5 Essential Time Management Tips to Live By

By Wendy Dessler on September 26, 2016 - Fact checked by Dumb Little Man

by Wendy Dessler September 26, 2016

Many of us fumble through the day without ever really getting the important stuff done. Then, we clamor late at night trying to accomplish the most urgent tasks that need to be completed before the sun rises the next day.

If this sounds exactly like you, then you need to take advantage of the following time management tips so you can start working on your productivity right away. Aside from making you more productive, these tips will also increase your confidence so you can achieve your goals in no time.

Table of Contents

1. Prioritize Your Day-To-Day Tasks
2. Prioritize Progress Over Perfection
3. Schedule Time to Think and Plan Every Day
4. Finish Your Tasks in Half the Time You Think You Need
5. Create a Deadline for Each Project
Conclusion

1. Prioritize Your Day-To-Day Tasks

Lack of prioritization is one of the biggest reasons why a lot of people fail to achieve their goals. Without prioritized goals, you’ll find it difficult to attain your dreams since there’s no concrete plan on how you’re going to achieve them.

Creating a list and putting it in order is one of the best time management tips. It will keep you focused and aware of what tasks need to be completed for the day and which ones you can reschedule for tomorrow.

Keeping a list can give you a sense of accountability. It can also help you in achieving your goals faster than ever.

2. Prioritize Progress Over Perfection

Many people fail to achieve their goals because they think that they have to be perfect in everything that they do. This is a huge mistake and will absolutely hold you back from being productive.

The truth is you aren’t perfect and you’re never going to be. You may not get everything done perfectly or be right all the time. If you spend a ridiculous amount of time perfecting your craft, you won’t be able to finish anything on time.

This, however, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try to do your tasks right. You just have to learn when it’s time to move on to make sure that you’re still doing some progress. You can still get back to your unfinished tasks later.

Once you learn how to let go of perfection, you’ll find it easier to complete your tasks. You’ll also be less harsh on yourself.

3. Schedule Time to Think and Plan Every Day

Thinking about your activities for the next day is absolutely essential if you want to become more productive. Planning allows you to prioritize your tasks so that you can work on the most important ones first.

Without a to-do list, it’s relatively easy to get lost in your work. You might even end up missing deadlines because you didn’t plan ahead of time.

4. Finish Your Tasks in Half the Time You Think You Need

Too many people feel the need to perfect each work that they do. This means taking too much time to finish a single task.

While it’s easy to think that perfecting a task is good, it actually isn’t always the case, particularly if you have tons of other tasks to complete.

A great way to prevent perfectionism is to use an online tracking software. By tracking the time you spend on each task, you’ll see where your hours are going to.

5. Create a Deadline for Each Project

Creating deadlines is one of the most effective ways to increase productivity. By putting a deadline on each project, you will essentially create a sense of urgency.

This will push you to take the necessary steps to complete the tasks.

Conclusion

For some, increasing productivity may seem difficult. This, however, shouldn’t always be the case. With the right time management tips and constant practice, you’ll find it easier to complete your tasks and goals.

Like this Article? Subscribe to Our Feed!

Author: Wendy Dessler

Wendy is a super-connector with OutreachMama and Youth Noise NJ who helps businesses find their audience online through outreach, partnerships, and networking. She frequently writes about the latest advanceme