(531) 365-5055

Resize Font

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Effective Time Management Strategies

Effective Time Management Strategies

Thank you for your interest in Outlook Business Solutions. Due to resourcing constraints we have made the difficult decision to forego additional client work at this time. We sincerely appreciate the customers we’ve been able to help and for their commitment to inclusivity. We hope to be of service again in the near future. If you are interested in learning more about Outlook Business Solutions sister companies and how they serve individuals who are blind, please contact info@outlooken.org for more information.
Effective Time Management Strategies

How do you really manage time? Time is static and unchangeable. There are only 24 hours in a day. Effective time management is the process of managing how you oversee the events in your life. Good time management enables you to get more done in a shorter period of time. You will be working efficiently and effectively. Good time management can also enhance your marketing business solutions. 

Time management skills are important because most of us never have enough time to do what we’re supposed to do, let alone the things we want to do. Time management is defined as the ability to use one's time effectively or productively, especially at work. People who are good at time management get things done because they know how to prioritize. 

The first thing we should all do is learn the difference between what is important and what is urgent. Important tasks are those that have consequences if they’re not completed. Urgent tasks are those that need immediate attention. We need to realize all urgent tasks don’t need your immediate attention. Maybe you set some time aside where you put your phone on silent so you can work on the important task at hand. The priority matrix will help you determine which tasks are most important.

The Priority Matrix - For Effective Time Management | Time management skills, Business management degree, Management skills

Here are seven tips to help you manage your time:

  1. Start with a focus. This is where you set your goals. You should have goals that are long-term. Those goals should be SMART goals – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Timely. Goals give your life direction. You should also have daily goals. Look at the work at hand and determine what must be accomplished today. Do this before you even listen to your voice mails or open emails. If you spend a few minutes preparing up front, you can save hours of wasted time and effort. 

  2. As you are doing your daily goal setting, develop a dynamic task list with a planning tool that works for you, whether this is a planner, a phone app or a wall diagram. Revisit the list during the day and add new tasks as they appear. This tool should give you a quick overview of what is important and urgent.

  3. Focus on those activities that are important and urgent first. These are activities that will have the most positive effect on your project or client. It’s easy and it feels like a win to knock out a few small, unimportant tasks first, but in the long-term, you’ll be sacrificing time that would be better spent on more important and urgent activities.

  4. Manage your time wasters and interruptions. There are so many of these to consider, such as unexpected office visitors, the phone ringing or an email notification. If you give in to every distraction, you will lose concentration and focus on the most important task at hand. There are many tactics that you can employ to avoid these time wasters. 

  5. Stop procrastinating. We all tend to put off unpleasant tasks, but this can snowball into bigger problems down the road. Avoid procrastination by setting deadlines for yourself. Break massive projects into more manageable smaller steps so you can see progress and an end. Tackle those big projects when your energy is at its peak.

  6. We’ve all heard someone say, “I’m a great multitasker,” but you need to limit your multitasking. Studies have shown that multitasking doesn’t save time. You’ll lose time because you lose focus. Good planning with blocks of time set aside for projects can help you avoid multitasking. If you find yourself multi-tasking, take a step back to quiet the distractions and bring yourself back to the task.

  7. Review your day. It’s important to see what you accomplish each day. It’s also important to see what you should concentrate more on the following day. If you spend a few minutes at the end of the day reviewing your progress, you will have a renewed sense of accomplishment when you leave the office.

We know it’s difficult to prioritize all of your tasks. If you’d like help prioritizing your time or if you have tasks that we can help you complete, we’re here for you. Outlook Business Solutions offers an array of marketing business solutions and sales services, from strategy planning to copywriting and public relations. We’re here to help you grow your business and inspire your customers. Contact us to learn more about our marketing business solutions!