10 Fantastic Tips For Mastering Time Management

Learn as much as you can about time management and put it into practice. Each and every one of us can benefit from being more efficient and effective in this respect and we can lead fuller and more productive, more enjoyable lives.

1. While you are thinking about this, keep a close eye on everything that you do today, tomorrow and for the next few days. Write down on a large sheet of paper each task that you complete within, say, 15 minute chunks of time. This will include walking the dog, sitting down in front of the TV, even bathroom breaks; make sure that it is comprehensive. Now you'll know where to start.

2. Don't trust your memory. We can all relate to forgetting about something as it has slipped our minds and know how much stress it puts on our daily grind. Keep a note of what you need to do by making a list and checking it twice!

3. With very few exceptions, anything that lands on your lap and appears to be urgent is rarely vital. Don't think that you have to drop everything that you are doing to answer that call and be prepared to put your foot down, gently to start off, with whoever may be suggesting otherwise!

4. A well put together schedule is vitally important, so that you can schedule your priorities and ensure that they don't schedule you! This means that you're focusing on tasks according to a hierarchy of importance and while they say that you should never put off what you can do today, be wary of trying to rush to complete jobs before they necessarily have to be completed, as this can become a bad habit.

5. Delegate properly. Find out who can do the job for you, trust them to do it and once you have given clear directions, let them do it. They will prioritise it according to their individual schedules.

6. Do not micro-manage. This is a bad habit to have if you're in management, although many of us exhibit this failure from time to time. If you have entrusted someone to do the job for you, let them do it.

7. Identify why you procrastinate. There can be many different reasons – fear, the need for perfectionism, uncertainty or simply becoming overwhelmed. Identify the source of the issue and you will then be able to take steps to fix it.

8. Understand how important time management is. If you look at this from a financial point of view, you can work out how each minute of each hour is worth a certain amount of money and this will help you to focus, without wasting those valuable moments.

9. Do not be afraid to say no. This can be very difficult for some and the thought of actually turning down a money related project can appear to be crazy, especially in this stressful financial environment. Do not be tempted to take on more than you can chew, as while you might gain in the short term, you will almost certainly lose out in the longer run.

10. Find out everything you can about online time management, and keep in mind that time tracking software and time management software tools can be a fantastic investment in your future.