Knowing how to manage time takes time. There have certainly been days when you would have liked to have more than 24 hours in a day to do everything you need or would like to do. Between family, housework and work, how many times have you left some time for yourself behind? To go to the gym, read a book or just relax? If your answer was “few”, it is part of the small number of people who know effectively manage your time. But if your answer was different, in this article, you can find tips that can help you get to the end of the day with the satisfaction that you did everything you planned to do, including have time for yourself.
How to manage your time
We all have friends or acquaintances for whom time seems to be “elastic” and who seem to have time for everything. But there seems to be no secret to it, they just manage to make (or appear to be able to) a effective management of your time.
Step 1: Get a sense of time
If the day has only 24 hours, the solution is divide it into temporal parts and monetize each one. In other words, as the popular saying goes, it’s about “splitting the elephant in pieces”.
time to sleep
The number of hours you need to sleep so you don’t feel tired the next day varies, but experts stress that eight hours is the ideal range. Remember that sleep helps the body fight infections and stay healthythis is because while you sleep the body produces extra proteins that make your immune system stronger, bring you more energy and general well-being allowing you to deal better with stressful situations.For example, if you go to bed at 11pm and get up at 7 am you will have a “good night of 8 hours of sleep”. you have to manage 16 hours of your day. It is these hours that you will have to separate between work time, transport, family, meals, housework and also time for yourself.
Step 2: Define what to do during the week
Now, it is important to define what to do in each of the blocks into which you will divide the remaining time. Each day does not have to have the same blocks. The working days and the weekend days (or rest days) will certainly not have the same blocks. Let’s start with working days (so-called weekdays). If you have an eight-hour schedule, and you live away from work (or are not telecommuting) consider two more hours for commuting (include driving and picking up the kids from school) and lunchtime. Which totals 11 hours.
Manage time at work
If you have a full working schedule (eight hours), it is this period that you have to monetize. Organize your work and talk to your superior in order to get your work done within the established time. Companies are increasingly being managed by objectives, so Time saving is the key to success.So, the first thing to do is to try to organize your work time, as well as create new habits to be able to be productive. Also read: Tips for those who are entering the job market
Identify where you spend a day’s time
This can be the first step to better manage your time. Do you know that there are companies, such as consultants, where workers do time maps. These let you know where you spend your time. Try, for example, on a Monday writing down the time you spend on each task you do. Also include trips to the pantry for coffee and time for simple conversation with the colleague at the next table. At the end of the day, review the list and see if you could have done it differently.
make lists
Get an agenda, even if it’s on your cell phone and make a list of things to do the next day (or in the following days). Then when you complete it, cross it off and you will have the pleasant feeling that you are moving forward and being productive.
organize the list
Organizing this list will bring you advantages and make you focus on the essentials.You have to prioritize what you put on the list by priorities. Put at the top of the list the most important ones or those whose deadline is approaching. It will be the best way to manage your time.
Limit the time of each point in the list
This is another important topic in time management: know how much to spend on each task. And take a five-minute break between each one. This is important to recharge batteries and focus on the next task. Get up and walk around. If you are going to have a meeting, limiting time is paramount. Who hasn’t been to meetings that seem to have no end? In order for the meeting to be productive, remind the participants, before the start of the same, of the theme and the need to comply with the stipulated time. Also read: How to have efficient and healthy meetings
Do not use social media in the workplace
Using social media at work it can take away your focus and, above all, attention as it can be prohibited by company rules.
don’t skip lunch
You often think about eating a sandwich (or even skipping lunch) to take the time to work and get ahead in what you are doing. You must not. Lunch will allow you to make a stop and provide you with energy to complete your remaining daily activities.
Take the daily balance
At the end of the working day, take 10 minutes to see what you’ve cut off your daily list and need to redo the day Following. Organizing this list will allow you to effectively manage your time the next day, that is, save time the next morning. Also read: Thinking about changing jobs? Account for the emotional salary
Managing time outside of work
If we take eight hours for sleep and 11 hours for work and transport There are five hours left each day of the week for the family, for themselves and for organizing the house.The key to making everything go smoothly will be organizing the time and getting the whole family involved. You will see that your children even find it funny and you will be helping them to be responsible adults in the future. To organize your time, start from the same principle: make to-do lists and divide tasks by weekdays. The ideal would be to leave Saturday afternoon and Sunday without chores so you can focus on leisure with family and friends without worrying that there are still many things to do.
Before leaving home
There is little time between getting up and leaving the house, especially if you have small children. Although, there are little things you can do before leaving home:Make the bedsArrange the laundryPlace the breakfast dishes in the dishwasherClean the kitchen counterIf you’ve put the washing machines overnight, put the dishes in the cupboards and lay out the laundry.
when you get home
Upon arriving home, whether it’s after work or taking the kids to activities, there are always countless things to do.a. If you have planned meals on the weekend, you will see that it will be simpler. Small actions that can help:Put the dinner dishes in the machineSet up the kitchenLeave the table ready for breakfast the next dayPut the coffee in the coffee maker so that the next day you just turn it onIf you have small children prepare the next day’s laundry Ask the children to put their dirty laundry in the hamper and take the toys from the living room to the bedroom Tidy up the living and dining room If you can, go to the supermarket after dinner. They are usually empty and it saves time on the weekend.
manage time for yourself
During the week, time for yourself is also important. Whether it’s when your children are in the activities they may have, or at the end of the day. If your children are swimming, for example, take the opportunity to go to the gym to also exist in the same space or read while you wait.
Step 3: Define what to do during the weekend
The weekend has come, the almost exclusive time of the family has arrived. If you don’t have the help of a maid, take Saturday morning off for cleaning the house, ironing.Also plan your meals for the week, make a list of what you have to buy and you will find it easier to have meals during the week. If possible, consider making dishes that you can use for more than one meal and don’t forget that you can still cook other dishes with leftovers.
A professional writer by day, a tech-nerd by night, with a love for all things money.