Imagine if time was a bank account and each morning you were credited with 86,400 seconds. If, by the end of that day, you hadn’t spent any of the credits, then they would instantly be deducted from your account. What would you do?
It is highly likely that you would make every effort to take care of those seconds and invest them wisely. It is interesting, though, how much time can be taken for granted and those seconds become lost or wasted.
Time pressure seems to be the norm for so many people in the modern world, and it can often feel as if there is so much to do and so little time.
You may well feel that life in the “busy ages” is a constant bombardment of information and overwhelming choice, which can lead to feelings of overstimulation and agitation. Taking time out to stop and reflect on what is making you busy is a great place to start.
So here are 3 simple tips and suggestions for improving your time-management skills:
1. Declutter
Creating an environment around you that provides more space, energy and clarity will impact on your health, happiness and overall well-being. It will help you to be more organised and productive.
The tidier and more minimalistic you are, the easier it will be to find things – and this can save lots of time. It is also good to declutter your mind, as this will help you to focus better and feel more in control. Decluttering, on a regular basis, can be very therapeutic and provide you with an energising sense of achievement.
2. Plan your day
Aimlessly wandering into your day may be a lovely thing to do when on holiday or even on your day off. However, to get things done, planning your day is essential. Creating to-do lists for each goal and project, by listing all the measurable steps that need to be achieved, is an excellent place to start and will save you time in the long run.
Taking time to plan your day will also help keep you focused and motivated, as you will then be able to monitor what you have already achieved. It will help you to feel more in control and on top of things.
3. Eat the Frog
Mark Twain once said that if the first thing you do each morning is to eat a live frog, then you can go through the day with the satisfaction of knowing that it is probably the worst thing that is going to happen to you all day long.
Your “frog” is your biggest, most important task, and the one you are most likely to procrastinate on. It is very tempting to put off what you don’t like doing to another time, or even another day or week. If you tackle it first thing, it won’t be hanging over you and you will feel so much lighter and more motivated as a result.
About the Author
Liggy Webb is an award-winning and best-selling author, presenter, and international consultant. She is also the founding director of LWL, an international consortium of behavioural skills specialists. Liggy is recognised as a thought leader on human resilience and wellbeing, working with a wide range of global organisations across the sector.