Time is one of the most precious resources we have, yet it’s often one of the first to go when our schedule gets too busy. If you’re looking to achieve your time management goals and work less, you’ve come to the right place!
There are several ways to manage your time better; it takes patience and dedication to figure out which strategies will work best for you.
It could mean figuring out the best way to organise your desk space, finding out what you need to quickly minimise distractions and avoiding wasting time scrolling through social media.
These tips will help you improve your time management skills, leaving more of it for actual work!
Time management means organising and controlling how you use your time. It includes setting goals, making plans, and taking action to achieve them. It can help you get more done in less time, improve your productivity, and reduce stress.
Some of its benefits are:
1. You’ll Get More Done
If you want to get more done, you need to learn how to manage your time better. Time management is all about planning and prioritising your tasks to use your time efficiently. When you know how to manage your time, you’ll find that you can get more done in less time.
2. You’ll Be Less Stressed When You Use Time Management Goals
One of the major benefits of time management is that it can help to reduce your stress levels. It can be very stressful when you feel you’re always running out of time. But if you learn how to manage your time effectively, you’ll be able to relax and feel less stressed.
3. You’ll Be More Organised
If you want to be more organised, time management is essential. It’s easy to let things fall through the cracks when you have a lot on your plate. But if you plan and organise your tasks, you’ll find that everything runs more smoothly.
4. You’ll Have More Free Time
One of the best things about learning time management is that it can give you more free time. When you can get more done in less time, you’ll have more time to do what you enjoy. So if you’ve wanted to learn a new hobby or take up a new sport, time management can help you make it happen.
5. You’ll Be More Productive
Learning time management is a great place to start if you want to be more productive. When you manage your time well, you’ll find that you can get more done and achieve your goals quickly. Time management is about making the most of your time, so when you learn how to do it, you’ll be more productive in everything you do.
6. You’ll Achieve Your Goals
If you have big goals that you want to achieve, time management is key. When you manage your time well, you’ll be able to focus on your goals and work towards them more effectively. Thus, if you want to do something great, start by learning how to manage your time better.
Top 8 Ways To Achieve Time Management Goals
1. Stop Multitasking
To achieve your goal of time management, avoid multitasking. Multitasking is an illusion. When you are trying to do more than one thing at a time, you are actually creating extra work. And while it might seem like you’re getting a lot done, your mind is only operating at 30%. The other 70% of your brain is still trying to catch up with everything else it’s doing—and failing miserably.
To make room for creativity, find out what it takes to focus on one task at a time and enjoy greater productivity. You can maximise your time management skills by eliminating multitasking.
Plus, if you complete your tasks as per the priority and stay focused on that goal for short periods, you’ll feel more accomplished throughout each day. The small but regular wins will help keep you motivated all day long.
2. Set a Timer to Limit your Time
The next way to achieve your time management goals is by setting a timer for a set amount of time. It will trick your brain into working faster. Setting an artificial limit on how long you can work on one task motivates you to get it done as quickly as possible, forcing you to work more efficiently.
You’ll come out of it feeling accomplished because of the progress you made in a short amount of time! Plus, by doing it consistently, your productivity will start skyrocketing.
This is a proven productivity strategy implemented successfully by some of the world’s greatest business minds, so what are you waiting for? If every business owner can only do so many things in one day/week/month, why not get those most important tasks done quicker than anyone else?
3. Learn to Say NO More Often
For most of us, saying no is a big challenge. If you’re like me, your default answer tends to be yes unless you really have a good reason not to do something. After all, who wants to disappoint people? But when you say yes every time, you’re likely over-committed and working longer hours than you would otherwise.
This can lead to stress levels that are off the charts and make it harder for us to focus at work because we’re so worried about everything else on our plate—and who wouldn’t be? Try saying no more often and learn from it.
When someone asks you to do something, try asking what they would do if you can’t help them. If there is a critical reason for you being involved, just explain why you can’t or won’t participate.
4. Use a tracking system to reach time management goals
A great way to improve your time management skills is by tracking your work habits. You can do so in many ways: Some people use a physical calendar, some use Excel spreadsheets, some prefer voice recorders, and others opt for software-based solutions like Toggl or Workstatus.
Do whatever works best for you, but remember that time tracking isn’t just about improving productivity—it also helps boost accountability.
When data is involved in our working habits, we tend to behave differently. We act more responsibly when we have proof of our work habits than when we only have memories of them.
Sign up to try the best time tracking system to devise an effective action plan for time management here-
5. Take Care of Sleep Hygiene
You may think that if you have a job or a creative project on your plate, sleep doesn’t matter. But poor sleep can slow down your productivity and decision-making ability, making it harder for you to do your best work.
Take time for a pre-bed ritual that puts you in an optimal state of mind for restful sleep: Drink chamomile tea, meditate, write in a journal or do some light reading.
A good sleep at night will give you more energy in less time, so you can accomplish everything that needs doing with less stress—and more enjoyment.
6. Get Moving and Exercise
Another great way to improve time management skills is by taking time out of your busy schedule for fitness. It helps you feel better and makes you more productive.
In fact, studies have shown that those who exercise regularly are more efficient with their time. For example, a recent study found that subjects performed tasks faster after just one bout of exercise.
If your productivity is down or if you find yourself needing more hours in a day to get everything done, taking up some simple habits like walking around or doing jumping jacks at work can help increase your energy levels and speed up your cognitive function.
7. Prioritise your time management goals
List your goals for each day, week, month, or year. By allocating different weights to tasks based on importance—with one task as most important—you can make sure you’re investing your time in high-impact activities that align with your priorities.
Be proactive: Avoid procrastination by setting deadlines in advance, making appointments with yourself, and delegating tasks that aren’t a priority. Use tools like Trello or Workstatus to manage projects effectively.
Manage distractions: It’s easy for other things to impede work; try installing tools like Mute for Gmail or FocusMe (for Chrome) that limit access.
8. Take Less Work On And Reduce Your Stress Level
Many of us have a hard time saying no. When someone asks for a favour, we feel pressured to say yes, whether picking up an extra shift at work or taking on a new volunteer project.
But instead of adding more tasks to your schedule, learn how to set boundaries and tell people you can’t help them out. Instead of making yourself feel guilty for having fun, prioritise self-care so you can recharge after long days at work.
Reducing stress can lead to better productivity because it allows you to think more clearly and come up with better solutions than when you’re overworked.
Time management skills are valuable to help you in all areas of your life. If you want to be more productive, less stressed, and more successful, learning time management is a great place to start.
Closing Thoughts On Time Management Goals
Time management is critical for small business owners. You can work less and still get more done using the right tools and techniques. We’ve provided eight ways to help you achieve your time management goals.
Try the best time management software and improve time management skills to work more in less time.
Have you tried any of these tips? If not, give them a try to see how they work for you. And if you have other techniques that have worked well for you, please share them in the comments below.
Thanks for reading!!
Meera Nair is a workforce management Consultant and talent recogniser working with Workstatus. In her 16 years of experience in the field of resource management, she has been helping businesses to automate employee and workflow management.
