Use Better Time Management

One stressor that people experience is feeling as if they don’t have enough time. Time is one of those things that is equal for all people. Everyone has the same amount of time in each day. You cannot control time. All you can do is manage the time that you have better.

• Schedule Everything – Use a good calendar like Google Calendar to schedule every aspect of your day. Even if you plan to spend 2 hours reading a book, or 30 minutes walking with your daughter, write it down. By filling your calendar in this way, you’ll be more likely to do what you say you will. Plus, it’ll make it easier to say no about something when you look at how full your life already is.

• Be Realistic About Time – When you put entries into your calendar, ensure that you’re giving enough time to get certain things done. If you need to go the store after work to get milk, how long will it really take? Don’t say 10 minutes when you know in heavy traffic it’s more like an hour.

• Set a Time Limit – For many projects and tasks, it’s important to set a time limit so you don’t keep doing it longer. Cleaning house, watching TV, sleeping, and exercising are all things that you can control the amount of time that you do them.

• Give Yourself a Buffer – Don’t schedule things back to back. You’re sure to get more stressed out and burned out. Instead build in a buffer in between different tasks. Try ten minutes, then if you find yourself bumping into time issues, increase it five minutes each time until you aren’t having as many issues.

• First Things First – When you have a list of things to do, put it in order that makes sense. For example, if you need to run errands and grocery shop, don’t shop first because that has to be last or at least before you go through the drive through to bring dinner home to your family.

• Sleep 7 to 8 Hours Each Night – This may seem like a strange thing to add when discussing time management but sleep is very important. Getting enough sleep, the right amount of sleep for you will help you work more efficiently each day.

• Learn How to Say No – Many people suffer great stress because they don’t know how to say no to anyone. Being the go-to person for your friends, family and co-workers is However, it’s also very difficult to maintain that level of involvement without ending up stressed out. You may not even be able to perform up to your own standards if you’re overbooked.

• Give Up Multitasking – One of the most horrible habits people have today is multitasking. People even multitask when they drive now. The fact is that people do not perform well trying to do that. In truth, no one is capable of true multitasking. Your brain can only focus well on one thing at a time. Focus on each task that you need to do 100 percent and you’ll find you do it better and faster.

• Don’t Try to Be Perfect – Striving for perfection causes a lot of stress to many people all over the world. The sad fact is that perfection is impossible. The trick is learning when you’ve done your best and to stop and end a project instead of wasting time that won’t produce additional results.

• Create New Habits – Some things that help with time management are habits. For example, creating a weekly meal plan and grocery list can become a habit if you make it one. Going to bed each night at the same time so that you have more energy each day can also become a habit, as can other common activities that you must do.

• Avoid Too Much Screen Time – Nothing can suck up time as much as screens. They get in the way of intimacy with your family and friends. They interrupt and overcome your desire to exercise and get healthy. And, screens can get in the way of managing your time well so that you can lower your stress.

Time can seem like your worst enemy. But, if you learn to schedule everything in, including fun times, you’ll soon be able to take advantage of time in productive ways. You may even find time to smell the roses.

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