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How did it get so late in the day, so early?  The time seems to have slipped away - did you plan to get more done during the day, but it just didn’t happen?


Maybe you have some great ‘to do’ lists and apps that help you track your tasks – or a massive list in your head of the things you want to do.  


But still, time seems to catch you out most days.
Here’s a few thoughts of what might work to help you focus and really get some traction on the work:
  1. Break down larger tasks into smaller parts, focus for 20 – 30 minutes on one small part to get it done. Giving you a quick fix – a sense of achievement for getting one thing done.
  2. Turn off all beeping things, notifications, pop-ups. If you can, get some noise cancelling head-phones – just put them on and don’t even play any music. The quiet might help you concentrate. I know, I know, some like the background music to help them concentrate – use whatever works for you.
  3. If you use an electronic calendar (who doesn’t?) put time in the day to spend just on one task. Don’t multi-task – that is really distracting.
  4. If you get interrupted get back to where you left off as soon as you can – so that you can pick up your train of thought as quickly as possible. 
  5. Limit the number of tasks on your list. If there are a lot – spread them over several days, or if they are smaller tasks, do them in one burst. Get the biggest jobs done first.
  6. Track your time: use a piece of paper to record what you are doing. You could use an app, but that might be more time consuming, than picking up a pen to make a note of “7 mins answering 2 emails at 10.15am.” At the end of three to four days add up how much of each task you are doing and how often. You may find it best to spend two blocks of time responding to emails rather than doing them constantly during the day.

Time management isn’t new, it isn’t hard. What is hard, is developing a new habit or two to help you work more efficiently.

Need some coaching or help to get those tasks into order? Talk to us at One Day Training – workshops customised for your organisation. Email: Carol@onedaytraining.co.nz 

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