Ever since human evolution, time management skills have been a well-established trait of the successful. Each one of us lives and breathes for 24 hours a day. The way we use the 24 hours to make our lives is variable. Some have come out as billionaires and some are sailing through; taking one day at a time. Here’s where time management skills play an integral role. Sowing a healthy relationship with time can harvest maximum productivity as well as profitability.
As important as it may be, one cannot adopt time management skills overnight, let alone master them. “Where do I start?”. We’ve got you covered. Listed below are top 10 time management skills that can make your life easier, happier and smarter.
Top 10 time management skills include:
Design a plan
Ancient and one of the most classic sayings – “A goal without a plan is just a wish” – has left a lasting impression. As much as it fits perfectly while we hover over the first time management skill, the saying holds a positive aura motivating one to accomplish their goals with a plan. When you have a plan in place, your ideas and their execution strategies are not scattered anymore; you map out a direction to the roadmap of your success. Thus, design a plan before you kick-start your work.
To-do list > priority list
Break your to-do list in a priority list. Begin with what matters the most to you. Besides, ensure that you strike through your tasks on successful completion. While this exercise creeps in a sense of accomplishment, it motivates you to continue. Priority lists also allow you to delegate efficiently.
Adopt the 20-minute rule
It’s one of those time management skills that actually involves time! Per the 20-minute rule, you dedicate an uninterrupted 20 minutes to the task at hand. You are expected to deal with your responsibility with everything that you have. Once the alarm goes off after 20 mins, you screen your efforts and decide whether you will abandon the task or continue to complete the same. A 20-minutes deadline is all it takes for you to move an inch closer to your goal.
Delegate when necessary
Delegating work does not make you weaker. If anything, it makes you stronger, more productive and happier. No wonder work delegation is one of the most practised time management skills. Delegating work is a win-win situation for your subordinate and yourself. It not only frees up your time for tasks that require your attention inevitably but also enables you to optimize the skills of your team and make them feel trusted and valued. Lastly, mindful work delegation can unfold an efficient you.
Set a deadline
Napoleon Hill once said, “A goal is a dream with a deadline.”. To realize your goals and dreams, you need a deadline. In case of a deadline absence, you may work tirelessly to achieve your goal yet end up stuck wherever you are. You may feel like you are moving closer to your dream but the placebo effect will dawn upon you. Thus, set a deadline. Give your tasks an expiry date. On that note, ensure that your deadlines are realistic and doable. Also, each of your tasks must be assigned a deadline that they deserve.
Learn to say a ‘No’
In the process of being a people pleaser, you may fail to please your goals and eventually yourself. If a certain yes shapes your personality, you may be forced into sacrificing your goals. Hence, refrain from allowing the less important tasks to weigh in and come in the middle of your more important tasks. Realize that you cannot make everyone happy. An occasional no today can reap rewards for you tomorrow.
Keep distractions out of the way
Since distractions make a deadly pattern, begin with saying a ‘No’ to them. Keep a mental note of the elements that urge you to lean towards them. You may find yourself distracted by either social media applications or television. Anything that holds the power to put off your success should be looked into and eliminated at the earliest. Distraction management as one of the time management skills is paramount.
Maintain quality standards
In an attempt to complete your tasks, you may work fast and in a haphazard fashion. However, that working style does not excuse mediocre asset submissions. If you begin to compromise on your quality, you’ll have to begin to acquaint yourself with frequent re-work requests. Besides, a rehearsal of time management skills does not come at the cost of quality. For this reason, set the seal on grasping and mastering the above-mentioned time management skills
Have a routine upskill session
Innovations are a part and parcel of every industry. A new technology brings in a new working style; a more efficient and productive one. To leverage these inventions to the best of your capacity, firstly, you need to know about them. Secondly, you need to know them like the back of your hand to optimize them, saving your time to a great extent. Consequently, you must stay updated as well as invest in upskilling yourself.
In conclusion:
King’s Business School (KBS) offers a range of educational programs to upskill oneself. From Bachelors, to Masters to MBA to Diploma to Doctorate to ACCA, KBS programs are complemented by industrial professionals and an extensive curriculum. While the modules deliver deep subject knowledge, assessments and real-life case studies provide the learners with an enriching on-field exposure. Additionally, they get a chance to cultivate a valuable skillset, inclusive of time management skills.
Lastly, proper management of time allows one to work smarter over harder. It’s time for you to adopt the top time management skills and unfold the most efficient version of yourself, inviting years of glory.
