Everyone has different skills and abilities, but we all have the same number of hours in a day. As more time is spent working remotely, improving time management during the workday can lead to increased productivity and a better work-life balance. Studies have shown having a chronic feeling of not having enough time or chronic time urgency can increase stress levels and induce feelings of anxiety. February is Time Management Month and incorporating a few effective techniques into a routine can help maximize your day and reduce stress.

Don’t Over Commit

While new and exciting opportunities might present themselves while you’re at work or in your daily life, it is best not to over commit and overextend yourself. Doing so, may lead to having too much on your plate, and result in the inability to effectively manage your time and complete your tasks. Making sure you are not taking on too much and planning out all of your activities can help avoid this problem and doing so will result in a more organized and feasible agenda.

Plan Ahead and Prioritize

It is easier said than done, but try your best to plan ahead. If you have a task or project you want to complete by a certain day, plan to get it done. Managing your time and giving yourself notice to complete a task can help manage stress levels and increase productivity. Try incorporating a planning schedule with a calendar or even a to-do list on your computer, phone or note pad to help you plan and organize your agenda. Prioritize what you need to get done and make sure you rank tasks by urgency and importance, and add deadlines to your to-do list.

Use Technology to Stay on Task and Schedule Breaks

Time tracking software can be helpful when trying to stay on task for a predetermined amount of time. In an eight hour workday, research suggests that workers are only productive for two hours and 53 minutes. Try taking a 10-15 minute break after about 45 to 60 minutes of work. Apps like Desktime will notify you when you should step away from your computer. Taking this time to clear your head and get away from the heavy blue light of your computer can help you stay more productive and allow you to manage your time more effectively.

Working from home can be difficult. Using tips such as not over committing, prioritizing, and scheduling breaks can all be useful to get the most out of your day.  Whether you work from home, have a long list of chores to get done, or if you just aim to have a productive day, taking regular breaks increases your work efficiency. 

 

Allan Draper is a business growth expert, entrepreneur, attorney and host of the successful podcast, “The Business Growth Pod.” He specializes in scaling businesses and helping entrepreneurs reach goals with a dedicated approach to business analysis. Allan has contributed to the growth of startups that have now become multimillion dollar enterprises.