4 Tips To Work Smarter With Efficient Time Management Skills

As they say, time is money, and when it comes to small businesses and start-ups, it’s precious. There will only be 24 hours to make a start-up, and you can’t miss an opportunity to get your money. While there will be businesspeople who will respond to this truth, some might mess it up. So if you feel you are in the latter group, don’t freak out! Working efficiently and productively with the right approach will sort out every mess. So let’s discuss some tips that can help you with time management.

Identify Goals and Prioritize Accordingly. It’s very important to ensure that the activities you engage in will support your business in the long and short run. Your everyday work schedule must practically help you in the revenue generation of your business, adding to the growth factor. Follow the “to-do list” module of Stephen Covey to arrange tasks based on priority, bringing out the best from your efforts.

• Urgent and important high-priority tasks should be done immediately.
• Urgent but not that important: Apparently, it appears to be very important, but waiting some time wouldn’t harm.
• Not important and Pseudo most ‘noisy’ of all jobs, no lasting value once accomplished. Pass on them if possible.
• Neither urgent nor important—extremely low-priority stuff; get them done when you are doing nothing.

Time Management Techniques – Plan your tasks based on the Pomodoro theory of Francesco Cirillo or the Pareto principle of 80/20. Some popular time management models can effectively increase your productivity, besides time management. Cirillo’s model requires you to divide your time into 25-minute slots with a five-minute break after each. Try setting a daily and weekly limit of Pomodoro’s for each category of your work.  As the 80/20 rule says, only 20% of highly focused work can get 80% of the work done. Focus on that 20%.

A ‘No” To Unproductiveness – When you are the boss, you must hold the authority to attend to what needs priority. You must say no to any project or task you feel will not lead anywhere. Learning from your experiences will save you time later on.

Plan Your Days – Without any future planning, you will be like jumping from one day to another, resulting in a pile-up of work. Try planning your days like this:

• You can start your next day without wasting time on planning by taking 15 minutes at the end of your day to organize your desk and prepare a “to-do list” for the next day.
• Make morning the most productive – Always try to reach your workplace a few minutes earlier than scheduled and prioritize your ‘to-do list’. Make your early hours the most productive part of your day.

Benefits of time management

Time management offers numerous benefits that can positively impact various aspects of your personal and professional life. Here are some key advantages:

• Increased Productivity: Efficient time management helps you prioritize tasks and focus on what matters most. This leads to higher productivity as you can complete more tasks in less time.
• Reduced Stress: Properly managing your time reduces the pressure of looming deadlines and unfinished tasks. This can contribute to lower stress levels, allowing you to work more effectively and maintain a better work-life balance.
• Improved Decision Making: With better time management, you have the opportunity to carefully consider your options and make well-informed decisions. This can lead to better outcomes in both your personal and professional life.
• Enhanced Quality of Work: When you allocate sufficient time to each task, you can pay more attention to detail and produce higher-quality work. This is especially important for tasks that require concentration and precision.
• Better Work-Life Balance: Time management enables you to allocate time not only to work but also to personal activities, hobbies, and relationships. This balance is crucial for overall well-being and satisfaction.

The Emphasis Lies On ‘You’

At the end of all time management techniques, you need to follow these steps. Hence, take care of yourself, follow a healthy lifestyle, and work according to schedules; every moment will earn for you.