We hear it all the time and know it to be true: “Time is money.” This is great if you’ve mastered the discipline of time management, but otherwise, not so much. I think back to discussions I’ve had with agents about new business opportunities that were missed due to lack of time, or employees in service roles who expressed challenges in efficiency and effectiveness. I’ve also thought a lot about my own performance as a regional sales manager and how various professional and personal outcomes might have been different with better use of time.
So why is it that so many of us struggle to effectively manage it? After all, there are a lot of valuable resources out there (planners, books, speakers, webinars, software, apps, etc.) that are great, even essential, at providing the tools necessary to keep us on track.
At the end of the day, though, it’s probably less about the resources and more about remembering the fundamentals, and simply changing our habits. It’s about recognizing that if time really is money, we should get back to the basics and establish patterns that allow us to get the most out of our day – at work, in our communities, and at home with our family and friends.
I recently viewed a PowerPoint presentation, authored by Iulian Olariu, trainer, facilitator, learning and development consultant, that was shared on LinkedIn. The presentation provided a number of time management “hacks,” and although I don’t think there was anything exceptionally unique about the suggestions, I embraced the simplicity of the reminders and how I can apply them to daily activities in the hopes of re-establishing some better habits … those that will ultimately lead to accomplishing more throughout the day.
Perhaps we could all benefit from some of the suggestions:
- Define your purpose and refrain from engaging in activities that don’t support your goals.
- Take action rather than waiting for just the right moment (there probably isn’t one).
- Overcome procrastination and don’t postpone unpleasant activities.
- Focus on a single task until its completed (stop multi-tasking and leaving things unfinished).
- Set deadlines.
- Stop checking your email constantly (to avoid unnecessary distractions).
- Prioritize and complete activities with high impact outcomes.
- Recognize the difference between urgent and important.
- Reconsider how much time you spend on social media.
- Eat healthy to fuel your body and brain.
- Exercise to increase energy levels, allowing you to make the most of your time.
- Get enough sleep to increase cognitive performance and productivity.
