By Rachael Teelander
Time management and keeping my activities/responsibilities organized are some things that I have struggled with for as long as I can remember. I have heard from many others of all ages that this is a common struggle. And, with 2019 just beginning, why not make it a goal to become more organized?
So, here are 5 tips on how to better manage your time!
1.Make a list of priorities.
Do you have an essay or an exam coming up? Or a project at work that needs to be finished by a certain date? Do you have a friend’s birthday coming up that you need to plan? Figure out all of the responsibilities you have, and write them down. Now, go through each one and number them from most to least important. Now you can start with your most important task, and work down from there!
2.Schedule your tasks.
Using your list of priorities, take each task and figure out when is best time to work on them. Don’t forget to keep school/work in mind! If these things can be worked on during school/work, make sure to write that down. This way you will cut down on having your tasks cut into free time.
3.Set Deadlines.
Now that you know when you’ll be working on your tasks/priorities, you need to figure out when they need to be finished! If it is something like an exam or an essay, then this step is easy as you’ll already have a deadline given to you. However, sometimes when given a project at work, or if you’re doing something at home or for yourself, you won’t have that luxury. Many have issues with self-set deadlines, but giving yourself rewards for meeting them is an easy way to keep yourself on track. This can be anything from treating yourself to your favorite candy to buying that pair of shoes you’ve been eyeing forever.
4.Don’t Multitask.
Many think that multitasking can help them finish their tasks in a quicker manner. While this may be true for some, this can be counterintuitive. Multitasking can lead to becoming overwhelmed, and isn’t that what we’re trying to avoid? Putting all of your focus on a single task will give you the opportunity to do better work on that task. Quality work is always better than work that has been rushed through.
5.Forgive yourself if you mess up.
Changing the way that you work, and the way that you think about your priorities, can be difficult, and it’s easy to fall back into your old habits. However, just the fact that you are willing to change yourself for the better and be better with time management is worth feeling good. If you find yourself falling back into your old habits, make sure that you don’t beat yourself up for it, and try again! There is always tomorrow!
Edited by Emily Chance