Tackling Your Time Management

Make a List and Check it Twice

If you find yourself feeling flustered every time a new “to-do” pops into your head, it’s time to sit down and put pen to paper. Keeping a list of upcoming tasks and appointments can help you keep track of what’s on your plate. Each time you make a new plan or commitment, add it to your list so you’re not left with a tight deadline. There’s nothing worse than that nagging feeling that you’ve forgotten something. Your list may look like the never-ending story but it’s a great place to start.

Break it Down

Once you’ve written a realistic list of tasks and deadlines, break the big jobs up into bite sized pieces. Small jobs are less time consuming and less daunting to tackle. Before you know it, the pieces of the puzzle will come together and that huge project you were procrastinating is in its final stages. There’s nothing more satisfying than ticking off a job well done.

Make a Batch

No, we don’t recommend procrastinating by baking cookies. Batching your upcoming tasks into similar categories helps you get into a creative headspace. Need to tackle a few graphic design projects? Load up adobe workshop and batch upcoming artistic tasks together. Clear your desk and spread out your looming bills. You’ll feel relieved when a chunk of your list gets ticked off in one sitting.

Delegate

Sometimes you need to admit that you’re not a superhero. Stop stretching yourself thin and reach out to the people around you for help. Review your list for tasks you can delegate to your team, they’re here to support you. Remember two hands are better than one. Utilise your team’s skills and the results will speak for themselves.

Make a Plan

You’ve made a list, you’ve checked, categorised and delegated the tasks ahead, now it’s time to plan your day. Set yourself an achievable schedule of projects that are a priority. A concrete plan ensures you don’t overwork yourself in one day, procrastinate a deadline and waste time on a job that can wait until tomorrow. A plan lets you factor in meetings, ensuring you’re not running late for important clients. When you know what’s in store for the day ahead, starting your to-do list will feel like a walk in the park.

Time Your Time Management

It’s easy to start with the most appealing project and get carried away. Sure, you’ve conquered another job and it looks amazing, but you also lost six hours of your day. Go antiquing and pick up an hourglass to help you time your time management. Delegate a restricted timeframe to each task on your list. You’ll work faster on a deadline and ensure you don’t spend excessive time on specific tasks. If you didn’t quite get the job done, you can always come back to it later with a refreshed mind and innovative ideas. Take advantage of your timer to check in with your mental health, ensuring you’re taking regular breaks to clear your head. After a quick snack and stroll around the office, that foggy feeling in your brain will fade ensuring you can focus 100% on the task ahead.

Don’t get caught out by a tight deadline or forgotten meeting, keep your to-do list in check and manage your time effectively. If the tasks ahead still leave your head spinning, holla at hey@wildandfree.com.au , we’re always happy to help you conquer your to-do list.