The attainment of success calls for perseverance and persistence which is easier said than done. One of the keys to success is time management. Considering the elusive nature of time, it is important to be judicious in its usage to achieve results of the highest order. In a fast-paced world, smart work is as important as hard work to progress and prosper.
The first step to efficient time management is scheduling. Briefly, scheduling is the idea of devising a timeboxed plan to meet a goal. Schedule aids in breaking down the objective into a series of milestones. It helps in working toward the objective incrementally providing the key benefit of feedback at each step of the process. In addition, it helps visualize the success at each phase as each of the milestones is realized ensuring that the spirits are kept high leaving no room for boredom. However, the benefits of a schedule are best realized in an environment where procrastination is treated with disdain. Execution of the schedule is key.
It is imperative that one avoids distractions in the pursuit of the objective since they can cause delays and derail the schedule. It helps to make note of the distractions and means to stem them in order to strategically deal with them. For instance, receiving a phone call or email notification is oftentimes distracting as we work. Disabling notifications for the duration of the work is a strategy that helps tackle distraction. Another noteworthy distraction in towards “smart” world is access to the internet. It is easy to lose track of time browsing the internet and spending time on social media. Turning off Wi-Fi as work is in progress helps to tackle the issue. While the ones mentioned above are trivial examples of distractions, there are many others that are both subjective and objective. Hence, the timeboxing daily routine is key.
An effective strategy would be timeboxing using Pomodoro timer apps that set an alarm after every 25 minutes for a 5-minute quick break and take a longer refreshment break every 2 hours. For instance, we might schedule work in regular sessions between 9 AM and 11 AM with a 15-minute-long break to relax afterwards. The relaxation could be taking a stroll, browsing the internet or doing any activity that might help us relax. It is cardinal that we remain true to the schedule and avoid non-work-related activities during the time assigned for work. On the same token, it is important to stay off work during break time and relax to avoid burnout.
Incorporating time for chores and pastime activities such as the time we rise up in the morning, meals, nap, workout, family bonding, etc. in the schedule improves productivity on every front and promotes a lifestyle with efficient time management. It is a good idea to spend a few minutes every evening to come up with a schedule for the following day. In addition, sticking to the schedule and accomplishing the daily objectives gives immense joy and serves as motivation to work better and remain successful in the days to come.
Pictures from Jess Bailey Designs (from Pexels) and Luxafor
Article by the IMPACT editors, Shah Faisal and Venkatasivakumar Margapuri
