Do you sometimes feel that even 24 hours in a day is not enough? You get 24 hours a day, just like everyone else on earth, and somehow it is just not enough. So, why is it that others get so much more done while you struggle for time? The key to getting more done in a day is efficient time management.

Want to be more efficient in managing your time? Start by following these useful tips:

Plan ahead

If you want to manage your time efficiently, start by planning your day the night before. Before you finish your workday, dedicate 15 minutes to compiling a list of important things you need to accomplish the next day. When you have your next day planned, you can start working on the important tasks instead of wasting time on trivial matters. Also, a good practice is to prioritize important tasks. This way, you will be able to work on the most essential tasks in the morning when you are full of energy, and then move on to the rest.

Track your time spent

Very often, people who struggle with managing time are not even aware of where they spend their time. Hence, you must track your time so that you know where your time goes. You may like to think that you spend just 30 minutes a day on your emails, but it could be much more than an hour. The internet has several apps that you can use to track your time and manage it more efficiently.

Set deadlines

It is a good idea to set a deadline for every task in a day, especially the important ones. Challenge yourself to complete the task within the given time frame. Make sure to keep a bit of buffer time so that you don’t eat into the time dedicated to another task.

Monotask, not multitask

Most of us have got so used to multitasking that we have begun to believe that it saves time. In reality, your brain is jumping between different tasks. It can get extremely tiring, and you end up spending more time on each task than you normally would have on one. Your brain works better if you focus on one task at hand. Concentrating and focusing on one task at hand increases productivity and give efficient results.

Remove distractions

Getting distracted often can be a major reason why you cannot manage your time efficiently. Keeping your workspace neat and organized can help minimize distractions. Your mobile phone can also be a major distraction. How often have you been working on a report when you stopped to look at your phone? If you want to efficiently manage your time, you will also need to learn to use your phone only when needed and not all the time.

Conclusion

Efficient time management takes practice. Even if you struggle with it the first few days, keep at it, and slowly you will fall into a rhythm. Waking up fresh and energetic also helps in managing time throughout the day better. Besides your work, you must also take good care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally.