time management

Over the years I have learned several things about managing time and being more productive. Not that I do them all, but here is a list of practices that have been shown to help people improve their work performance and satisfaction:

Get a good night’s sleep. If you do not get enough sleep you are prone to be more irritable, less alert, and less productive. I see many people with insomnia and I encourage them to get on a schedule, exercise, take some time to unwind without electronic devices, and to listen to relaxation training recordings.

Have a positive attitude. Most of us have some stressful situations/people to deal with. It is easy to focus on the stress and to develop a negative attitude. For me, it takes an effort to read, listen to music, and find things for which to be thankful in order to put some positive thoughts into my head.

Get to work a little early. I hate being late (and it is frowned upon at work). Getting to work a little early helps to get the day off to a better, more relaxed start. Being rushed can start the day off in a stressful mode that can carry over to the rest of day.

Make a list. I forget things. Writing things down helps me to remember and to stay more organized. Some folks use their smartphones to keep organized, but I still prefer pen and paper.

Prioritize. This goes along with making a list. It is easy to spend time on less important tasks and then discover that more important things were neglected.

Do the most difficult task first. Putting off a difficult task just makes me dread it more. Completing a difficult task earlier in the day when you are at your best gives you a sense of accomplishment and makes the rest of the day much smoother.

Take a break. If time and the workload allow, taking a break can help you to be more efficient and productive afterwards. Similarly, taking a vacation from work occasionally helps one to be healthier, more satisfied, and more productive.

Don’t multitask. Most of us get interrupted at times. But when possible, it has been shown that it is more efficient to complete one task before moving on to another.

Schedule specific times for phone calls and emails. It is tempting to respond to an email as soon as it arrives, and occasionally it may be necessary. But, it is more efficient to schedule certain times to read and answer emails and phone calls.

Take care of yourself. Like the flight attendants on airlines say, “Put on your own oxygen mask before you try to help someone else”. There is usually another task to be done and/or someone else to help, but if you don’t take care of yourself, you will eventually not be of much help to anyone. Take the time to eat healthy, exercise, socialize, and have fun. You deserve it and you will be a better employee, coworker, and companion if you do.

Ask for help. This is one of the hardest things for many of us. We like helping others, but it sometimes feels awkward or embarrassing to ask for help. A client told me years ago, “You know how it gives you a good feeling to help someone? Well, if you never ask for help, you are being stingy and not allowing someone else to get that good feeling”. There are many resources available. If you want a free, confidential place to bounce some ideas around and/or brainstorm some possible solutions to a situation, feel free to call Tanner EAP at 770-834-8327.