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"Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other's opinions drown out your inner voice. And most importantly, dare to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” - Steve Jobs (Co-founder of Apple Inc.)
Sometimes, you might feel as if you are stretched too thin and always find it hard to keep up with your schedules. If this is bothering you, rest assured you aren't alone. Even though we can't add extra hours to your day, we can help you with tips on controlling and managing your time.
How can you take control of your time?
Below are some ways you can take control of your time.
Prepare a to-do list and follow it
The first step to taking control of your time is to make a to-do list. While making the list, ensure to put the most critical tasks at the top, regardless of how daunting you find them. Whenever you can finish the job on the list, consider rewarding yourself.
Delegate tasks you don't need to do yourself
Some tasks aren't urgent or essential, so you can find someone to help you do the work. Delegating less important tasks can help free up your time and relieve pressure. Know that delegating tasks doesn't only mean assigning the task to humans; if it's something your computer can take care of, you can automate it. Also, avoid thinking that if you aren't the one that does the work, it will never be done correctly; instead, allow others to assist you.
Find your productive time
Some people are most productive in the morning, others in the afternoon, and some are most productive in the evening. Analyze yourself and understand which category you fall into, then leverage the time and do something worthy.
Create a dedicated time to work or study
Out of your schedule, create a time specifically for studying or work. At that moment, ensure you turn off your phone and other gadgets, so you fully concentrate. Don't touch your gadgets unless you want to reply to important calls or messages.
Budget your time
Evaluate yourself regarding your time to know how much your spend on every task, then create a schedule to follow so you can do every activity diligently. Before adding any commitments, determine your free time, and remember to schedule a good time for quality relaxation.
Avoid sidetracking
Sometimes, you might waste plenty of time on an unimportant activity. When this happens, check your to-do list to get back on track. For example, if you are procrastinating because you don't know how to move forward about your work assignment, speak to your boss to clear things up so you can move forward.
Get enough sleep
Your mental and physical body needs a break to rest, especially after executing a critical task. At this moment, what you need is a night of quality sleep. But before going to bed, list your following day's schedules so it can be easier for you.
Wrap up
Time management is a practice; the more you get into the habit of controlling your time, the more disciplined you will become, and the easier it will be for you to achieve your goals. Remember to always take a break at the appropriate time.