Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Avoid time-wasting habits
• Method 2 of 2: Do the repeat test
• Tips

Do you often stare out the window for minutes, even though you have work to do? Are you looking up useless information or gaming on the internet, even though you know you have more important tasks that are more urgent? It may take time to recognize that you tend to procrastinate. The key to managing your time effectively is to minimize distractions, focus on the most important tasks you need to complete, and find a reliable way to gauge your productivity.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Avoid time-wasting habits

1. Stay away from the internet. With the Internet just a click or tap away, it's no wonder we're constantly battling the urge to check our various favorite websites. When you know to stop wasting time and get to work, avoiding the Internet is an easy way to combat procrastination.
   • If your willpower isn't strong enough to keep you off the Internet - or worse, if your job requires you to use the Internet - you can install web blocking tools for various browsers. Simply turn on the application when you know you need to concentrate for a while, and let the program take over the task of your willpower.
2. Save your email for a later time. A survey of Microsoft employees showed that they spent an average of ten minutes replying to an email, and then it took another fifteen minutes to refocus on the task at hand. If you really need to focus on a specific task, set an automatic response to your email and don't check it until you're done with your work.
   • The same goes for mobile messages, text messages, notifications, reminders, etc. These distractions encourage procrastination because they often make you feel more productive than other time wasters, but rarely are. If possible, turn your phone off completely, if the anxiety that may be caused by disconnection is not in itself a cause for distraction.
3. Do all your work on one device. Switching between a laptop to work on, your mobile to check your email and a tablet to show a presentation is a recipe for disaster. Whenever you switch between the different devices, you will likely give in to one or more distractions and then focus again. Before you start, try to have everything you need on hand on one device as often as possible so that you can work from that device.
4. Make a schedule. Most people hate keeping an agenda, but not every schedule needs to be this thorough. When working on a specific task, take five minutes to create a list, outline, or appropriate schedule for the task. Providing yourself with a manageable timetable increases the likelihood that you will stay focused on the task at hand.
   • Work with "time frames", fixed time blocks for specific tasks, to break them down into more manageable chunks, making that cluttered workday a lot easier to grasp. You can apply this to everything - from homework to work assignments or home repairs.
   • Try to group tasks together whenever possible. For example, if you have to go to the supermarket and need to refuel, try to combine both. This saves you time because you don't have to go out twice separately for things that can easily be done at the same time.
5. Slow it down. This sounds very counterproductive in terms of time control, but if you try to work too fast or start multitasking on anything more than monotonous work, you could end up wasting your time. Studies have shown that only 2% of people can actually multitask effectively and save time. By taking it a bit slower, you will not only be able to concentrate better, but you will also have less stress.
   • Slowing down will also give you an opportunity to check that you have completed each task completely and clearly, which will make it less likely that you will have to go back to clarify things or correct mistakes, which you will likely end up with. will take more time.
6. Stay focused on the task at hand. It is no surprise that many students are particularly active socially in the week before exams. Often times, we procrastinate by taking on other important (but not urgent) tasks, rather than the most important ones we need to complete. Spending more time on less important things is still a step backwards and a waste of time when you have other deadlines or due dates looming. Know when the task you are working on is not the task you should do first.
   • Try to give each task a certain priority. Start with a few small tasks to get into and then focus on the most important or most urgent tasks in your life.
7. Give yourself a break every now and then. Working non-stop without knowing when to take a break is a sure way to burn yourself out and get frustrated. Having a time in mind when you quit, whether it's the end of the workday, lunch, or something completely different, will help you not to overwork (which otherwise will only lead to a decrease in the quality of work).
   • Even if you are determined to keep going because of a paper to hand in the next day, you will need to take breaks that give you plenty of time to take a breather before moving on. Breaks give you time to give your brain a break and will ultimately make you happier, more focused, and more productive.

Method 2 of 2: Do the repeat test

1. Create a table to manage the time of your day. Now that you have a series of steps to help you focus as outlined in Method 1, the retest is a great way to test how effectively you are using it. Start with a blank spreadsheet or just create a table on paper or on a whiteboard.Create a column with the hours of the day you work, and a wider column in which you leave space on the right side of each hour.
2. Stop what you are doing at any given hour. This test requires you to evaluate how you spent that hour after each hour. Set an alarm if you need to make sure to stop long enough to fill out the form.
3. Check out how you spent the hour. Take that moment to evaluate what you have completed in the previous hour. This could be anything - from training or studying to a test or watching television. Be honest with yourself about your activities during that hour.
4. Ask yourself if you would like to repeat that hour. This is the step that gave the test its name. Once you have analyzed the hour, ask yourself if you would like to repeat that hour. The point of this question is to ask yourself if you feel like you spent that hour productively. You're less likely to want to repeat the hour if the answer is "no."
5. Summarize the hour and write your evaluation in the right column. Keeping a record of your day for how many hours you would like to repeat and how many not is also an effective motivational tool. In the right column, write in a few words what you did with that hour, as well as how much you would like to repeat that hour.
6. Know which parts of the day you can control. One of the disadvantages of the repeat test is that you can quickly judge every hour on its average usefulness. A class where the teacher doesn't cover new material, a meeting that hasn't been productive, and other parts of your day can feel like frustrating time wasters. Remember, you aren't always in full control of every hour of your day, and fulfilling an obligation - such as attending an unproductive meeting - can still count as a necessary part of your day.
   • Staying flexible is important in all aspects of your life, including time for fun and relaxation.

Tips

• Make an honest assessment of your productivity during long hours of work. Sometimes it's best to stop for a walk, to eat something, or have a chat with a friend to recharge after working hard.
• Get enough sleep so you don't feel tired all day and have to take naps to recover.