Last updated on April 27, 2023.
Everyone is given the same 24 hours in a day; however, it can sometimes seem like others are able to achieve more in that same time frame. You might find yourself wondering, “How do they get so much done?” Their secret is good time management skills!
Being proactive about managing your time makes you more efficient at completing tasks. Strong time management skills have several benefits, such as being less stressed, having extra free time, achieving your goals, and feeling accomplishment and satisfaction. Want to learn Boardman Training Center’s four tips for better time management? Then, keep reading!
1. Stay Organized
The first step to developing your time management skills is to become more organized. Organizing your tasks can help you understand what you have to do and ensure that it all gets done. Creating a to-do list of school assignments, work projects, personal tasks, or anything else you need to get done is a simple way to get an overview of all the items you need to complete and when. Then, you can go through your list and prioritize what is most important.
Organizing in a way that makes sense to you is essential, and the method that works best for you may be different than the method for someone else. For example, utilizing Post-it notes can be helpful for a kinesthetic learner, while using color-coding may work better for a visual learner. By discovering your specific learning style, you can develop organizational tactics that work best for you.
Organization can also apply to your computer and workspace. According to an Indeed article, having a clean space for studying or work can help increase productivity. It is easy to feel overwhelmed if your workspace is cluttered, so it is important to maintain an organized area designated for your work or school projects.
2. Prioritize Your Tasks
Now that you have your list of tasks you need to complete organized in a way that works for you, it is time to prioritize your tasks in order of importance. When you prioritize your tasks, you are taking the extra time to determine what tasks need to be completed first, helping you know where to start when crossing things off your to-do list. One way to do this is to write down the deadlines for items with them and move the soonest dates to the top of your list. For the items that don’t have specific deadlines, you can break down the tasks into smaller items and give them deadlines. For example, if you have an ongoing project, creating smaller assignments for yourself can keep you on track to completing the task without procrastinating.
3. Plan Ahead
So, you’ve successfully organized and prioritized your tasks, so now it’s time to create a plan to complete the items on your list. You can start out doing this daily, then move to planning your entire week at a time. Making a plan will help set you on the path to success, as you will always know exactly how to spend your time most efficiently. A great way to do this is to utilize an online or physical calendar to schedule your tasks in advance.
A tactic that works for some students and professionals is time blocking. Time blocking involves dedicating specific amounts of time to one particular task. This can be helpful in staying organized and on-task because you will work solely on one thing at a time. Ensure that your plan includes breaks between tasks, especially larger items that will take longer to complete. Taking walks, exercising, or doing anything else you enjoy during these breaks can help you recharge your energy and stay focused throughout the day.
4. Give Yourself Deadlines
Once you plan your day or week ahead of time, be sure to have a deadline for each task to be completed. Breaking a large task into smaller items that allow you to set measurable deadlines can be helpful in making sure you stay on track and complete every aspect of the assignment. In addition, planning ahead and setting deadlines will help you anticipate how long each task will take, so you can allow yourself enough time to complete the job.
Join us in 2023!
Learning valuable time management skills can contribute to your success now and in the future. At Boardman Training Center, we’re here to help you get started on your path to a new career. We work with you to help you manage your time and balance work, family, and school.
Get started on your journey to a new healthcare career by calling 330-729-9244 or requesting information!