It's believed that individuals who manage their time well have a better chance of avoiding the stress of work overload, and are better suited to concentrate on results, instead of just being busy.
Over the past few months a number of RLB staff members had the chance to take a time management course to help us maximize the use of our time. It's believed that individuals who manage their time well have a better chance of avoiding the stress of work overload, and are better suited to concentrate on results, instead of just being busy. Since salaries are usually one of the larger expenses for some organizations, we think it is important to pass along some of the tips that we learned that may improve efficiencies in your organization.
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Record your time. Keeping track of your time is the most important step to understanding how you spend your day. Keep a time log for a day or two - you might be surprised how much time you spend on certain activities. Doing this will also give you an understanding of what changes need to be made.
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Schedule blocks of time for specific tasks. Set a specific amount of time for answering emails and returning phone calls - and stick to it. When left unchecked, these tasks can consume an entire day.
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Plan on waiting. Regardless of how well you try to plan, it's impossible to avoid waiting for someone or something. Have a plan to fill gaps of time with productive tasks, such as reading a report or checking emails.
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Establish routines and keep them. You're much more productive if you can follow routines.
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Prioritize. At first a 'to do' list might feel daunting, but realize that you don't have to do it all at once. You are more likely to complete your tasks if you have a list prepared and have prioritized what's important to you.
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Learn to say no. Sometimes we take on too much and we need to learn to say no to certain activities, including meetings, when your time could be better spent elsewhere.
There are lots of articles available online to help people improve their time management skills. These skills are important to everyone but especially important to organizations with scarce resources. Listed below is a link to a website where you can find more information on rating your time management skills, activity logs to help monitor your time, as well as determining how much your time is worth.
