Time Management to a T

We’ve all heard the saying “you have just as many hours in a day as Beyoncé”, but how do you really maximize those hours? Time management is a necessary skill that very few have actually mastered. Time management allows us to get as much done as reasonably possible, feel more productive, and tackle that to-do list. The CGS Team is sharing a few tips to help you make the most of each day by managing your time the best way possible. Start implementing these tips and see which ones work best for you. Once you find the habits that works for you, productivity will quickly follow!

Time Management Tip #1: Start Your Day With a Plan

After you wake up and have your morning coffee, spend 15-30 minutes creating a plan for your day. Whether it’s just for work or all day, having a plan to refer back to will keep you on track throughout the day. Get specific with your plan. When you leave it vague, it’s easy to miss activities or give yourself more time than you actually have.

Time Management Tip #2: Stop Complaining About Time

If your day’s plan or to-do list is longer than usual, don’t start off with a negative outlook. Complaining that you don’t have enough time to finish everything will kill your own vibe. Instead, think about all the time you do have and everything you can get accomplished. Do your best to get everything done. If it all doesn’t fit into one day, at least you know you did your best.

Time Management Tip #3: Designate Times to Check Emails

Did you know that email is one of the biggest distractions at work? Think about it, you are deep into a project and an email notification pops up. You read it and respond, all the while losing the momentum you had working on the project. Instead, designate times to check your emails throughout the day. Whether it’s every hour or every 3 hours, stick to the schedule. If you are waiting on an important email from your boss or someone else, set up a different alert for that person so you know it’s important and needs to be read ASAP.

Time Management Tip #4: Get To the Root of Your Procrastination

If you know you have something to do but find yourself procrastinating, instead of getting frustrated, ask yourself why you haven’t started. Is the task too difficult? Too boring? Are you too tired? Whatever the case is, get to the root of your procrastination and nip it in the bud. More time is wasted worrying about the stuff you should be doing but aren’t.

Time Management Tip #5: Complete a Time Audit

Can’t seem to figure out why you are always behind? Complete a time audit for yourself. For one week, track out your time spent each day. Get specific with it. If you spend 10 minutes talking to a co-worker, that should be included in your time schedule. Start the schedule from the moment you wake up until you go to bed. After the week is up, review your audit to see how much time is really being used productively. You will be surprised to see that 10 minute chats throughout the day equal a lot of time wasted throughout the week.

Time Management Tip #6: Set Reminders

If you have multiple things going on, don’t be afraid to set reminders for important calls, meetings or appointments throughout the day. Give yourself about 10-15 minutes before the appointment. This will give you enough time to wrap up what you are currently working on. Nothing is worse than being late, especially when you don’t have to be.

Related: How to Properly Plan Your Week

Time management is not a sacred skill. Anyone can manage their time productively. Forming daily habits will help in the long run of learning time management. We want to hear some of the ways CGS members manage their time. Leave a comment below to share some of the time management strategies that work (and don’t work) for you!

-The CGS Team