Ever heard of the Pareto principle? No? What about the 80/20 rule? Starting to ring any bells yet? The Pareto principle states that of the things you do during the day, only 20% really matter. Those 20% produce 80% of your results. Use this 80/20 rule to decide which 20% should go to the top of your list. It is this prioritisation that is the key to time management. In this article we offer some suggestion to make more effective use of your time.
Plan, Plan, Plan.
- Collate together a list of the tasks you do and how long you spend on each of them. Where are you losing time?
- Give each task a deadline.
- Review your list each week.
- Set goals for yourself. These can either be personal or work-related goals. Set goals that are achievable. Remember to write them down and review them.
- You need to draw up a "to-do" list each morning (or ideally the night before!) of the" must-do" jobs. You should have identified these from your task list.
- Make the most of your productive times. Some people are more productive in the mornings and others in the afternoon. When are you most productive?
- Make time for interruptions. Don't take on too many tasks, take time out for lunch etc.
- Put everything away each night, whether it's clearing the clutter on your desk or putting away the dishes at home: start each day with a clear mind.
- Priority tasks should be dealt with first.
- Don't be afraid to divert your phone if you get easily distracted, and try and stick to having set breaks.
- Technology is a wonderful thing and you should make the most of it wherever possible. Email is a great communication tool allowing you to contact multiple people at the same time.
- It's good to reward yourself for completing set tasks, and it doesn't have to be much. Pop out for a quick walk or spend ten minutes reading your favourite magazine.
- Don't start another task until you've finished the previous one.
Good time management starts with good planning and prioritisation. Spending time planning will mean that you save time and work more effectively