We’re all trying to get the most out of our day, however, there’s an ever-increasing list of things to get done and a finite number of hours in a day to do them. This is an unfortunate reality, however, if you feel your inability to get things done during the workday is affecting your performance then you might be in trouble. Never fear, today we are going to discuss some of the daily habits that may be holding you back (Even if you didn’t notice them)
1. Not writing things down
If you’re not writing things down, then start! If you really want to manage your time effectively, you’re going to need to keep a record of some description. I know the working day can get busy and stress levels can get the better of all of us. However, keeping notes of what you’ve been up to will help you find where you’re wasting time throughout your day.
2. Chasing perfection
Perfection is the enemy of good- Voltaire.
This Italian proverb may be over 250 years old but it still as true as it ever was! Perfectionism and time management don’t go together. If you’re focusing all your time and energy on making one project perfect, then you’re neglecting others. While it can be a hard habit to kick, recognising that several tasks that are done well are superior to one task done “perfectly” will help you manage your time more efficiently.
3. Not saying no
While it’s nice to be nice, agreeing to help anyone who asks you, this yes-man attitude may be holding you back! Realise that your time is precious and if you’re helping someone with their projects means you’re ignoring your own. I’m not saying you have to offend anyone but learning to say no the right way can help you prioritise your own projects.
4. You haven’t set any goals
Goal setting and time management go hand in hand, they provide focus and a basis to build your schedule around. It can be daunting to sit down and outline your long- and short-term goals but it’s a worthwhile process. Check out our blog earlier blog on goal setting to help get you started.
5. You’re not eating enough frogs
Ok, I don’t mean you should literally be consuming frogs (or any amphibian for that matter)! I’m referring to when Mark Twain said, “Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” So, start your day off with the tasks you’ve been putting off, and that way your day can only get easier!
6. Not Prioritising
To-do lists can be useful in outlining the tasks you need to get done in a day and should be beneficial to time management. However, it’s important to remember that not all tasks are created equally! Rank each entry of your to-do list in order of importance and tackle the high-priority tasks when you’re at your most productive.
7. Neglecting Deadlines
If you’ve missed deadlines chances are you’ve annoyed your colleagues, your boss, and your client. While it’s not possible to meet deadlines every time, if you find you’re consistently missing then it’s time to make a change. Hold yourself accountable, even if you’ve got away with missing them in the past. If you want some advice on setting and sticking to deadlines check out our earlier blog here.
8. Multitasking
Despite what you might think, multitasking doesn’t help you be more productive. For the most part, what we think is multitasking is just switching between tasks in rapid succession that’s according to Jim Taylor, P.H.D. So instead of focusing on several things at one time, put some real focus into getting one task done well!
Identifying where we are wasting time in our daily life is the first step towards managing our time effectively. Breaking bad habits and replacing them with better ones will ultimately help you in your personal and professional life. One habit you might want to try to get into is time tracking and the good news is with 1Time you can get started right away with our 30-day FREE trial. Sign up here with no credit card required.
