Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Use a list
• Method 2 of 3: Use a graph
• Method 3 of 3: Eliminate distractions
• Similar articles

You may be a full-time student trying to get better at managing their time, or you may be an employer trying to find a way out so that their employees stop wasting time. Whatever your role, you're probably focused on how to create a daily routine that allows you to stop wasting time and make the most of your day. Organizational strategies such as lists and schedules, as well as measures to reduce distractions that eat up valuable time, can be helpful.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Use a list

1. 1 List the buildings for the day. Take a piece of paper and a pen. Think about the tasks you plan to do on that day or responsibilities for the day and write them all down on paper. The list can be similar to one of the following: “Shopping, Laundry, Cleaning, Homework” or “Reports for clients, checking mail and sending letters, meeting, working with documents”.
   • Add as many tasks to the list as you can think of, from small to large. You need to remember all the commitments and tasks for the day in order to be sure to put them on the list of priorities.
2. 2 Prioritize tasks. One way to work effectively is to focus on the highest priority tasks first and then move down the list to the lowest priority tasks. This is called the 80/20 Rule, where the activities that provide the most benefit should take 80% of your time and the activities that provide the least benefit should take up 20%.
   • Go through the list and assign each assignment a number that will correspond to its importance. Then arrange them so that the list starts with the highest priority and most useful tasks and ends with the least priority and profitable ones.
3. 3 Group related tasks together. Once you've created and prioritized your list of tasks, you need to group small tasks into groups so that they form one process. For example, you can group tasks such as answering emails and calling customers into one group, set aside one hour, and call them “talking to customers”. Then you can easily and calmly work on each assignment in the allotted time frame.
   • Try to group all tasks in this way so that you do not have to switch to different processes and spend time figuring out which task to work on next. Grouping related tasks can help you organize your time more efficiently and reduce the stress level while working on the tasks from the list.
4. 4 Give yourself less time for each task. According to Parkinson's Law, giving you less time to complete a task reduces the amount of time you need to complete the task. Instead of setting aside time to spare, limit the amount of time you set aside for each task so that you have to get it done faster. You can do this slowly, gradually reducing the amount of time you devote to each task, until you reach that golden mean where you will not feel a lot of pressure and rush, but you will not have time to procrastinate or wasted time.
   • At some point, you will develop a good sense of time management, especially if you only have to spend a limited amount of time on each task. This can be very helpful if you tend to have the same routine or a similar list of tasks every day.
5. 5 Reward yourself after completing all the tasks on the list. After you cross all the tasks from the list, usually at the end of the day, you should give yourself a little compliment and pampering. This can be a delicious dinner, a glass of wine, or a leisure time when you can do something fun and enjoyable. A small reward will serve as an incentive to complete all tasks for the day.
   • You can determine what your reward will be even before you start your day so that you can use the reward as motivation for completing tasks. For example, let's say you need to prepare for an exam and have plans to have dinner with friends. Use your plans for the evening as an excuse to keep learning and completing assignments throughout the day so you don't have to miss dinner later.

Method 2 of 3: Use a graph

1. 1 Make a schedule for each hour of your day. Take a piece of paper or use your computer calendar to create cells for every hour of your workday or every waking hour. It can be from nine to five or ten to seven. While you don't have to fill out every time period down to the minute, it would be helpful to make sure that every hour of your day is factored into your schedule.
   • Start filling in each hour with the assignments you need to complete. You can start with the most important tasks and move down to the less important ones. In addition, if you consider yourself a morning person, then try to take the first half of the day for more difficult tasks. But if you know that you have a second wind after lunch, you can set aside important tasks for this time of day. Try to design your schedule to suit your needs and work habits. This will set you up for success and make your schedule more efficient.
   • You can create a template for your schedule on a chalkboard or calendar so that you can update it every day according to your assignments for a specific day.
2. 2 Take a ten minute break every hour or two. It can be difficult to focus on an assignment or group of assignments for more than two hours. Make sure to schedule a ten minute break every hour or two to avoid stress or work overload. During this mini-break, you can get out of your workplace and walk around the office or chat with a coworker in the office kitchen. You can make yourself a cup of coffee or go for a short walk in the fresh air. Try to stick to 10 minutes to keep up with your schedule.
   • You can also take 10 long, slow, deep breaths every hour to refresh your mind and take a short break. This can help you get a fresh perspective on the task you're doing or about to complete, and ensures you don't forget about yourself despite a busy day.
3. 3 Try to complete the task correctly the first time. Instead of rushing and trying to get through all the tasks as quickly as possible, take the time you need to get each task done correctly the first time. Rushing through the mail can drag out your email exchange, especially if you are sending incomprehensible or obscure messages to the customer. Slow down and take enough time to compose clear emails or carefully re-read your study notes. Getting it done right the first time will save you a lot of wasted time in the long run.
4. 4 Ask a friend or coworker to check your progress from time to time so you stay on track. Sometimes we need the support of others to stay focused on the task at hand. Have a close friend, parent, co-worker, brother, or sister check you every couple of hours to make sure you are on schedule.
   • Your companion can bring you a cup of coffee or cheer you up with pleasant words so that you can get a little distraction, laugh or smile, and get back to your daily tasks. While you may be busy, a couple of minutes with a friend will cheer you up and help you manage your time more effectively.

Method 3 of 3: Eliminate distractions

1. 1 You don't have to constantly check your mail. This can create a start-stop-start pattern in your workday and lead to wasted time. Try not to open your mail during the day, especially if you need to focus on another task. Set aside three time slots for checking your mail in your schedule: early morning, just after lunch, and towards the end of the day. This will keep you from being distracted by the continuous stream of emails throughout the day and will guarantee you dedicated time to work with emails.
   • The same principles can be applied to other means of communication, such as voice mail, text messages, and phone calls. Try not to hang around your phone all the time, unless of course you are expecting an important text message or phone call. This will help limit breaks in the workflow and help you stay on schedule.
2. 2 Mute your phone and turn off the internet. If possible, choose at least an hour on your workday when you can mute your phone and turn off your internet connection. This will allow you to focus on work that requires complete concentration and lack of distractions like your phone or the internet.
   • Eliminating these factors, which can easily distract you, will be especially helpful when you are working on a school project or large report. Unplug your phone so you don't have a reason to check it every five minutes or get carried away with watching news on social networks.
3. 3 Warn others not to distract you. Try not to encourage others to distract you and not to distract others yourself. Just let them know that you are working. You can close the door or put up a busy sign.You can also send an email to your office to remind you that a certain amount of time in the office is quiet working hours.
4. 4 Try not to deviate from your routine. Once you've put together a worklist or schedule and protected yourself from distractions, use your willpower and concentration to stick to your routine. Most people understand the difference between time well spent and time wasted, so try not to fall into the trap of wasting time. Build on your schedule and at the end of the day you can enjoy a sense of achievement and time well spent.

Similar articles

• How to organize a productive day
• How to be productive
• How to organize your time well
• How to properly allocate your time