Time Management - 5 Ways To Manage Time Wisely

Time management is an important part of success in life. If you don’t manage your time wisely, it can make life very stressful for you.

You’re constantly rushing to get things done and it feels like you don’t have enough time to do anything.

But many people are millionaires and billionaires using the same 24 hours that everybody has it. Many people are fit and muscular with the same 24 hours.

If people can be just as successful in getting the life they want having the same amount of time a day, we can too.

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What is time management?

The Oxford dictionary defines time management as “the ability to use one’s time effectively or productively, especially at work.”

It’s a process of finding ways to get the most amount of important work done. Managing time well is not just about trying to get everything done.

It’s about prioritizing the most important things to get done and getting most of the tasks completed.

You could work out all day, but if you neglect studying for a test and getting work for your job done, you haven’t had the most productive day.

A more productive day would be balancing all of these tasks based on their priority.

You would make sure your work is taken care of so you continue making money, you would take time to study to do well in class, and you would find time for exercise to stay fit.

It’s not always easy getting the right balance, but with it a little intentionality, you can make the most of your time.

How to manage time wisely

1. Determine your top priorities

All of us have different top priorities based on our individual circumstances. If you’re a student in college still living with your parents, your education should probably be your top priority.

That means you should put a significant portion of your time to studying and doing your schoolwork.

If you’re an adult with a job, making sure you get to work on time and do your work right should probably be a high priority.

Universally, our wellness should be top priority for all of us. Make time for exercise and eating well so you can have enough energy to use your time as effectively possible.

2. Set up a schedule to manage your time

Something many of us don’t do, which I’ve been guilty of not doing too, is setting up a schedule for our day.

We choose to keep the ideas of what we’re going to do everyday in our minds and expect we’ll get those things done.

But I can tell you from firsthand experience, when you actually write down the things you want to get done, you’ll be more likely to get them done.

If you don’t believe me, perhaps the science behind it might convince you. Studies have proven that when people make a to-do list for their day, then tend to perform better getting things done.

If you’re not used to doing it or have never done it before, give it a try for a few days. You might be surprised at how much you get done.

3. Get up earlier

You’d be surprised how much you can get done if you start your day a little earlier. Many successful people choose to get their day started before 6 a.m.

Maybe waking up that early isn’t for you, but you could wake up at 7 a.m. The point is, if you get up earlier, it gives you time to get one of your tasks done.

You could get a good workout of the way to get you energized for the day. You could also prepare a full breakfast as well.

Find a way to get up early and take care of a major task in your day to start your morning on a positive note.

4. Make tasks time limited

When your time is yours to use outside of work or other obligations, it’s good to make the tasks you choose to focus on time limited.

In my schedule, I give myself blocks of two hours to focus on getting something done. I do my best to finish doing them by the end of the time and move on to the next task.

It can help you to get more of your to-do list tasks done and be as productive as you want to be.

5. Have short mental breaks

Our minds can get worn out with constantly focusing on one task after another. Be okay with giving yourself short mental breaks after devoting more than a half hour to a task.

According to one study that looked at productivity at work, the ideal balance for productivity was 52 minutes of work followed by 17 minute breaks.

Those breaks were things such as taking a walk or just getting up to stand a little bit. You can determine the time frame that works best for you.

The important thing to takeaway is that it’s actually productive to stop what you’re doing throughout your day and give yourself a rest.

Final thoughts on managing time

A lot of managing your time well involves deliberately making choices that will allow you to use more of your time effectively.

That may mean going to bed earlier to wake up earlier. It might mean writing out your schedule for the next day to be prepared.

Whatever the case may be, your time is managed by the actions you do to manage it. Be confident in yourself to be able to make the most of your time and have a productive day.