Time is of the essence, or that’s what we’ve heard?! The real question at hand is how we can use our time efficiently in the office to avoid letting it slip by? It can be tough when you have several projects at hand and not enough time to complete them. The first rule of thumb is to not add more pressure to yourself than there already is. In the meantime, here are 6 time management tips for the office you should start applying as soon as possible.
Time management tips for the office
Set reminders
Having reminders set in place helps us stay on track with what needs to be done. We can so easily get caught up doing other things and forget that we had started a previous project an hour ago.
Reminding yourself of items that need to get done whether it’s via Outlook notifications, smart phone reminders, or post-it notes is a great way to stay on track and keep tasks front of mind. Reminders are great to have especially when you work in a fast pace environment. Things can easily slip through the cracks if you aren’t on top of them. A to-do list will definitely come in handy here.
Order of Importance
If your executive gives you a load of projects to do in a short period of time, don’t over analyze them. Simply place little sticky notes on which item needs to get done first, second and last. Your boss is understanding of your time, and wants you to get the project done in a timely manner.
Placing more pressure on yourself to knock everything out in a short period of time will only increase your stress and ultimately cause you to get mediocre work done. Knowing which items are time-sensitive will help put your attention in the right place first.
Communicate
In many cases, our supervisors believe we are “super individuals” who can get a lot of work done in a short period of time. While in some cases this is possible, in others, it’s an unrealistic expectation. It’s vital to have an open channel of communication between you and your supervisor. Set the stage by asking for the expectations they have for you to complete projects assigned.
If they give you a project at noon and expect it completed by end of day, it is more realistic than getting a project ten minutes before you are about to leave. If you are having issues with an assignment, communicate them to your supervisor instead of wasting time on trying to figure it out yourself. You may be surprised at the resources and connections you can make by simply expressing the need for help.
Pace yourself
Slow and steady wins the race. Working quickly through important work items can be great, but it’s important to turn in work that has minimal to no errors because you took your time. A rushed project with plenty of errors often requires more time to fix those errors.
If you are aware a project is coming your way, be sure to give yourself enough time to get it done. The worst thing you can do is procrastinate the project and rush to complete it. The more time you have, the more time you can pace yourself and get things done accordingly.
Be realistic
Being honest with yourself, is the first step in helping with you with managing your time at work. There is nothing wrong with looking at your schedule days in advance to see when you’re available. Having a clear idea of when you’re free will give you an open platform to use to knock out any meetings you may schedule.
It’s important to be realistic with you and to give yourself the correct amount of time in between each meeting to regroup and prepare. If you know you have calls all day be sure to give yourself at least 15-30 min breaks in between to prep for the next one.
Perfecting your Skills
It’s always easier said than done, so don’t get too down on yourself on how well you do about managing your time. It’s important to tune into your skill levels and figure out what areas you are strong in and what areas need a little extra help.
The sooner you realize your strong the points, the more qualified you will be to manage your time in the workplace. Some people are great with their time management skills while other lack in communication. As long as you are aware and are making conscious choices to better your time while at work, a promotion is right around the corner.
Related: Time Management to a T
While at work, it’s good to keep in mind the goals you’ve set for yourself. Don’t rush yourself to get a job done and turn in something you’re not proud off. Keep in mind that everyone makes mistakes every now and then; just be sure to keep them to a minimum with these time management tips. What tips would you like to share with the community? Are the ones we provided helpful? Chat and comment with us on our Twitter and IG accounts @citygirlsavings. Also, leave a comment below to share!
1 thought on “6 Time Management Tips for the Office”
Hey ladies! @ashleigh-whitfield @ mml14 @kaitlynalexa @bnleblanc09 @megan-weichers @melgagliardi Did you see some of our time management tips for the work place? How do you stay on top of your competing priorities?