HOW TO BETTER MANAGE YOUR TIME!!

[Doha]

Often we find ourselves wishing for more hours in a day just so that we could fit everything in our schedule. Being able to manage our time better is key to a less stressful lifestyle, yet it is one of the most challenging tasks. The following are a few steps to manage your time better.

Make a plan

For starters, take at least 30 minutes a day to plan your work, activities and meetings. Many may think this is a waste of time but planning can cut down a great deal of actual work and get you organized. Prioritize your plan and allocate a time for each activity. It is important to create short term as well as long-term objectives to avoid any last minute anxiety.

Organize your office

Clean your desk of any old receipts and paper and leave only what is needed for the task at hand. Organize all your material neatly in binders and folders so that you do not waste time rummaging through your stuff later to find your documents.

Avoid all interruptions

How many times have we spent 8 hours on an assignment that should have just taken an hour? Procrastination is the root of all evils, so turn off your television, minimize phone call interruptions and close down Facebook and then begin your work.

Delegate

Do not waste your time doing anything if you can assign someone else to do it. Share your work. Make sure to find the appropriate person for your work and provide clear, written instructions of their task.

Learn to say no

So many times we end up taking more than we can because we are afraid to say no; we either fear insulting our superiors or want to be in their good books. Learn how to say no if you are over burdened, explain why you cannot do the task and provide other alternatives.

Track your time

The best way to improve your time management skills is to identify where you spend most of your time on a daily basis. It helps to keep a journal of notes of how much you accomplished during the day and how much time you spent doing it. At the end of the week, read back and analyze your results and take necessary actions on where you could better improve your time management skills.