniques.” Chances are you’ve read a few of them, and chances are that you’re still not the productivity master you want to be.
“time management isn’t just about allocating time, it’s about knowing how to use that time effectively”
The reason? There’s a common misconception when it comes to productivity, be it at home, in the office, or the classroom. What people don’t realize is that time management isn’t just about allocating time, it’s about knowing how to use that time effectively.
If you’re putting in the hours but not getting the results, then it’s worth rethinking your approach to time management. Fortunately, that’s what this article is here for. These are three foolproof, time-saving techniques for getting better work results quicker.
1. Plan your tasks and set smart goals
So you’ve carved out a few solid hours of work time. Great. But do you know what you’re doing with those hours? Do you have more than a vague idea of what you need to accomplish?
If the answer is “no,” then you could be heading a for major time management mishap. It’s no good allocating time to work in if you don’t know what you’re doing with that time! Not having a plan is a surefire productivity killer. Sure, you were intending to get that report finished, but you’re now two hours into a YouTube cat video playlist and not sure how you got there…
Time-saving technique number 1 is having a plan. That means working out what you need to get done in the time you’ve allocated, and being very specific about it. Commit to writing 1,000 words of that essay or having a complete first draft of that presentation you’re giving.
Having tangible goals causes you to focus, and being focused eliminates distractions. As the famed entrepreneur and author Tony Robbins states, “setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.” In real terms, that means more projects finished and less time watching cat videos.
2. Set deadlines
Planning is one of the essential time-saving tools at our disposal, but we are often loath to do it. The reason? Deadlines. Deadlines strike fear into the hearts of many a college student and aspiring businessperson.
Deadlines are scary for a reason. They put pressure on us to get things done. But, that pressure is actually a good thing, especially if you want to manage your time like a pro.
The problem with working without a deadline is that it’s very easy to get distracted. When there’s no pressure on you to get the task done, your mind starts to wander. You don’t need to be focused; you can always put off your current task until tomorrow.
Before you know it, the project you were working on is a side project to another, less important project. And, weeks or months down the line neither of those projects is finished because you’ve found more distractions.
Contrastingly, having a deadline makes you focus on the task at hand. Sure, it puts the pressure on you, but with nothing to distract you and with a good plan in tow, you’re going to do just fine.
3. Do the most important task first
Do you ever feel like you spent the whole day working, but got nothing done? That major projects are still incomplete in spite of hours spent at the grind? It might be because you filled your day with your least important tasks.
You may have heard of the 80/20 rule. It’s a principle, applied across many fields, stating that 80% of effects come from 20% of causes. In business, for example, 80% of profits tend to come from 20% of customers.
The 80/20 rule also applies to productivity. You’ll get 80% of results from 20% of the tasks you have to do. With that in mind, you want to make sure you’re working on the right 20%, rather than the 80% of tasks that are getting you the least gains.
Start each day by writing down the things you have to do. There might be 10 things on that list. But then, rather than simply working through them, take a moment to decide which of those tasks are most important to you reaching your goals and put those at the top of the list.
Don’t think about the tasks with the most pressing deadlines, think about the ones that are the most important (there’s a distinction there that a lot of people miss).
Now, get to work. You might only achieve the first three tasks on your list. But, with the 80/20 rule in mind, tasks one and two accounted for four-fifths of your progress.
Effective time management means learning to prioritize.
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