How to better manage your time at work & in life:

1. Do it Now Not Later

Raise your hand if you’re a procrastinator. ME, but I have definitely gotten better. I’ve found that waiting for no reason when you have the full ability to complete something isn’t just a bad habit, it’s a mental thing too. For me it was a bad habit that created anxiety (more than I naturally have) and made me really reevaluate the time that I waste or would gain by changing my process. Stop for a second and think about the time you waste by watching TV, being on social media, looking up random things online; when was the last time you read a book for a whole hour? You can easily spend time feeding your headspace but not your brain. So if you have a task that you need to complete, do it now not later. Just get it done. In relation to work, I see a ton of people each week and my potential client list to ever-growing. If I wait to send an email, call, LinkedIn message, or stop-by then I could miss a great opportunity. A tip for lessening your procrastination is have the goal to start each week fresh. Keep tasks from rolling over into “week two” to a minimum. Doing this will help you to keep on top of your work and have an adequate amount of time to allocate to opportunities of your next week.

2. To-Do Lists

The satisfaction of crossing something off a list literally surrounds you with good vibes, or at least that’s how I feel. Making a list is a way to physically see your goals being accomplished. It gives you motivation to complete the tasks and keeps you focused on the things you need to get done. First and foremost writing out a to-do list is the most satisfying when you get to cross or check a completed task off, but if you’re always on the go like me, opting for a digital list becomes the number one choice. You know that device you bring with you everywhere that connects you (sometimes unfortunately) to the entire world? Download the app called Wunderlist and you have a portable to-do list that you can even share with other people. My business partner and I use Wunderlist every single day. Since we can both share a list, assign tasks to a certain person, and add a time/date; it’s become a lifesaver. And yes, flip the sound on on your phone and you’ll get a satisfying ring when you check off a task.

3. Plan Ahead

When your parents would tell you to lay your clothes out the night before, they were teaching you a golden life lesson. This ideology still applies to me at 27 and will for life. To best manage your time you need to plan ahead. Know where you’re going, what you’re wearing, who you’re seeing, and make sure you have what you need. My business partner and I run a sales company so all of those things I mentioned are key to making sure each day is planned correctly to maximize our success. If you’re going on sales calls, business meetings, or even to the office, you want to make sure you have what you need to succeed. Pack your bag the night before, print out what you have to bring, and hey even pack your lunch. If you’re not a morning person but need to be, set yourself up for the smoothest morning by getting things done before bed.

4. Calendar Invite

The calendar has been a staple in time management since the Neolithic (per some Archeologists). People wanted to know what day it was and what days were to come. Here in 2019 we want the same thing. I use google calendar invites to keep my hectic schedule straight. Missing a business meeting is not an option, but I also use my calendar for personal life too. I can confidently say I am a google calendar addict, but in a good way. My suggestion for using this application for business is to notify your clients that you will be sending them an invite. This way, they can confirm the meeting and it will appear on their personal calendar; a much better chance that meeting will happen.

Written by Eva Gerrits