We all know the trouble

At some point we all have to struggle with a lot of different tasks or decisions, which appear all at once or come over some time. Often we have to deal with a tight time schedule, either in our work or private life, and sometimes we don't get it all done, because of the distractions, unexpected interruptions, excuses and bad time management. The results of all this factors are delays, postponements, dissapointments and stress.

Hopefully the following tips will give a short overview about time management and also a thought-provoking impulse about using your time. 

1. Plan your next day before going to sleep

Before you go to bed, make a short list which includes the tasks you have to do on the following day. You can create the list either by writing it down on something, like a white board or peace of paper, or on your smartphone in an app which includes a remind function but it's important that you do it and visualise what you have to do on the following day. For instance you should it write down like you already had it done, like: "I have made an excell table for our next quartal". By writing a task or problem down, you take away some of the subconscious thoughts about it. Furthermore you don't always remind yourself on the task, out of the fear of forgetting it the next day. This will keep your mind a little more free during the night. 

2. Execute the hardest task first

Often the hardest task is the most important one. During the day you have several duties and responsibilities to accomplish and usually there are "hard" and "easy" ones to do. The hard ones are named like this because they are either something new or something you don't like to do. The easy ones are something you already have done often or you like doing it. Despite the fact the harder tasks are uncommen for you, they often tend to take the same time as the easy ones, because while doing the easy ones you tend to get unfocused after some time due to the fact you think you can do it really quick or while multitasking. For instance on a 8h day at work you get unfocused by time, so execute the hard one first with all of your focus and courage and later you can do the easy ones as a treat. 

3.  The 80/20 principle 

This principle was invented by an italian economic scientist named Vilfredo Pareto. In a nutshell it says that you can accomplish 80% of the tasks in 20% of the time that you have for 100% of the tasks available. This means not that you should work or study less, but you should only focus on the key elements of the problem or task and not on the details. For the rest of the 20% of work you need the rest of your time which mean the amount of 80% of the time available. I use this method in my studies and it works really well. With this method you can learn more in less time and you take always the main points with you and don't get stuck on unnecessary sidefacts.

Here is a diagram for better visualization of the method. For instance if you study you know it is nearly in impossible to learn a professor's lecture word for word in the given time and of course that would be a waste of time besides the other lectures in the course of studies.

4. Avoid distraction

It is really easy said to avoid distraction will safe you time, but it isn't as easy to fulfill it. Nowadays everywhere around us is distraction and we can easily be seduced by it and lose time. While working or learning it is important to be focused for a time goal and after that you can deflect your mind from your work. You should plan breaks in, they are necessery but only as a treat for a truely full focused and active used time period of work or doing your task. During your work you should avoid it to have the control of your day and not be controled by distraction. Of course there are exceptions, for instance if your mum calls you or there are some other serious cases in your family or relationship that need to be discussed or cared after. The best is to plan distraction or the unexpected in your day in. 

5. Execute it 

It is always nice to read about something that could help yourself, but you have also to do it, otherwise it will only be something in your mind which gets slowly forgotten by time. Everything you want, wish or plan has to be done to become reality. Nothing you read, hear or see will help you if you don't start to include it into your life and make it to a habit. 

Hopefully this 5 tips can help you to safe a lot of time!
And don't forget to spend some of the safed time with your loved ones! :)

JW