Task management should never be about overloading your to-do list with multiple responsibilities. Instead, it should be about leading a professional life that is productive, organized, and efficient. But how do you manage to increase your productivity when there are multiple things to do in a day?
An effective time management strategy can boost productivity by eliminating procrastination, helping you plan more strategically and effectively.
Following are a few ways you can try to incorporate in your daily tasks to improve productivity:
Make A Realistic To-Do List
If you ever wonder how so many successful entrepreneurs can achieve so much in such little time, the answer is: having well-organized to-do lists!
To-do lists are invaluable when it comes to productivity. They can organize all your essential tasks in a bulleted form, reminding you of the priority of each task and how much you need to get done in a day. It also means that you won’t have to waste time thinking of the day’s deliverables at the start of the workday.
However, the critical thing to remember is that your to-do list wouldn’t be of much help if it is not realistic. So, before you make a list, narrow down all your options and ask yourself which tasks are the most important to achieve and how many of those tasks can you achieve realistically in a given time? Only then can you make a list of goals that is realistic for you to complete.
Become A Pro At Delegating Tasks
You might think that you can achieve all your tasks by yourself; however, the truth is that entrusting others can help you get done with smaller tasks efficiently.
Once you start delegating, you will realize that your day’s deliverables can be out of your way quickly and easily.
Delegating work also means that you can spend more time on valuable tasks. The key here is to empower the person with the right resources to work for you on time and diligently. Pick someone (or a team) you can trust and then leave them to it. It may take some time to get used to delegating tasks; however, once you do, you will notice how much more time you can give to other high-priority work.
Audit Your Tasks Regularly
One of the most essential task management skills is to audit all your tasks regularly. The best way to do that is to set a goal for yourself to achieve or even delegate work to someone else, make firm deadlines so it is easy for you to execute these tasks on time.
Agile project management is a popular task management method that allows users to schedule tasks and track the progress of each task.
Use The Pomodoro Method
The Pomodoro technique is a popular time management method that focuses on dividing complex tasks into smaller, more manageable tasks with frequent breaks to give the mind a rest. This helps to refresh the brain and stave off any mental fatigue.
The Pomodoro Technique works in the following way:
- Pick a task
- Break it into 25-minute focused sessions (these are called Pomodoros)
- If a task requires more than 4 Pomodoros, it is advisable to break it into smaller tasks to help you increase productivity and achieve them faster
- Set a timer for 25 minutes and eliminate all distractions till then
- Take a 5-minute break
- Every 5 minutes, take a 15-30 minute break
The Pomodoro Technique is all about getting your mind in the correct zone and focusing on the right tasks.
Eliminate Digital Distractions
Did you know that an average American spends around one-quarter of their workday on social media just mindlessly browsing through the newsfeed? While spending an hour or two on Twitter or Instagram isn’t bad, it can have detrimental effects on your work life and your mental health if you find yourself checking your phone constantly.
Our advice here is to set a time limit for browsing social media. Set a limit on your phone and disable any app notifications so that you won’t be tempted to open the app and check your messages.
Wrapping Up
Time management can make decision-making faster and more efficient, helping you establish productive strategies that make work less stressful and more rewarding. This is also key to striking a balance between professional and personal life. Hopefully, the techniques mentioned above can help you boost your productivity and help you accomplish your goals.