In this article, we will present some time management at work strategies to help you overcome an unproductive lifestyle and help launch you to greater achievement.

Are you chasing your tail in an unproductive fashion while others seem to be getting through their tasks in an effortless fashion? In fact, they seem to be doing it without the associated stress which can accompany a busy lifestyle.

Can You Make Time Management Work?

Sure you can. However, it will take a little discipline on your part but once you get the wheels in motion, it’s amazing what a difference it can make in just about all facets of your life.

A common answer to most people’s time management and organizational problems is to get a diary. While they have their place in our day-to-day responsibilities, diaries are really just a superficial fix. Why? Because unless your diary can speak to you and remind you you haven’t completed a task you’ve written in there then you may as well just try and commit things to memory.

Time Management At Work - Doing The Productive Stuff

This is an area where most people will get into trouble. Distinguishing between low and high priority tasks. You know what I mean in fact, I was notorious at getting the priority stuff done ahead of the high value stuff and couldn’t figure out why I was so busy all the time but achieved very little.

Concentrating on results is the answer and until I was introduced to an activity statement, I was forever sailing around like a ship without a destination. They are a wonderful thing these activity statements believe me! They don’t lie. Every minute of your working day is recorded and if you have an ego, then be warned, it could get dented. But all in the name of getting you to make some necessary adjustments to your schedule to get you on the path to becoming a more productive and less stressed person.

Time Management Facts

Recent studies have shown people will have at least 50 interruptions during the course of a day. In fact, given a working day is still eight hours, this can equate to almost half the working day being wasted because of unproductive distractions.

Auditing Your Activities To Make Time Management Work

For self employed people they are an excellent way to identify the areas that need attention. After all, if you are the one responsible for generating your own income then doesn’t it make sense to know where you’re wasting time on low producing tasks but ignoring potentially high productivity areas.

You record each and every activity you perform during working hours including seemingly insignificant things like checking email. After a week, analyze your statement and you will immediately see where you are most productive and when you are unproductive. You can then schedule the higher value and more difficult tasks for your high production times. You can also cut down or completely eliminate wasteful tasks from your day.

Time Management At Work - Dealing With The Revelation

For many, realizing they’ve been wasteful in applying allotted work hours can come as a bit of a shock. This is not surprising. For example, saying no is an art form which many people simply cannot do.

In work situations, to get approval, many will do the job of someone else thinking it will get them more highly thought of. An activity statement will bring home the harsh reality that in a lot of cases, the reason why some people fail to get their work completed in the allotted time is because they’ve been doing tasks others should be doing.

This also applies to workers in management positions who are doing work which should be delegated to others. It’s a real eye opener so if you are at your wits end trying to figure out how to work smarter and not harder, try using a time management activity statement. You’ll be glad you did!