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Bad habits and bad time management lead to poor productivity. You may not know that you have bad habits, but you will definitely know that you aren’t productive. Maybe you feel that you have to work harder than others around you. Or, you could be working hard and still not getting ahead. Missed deadlines, subpar work, and constantly having to come in early or stay late are all signs that you aren’t managing your time wisely. So, what smart habits do you need to incorporate for optimal time management? Let’s take a look at 4 that are easy for you to incorporate now.
1) Prepare Your Body and Mind
It’s no secret that bad habits, like pulling an all-nighter or skipping breakfast, will cause you to be less focused and prepared for the workday. In order to get the most out of your day, you have to be prepared to face it. Getting a good night’s sleep, exercising, and eating healthy are essential. Not only will it cut down on distractions (that snarling stomach) and prevent embarrassing situations such as your boss finding you napping at your desk; but they can also increase your alertness, energy, and mood. The better your mood and more energy have, the more you can accomplish in less time.
2) Know Your Priorities
You may have an impressive to-do list prepared for your day that would intimidate even the most ambitious, but if you don’t have clear priorities set then odds are you are headed for disaster. It’s one thing to want to achieve the most you can with your time but it’s important to also be realistic. Things are going to happen that you didn’t plan for. Equipment breaks down, electricity goes out, and coworkers like to gossip. It’s important to know what your priorities are based on. That way when life happens you can adjust your daily task sheet and carry over things that aren’t imperative for today.
3) Be Flexible
Not only should you be prepared to edit your to-do list you should also be open to adjusting the way you tackle it. There are always more ways than one to accomplish any task. Be open to suggestions, to learning, and doing your own trial and error research on what is most efficient. If you always do things the same way you will eventually reach a standstill on how productive you can be. Always keep a lookout for better or faster ways to get things done.
4) Say No
Effective time management is important to maintain a happy work-life balance. It’s also crucial to your professional success. If you aren’t getting things done because you have too much on your plate the first thing you need to assess is what’s on it. If you are taking on things that you know that you don’t have the time for or helping others while neglecting your own work you may have a problem knowing when to say no.
Always saying yes may make you seem like the good guy in the beginning but eventually, it will lead to stress, decreased job performance, and possibly even resentment towards those you can’t say no to. You don’t have to say “no” every time, but make sure that you don’t say you can when you really can’t afford to.
What are some other time management tips have helped you form better habits? Drop them in the comments below!
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