Does this sound familiar? You want to be more productive at work. You go through the typical motions of trying to be more efficient, but it’s like your cup is always full explains Vito Proietti. No matter what you do, where you look… there is never enough time in the day to get everything done on your overflowing “to-do” list. Sound about right?
If so, then read on for some great tips that will help increase employee productivity through time management!
The Problem with Time Management
There are lots of articles out there on how to manage your time better and greater tips for increasing productivity, yet many people still don’t seem to know how they should approach their calendar or balance their workload. It has nothing to do with laziness or lack of drive. The truth is that many people just need a little guidance on how to start.
For example, many articles might tell you to plan out your week by organizing your schedule into 45-minute blocks and then filling them with different tasks. However, this method often fails because it assumes that all activities will take the same amount of time, which isn’t usually the case.
When it comes down to it, there are two simple principles for managing your time better:
1) Organize yourself daily.
Depending on what you do, some days will be naturally busier than others—there’s no getting around that fact. Yet while some days may be tougher than others in terms of workload volume, there should always be a method to your madness says, Vito Proietti.
What does this mean? It means that on a day that is simple, you should be sure it’s as productive as possible by using that time to clear some things off your plate or do something new and challenging. If you have more tasks than usual, make sure the load is spread evenly throughout your week. And always know what needs to be done at all times!
2) Balance your work with play/relaxation time.
Many of us spend more time working than anything else in our lives, so we might sometimes feel resentful if we’re not happy at our jobs or we don’t get enough down-time. It can be easy to schedule every second of our days and then feel guilty when we’re not doing something productive every moment.
The truth is that all work and no play makes us dull employees, so it’s important to schedule some down-time. Not only does this give your brain a break, but it also helps you clear your mind so you can come back fresh the next day. This might mean taking a walk around the block or watching an episode of your favorite TV show before bed explains Vito Proietti.
What You Can Do Right Now To Be More Productive!
You’ve probably heard most of these tips before, but they bear repeating because they really do help you increase productivity through time management:
Evaluate what needs to be done during any given week (include team tasks as well as personal ones) and then block out time for each item on your calendar
Clean up as you go throughout the day. Leave yourself enough time to complete your daily activities, but don’t plan so tightly that you can’t take care of anything else
Be sure to schedule some free time every week so you can recuperate and reenergize
Finally, give yourself permission to say “no” once in a while. You shouldn’t feel guilty for not taking on an extra assignment or turning down an invitation if it means sacrificing your productivity by taking away from the tasks at hand.
Conclusion:
While you might feel like there’s always something else to be, don’t forget that time management is as much an art as it is a science says Vito Proietti.
If you want to improve your productivity through time management and be more organized in your daily activities, then just remember: do what works for you and schedule everything down to the minute if need be! When it comes down to it, many of us think we’re doing a great job at managing our time until someone points out all of our mistakes. Try not to beat yourself up over the little things, but focus on becoming better every day.