Highlights
- List and Prioritise: Record appointments and tasks immediately to avoid forgetting.
- Punctuality Matters: Being on time improves reliability and trustworthiness.
- Act Promptly: Avoid procrastination; if you can do it now, do it.
- Focus on Results: Being busy isn't the same as being productive; measure accomplishments.
- Rethink 'Busy': Challenge the notion of busyness as a sign of importance.
Effective time management: A to-do list
Good time management skills are like good manners – they never go out of style. But, why should you care about improving your time management skills? Because the ability to manage your time like a pro makes you more productive, efficient, and more likely to meet deadlines. Have you ever met an employer who wouldn’t be attracted to that skill set? Didn’t think so.
Here’s our time management to-do list to get you back on track, and take back your time.
Write that down
Prioritising, scheduling, planning, listing – whatever you’d like to call it it’s important to find what works for you and stick to it. But lists only work if you add to them.
As soon as a new appointment, deadline, or to do item comes your way take a moment and record it. It’s just too easy to become distracted and forget.
Turn up on time, every time
We all know that one person who’d be late to their own funeral (as the saying goes). Don’t be that person.
Making a concerted effort to arrive on time for appointments will improve relationships and make a great first impression. You’ll be seen as more reliable, trustworthy and someone people can count on.
Don’t wait, act now
Strike while the iron is hot! Procrastinating is the enemy of productivity. It takes real, conscious effort to jolt yourself out of an “I’ll get to that later” mindset. If it can be done now, then do it now. The benefits to you are enormous. You’ll feel less stressed about meeting deadlines and those around you will see you as someone who gets things done.
Stop being busy
People often think how busy they feel is a reflection of how productive they are. Well, you might think you’re busy, but what have you accomplished? Now that’s the measure you need to focus on.
It might be hard to hear, but boasting or moaning about how busy you are is, much of the time, justifying your own importance.
You’re only as busy as you think you are. Ponder that for a minute. Breaking free of the importance of being busy can be life – and career-changing.
Need more practical tips for managing your time better? Check out MiTraining’s Time Management at Work short course.
