Here is a NINE STEP PLAN:
1. Make Lists: This is a basic fundamental tool to get organized. Make lists according to the priority (from most important to least important) and tick off tasks as you complete them. For example, I have a work-week-list and a weekend-list and I refer to it several times in the day to keep track of my goals.
2. Focus On One Thing At A Time: While people believe that multi-tasking is a great asset but my personal experience is that being focused on the task at hand can increase productivity. Do one thing at a time and do it right ... and with A LOT OF practice I have managed to achieve that: Stay in the present.
[ Related : How To De-Stress & Get Organized ]
4. Reward Yourself: When you reach your goal, meet your objective/deadline take a moment and celebrate. How you decide to do that is completely up to you. It could be as simple as taking a power nap, treating yourself to a Starbucks or splurging on that one investment piece. Keep it simple but make sure you do it. I reward myself with workouts, workout gear, massages, etc.
5. Use Your Downtime: Or ‘idol’ time such as driving, traveling, walking, etc. Not to be confused with your ‘break time’. This is the time in between your tasks that you can use to plan ahead and re-analyze your to-do-list. For me it is usually while showering and driving to/from work.
[ Related : How To Be Better Organized ]
7. Set Personal Deadline: Ideally set the deadline for a few days before it actually needs to be completed. Give yourself some buffer time. This helps reduce stress and manage your priorities more wisely.
8. Disconnect From Technology: While technology is supposed to help us get more productive and efficient, unfortunately it is doing just the opposite. The number of hours we spend on Internet cannot be justified. Plan your day with slots which require you to use technology and others where you completely disconnect from it. For example, set block of hours in the day to catch up on your virtual life and emails and then other blocks where you do not need technology at all (while cooking, family meals, exercising etc.). Doing this has helped me get back to my reading habit. This year I have read more books than I had in last two years combined.
9. Get Enough Sleep: That is the most important step in the time management. Even when you feel you can go on for 24 hours : DON’T. To avoid burnout make sure you at least catch up on 7-8 hours of shuteye. I am not great at this but I try my best.
I hope I was able to put my thoughts on this matter succinctly. If you have more such requests feel free to email me.
Brilliant tips, I really like to make lists, although I'm conscious making lists sometimes takes up a lot of time. I love the idea of focusing on one thing. Thanks for sharing your advice.
ReplyDeleteThese are some great tips to help stay organized. Running a blog sounds easy at first, but it can be hard to juggle everyday life along with it. Thanks for the tips!!
ReplyDeleteThese are such fantastic tips!!! Time management can really be a struggle at times
ReplyDeleteReally, really good tips! I think these are really important for making the most of your time. Thanks so much for sharing all of this info girl.
ReplyDeletexo, Lydia
Such great tips and they couldn't come at a more perfect time for myself. I recently launched my online boutique and being your own is such a blessing but it can get overwhelming. I've been trying make mini to-do lists for each day and not stacking everything into one and expecting myself to get it all done in one day.
ReplyDeleteXO!
Taylor | www.styleiseverythingblog.com
I needed this post like crazy! I have a lot of trouble with disconnecting from technology, something I'm working on before bed!
ReplyDeleteSuch great tips! I am definitely a list maker (would be LOST without my planner + lists). I also reward myself with snacks once I get so many things checked off, hahaha. No shame!
ReplyDeleteGreat tips! I couldn't live without my checklist each day. I like the idea of rewarding yourself when the tasks are completed!
ReplyDeleteI so rely on my daily checklist! I love rewarding myself when bigger tasks are done. I'll admit sometimes it's hard to disconnect from technology but I'm focusing more on that daily.
ReplyDeleteThese are great tips~ making a list helps me the most with getting all of my tasks done!
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of this, especially that I recently found that if I write all the tasks I have to do in a day down, I tend to finish them all. It's kind of rewarding cutting them off the list actually, when they are done, one by one.
ReplyDeleteList is just so important, we love to track so many things using excel spreasheets, feels like your mind is clutter free now
ReplyDeleteI love this list! I need to disconnect sometimes. Hard as a blogger! Im trying to read more.
ReplyDeleteThis is great advice Tanvi. I really like the infographic too it's great to have a plan of action!
ReplyDeleteTime Management comes naturally me due to my jobs prior to blogging! This is great.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the awesome tips! I am always looking for better ways to manage my time!
ReplyDeletefunny I should come upon this post today about Time. We happened to go to a watch and clock shop in Gettysburg(PA) earlier today. It was like stepping back in time, with not a single digital I found, but old-time face watches and clocks all over! These tips are great about time.
ReplyDeleteTime management is something I'm struggling with at the moment. I think writing everything down would help me a lot!
ReplyDeleteThis is me to a tee. I do however multi-task.I would never get things done if I didn't. But im a laser focused when doing so I think each is done well. I do feel burnt out sometimes though
ReplyDeleteThat is so useful! i often feel like I could save some time here there and secretly dream of extra hours a day
ReplyDeleteDelegation is something I have become way better at! It has totally maximized my time!! Disconnecting and sleep are also huge!! Great post!
ReplyDeleteMy work is linked to the technology and somehow I always get distractions which make it difficult for me to continue my work. I think I should perhaps try your methods to see if works!
ReplyDeleteI feel like 1, 2 and 3 really go hand in hand together. The first two helps concentration that leads to thinking about long-term planning. This is an excellent read to start the week!
ReplyDeleteLove these tips! For me it all starts with a good night's sleep -- I can't function without it.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips. Time Management is something that I often fail at. #2 is really important to me- i used to believe that multitasking was the way to go. But it lead me to half-completed and not putting my effort 100%. Being present is important.
ReplyDeleteThe sleep thing is hard for me. There's just still always so much to do at the end of the day. But I know I need to be better about just stopping and leaving things for the next day. Also I'm the worst at multi-tasking. I know I need to not do it and focus.
ReplyDeleteSuch great time management tips! Making lists are a must for me!
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Kim
Getting sleep! YES! Haha! That's the one I have the hardest time with. Love this post though!
ReplyDeleteI used to have all these "innate" time management skills! then I became a mom, and everything changed. When you make your list, you know that according to your possibilities you can do 5 or 6 things that day. But with young children you really don't know. They weak up with a fever, or the babysitter calls out at the last minute. Or you plan to take the bus but your child won't walk to the bus station fast enough or make a meltdown and you miss the bus/train. You are good to to reschedule and cancel a few things. Everything has to be done at "children pace" and if you don't actually change the mindset you end up very frustrated. So I think after 6 years of being a full-time mom I have successfully changed my mind set on time management.
ReplyDeleteNeed to listen and take note of all of this!!!! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeletexo Laura Leigh
www.louellareese.com
Loving these tips.. but one thing I need the most is to be in bed at 9:30 pm so I'll able to sleep by 10 pm. We need this because this is the time our body repairs itself.
ReplyDeleteFrom: Calleigh K
Great tips. Getting a complete and good sleep is what I needed right now because of my busy schedule.
ReplyDeleteLove all of these tips- could definitely use these as a reminder!
ReplyDeleteI'm currently using my down time. I found that I helps to always utilize that idle time instead of stressing about things I can't change. Great article.
ReplyDeleteI am a total list maker too! I love that you included delegating also - hard to do but so important
ReplyDeleteGreat tips here. Much of them I learned in design school. This school I went to was very strict, but it really taught you how to manage your time.
ReplyDeleteAllie of
www.allienyc.com