How to Adult: Time Management

Time management is the act or process of planning and exercising conscious control over the amount of time spent on specific activities, especially to increase effectiveness, efficiency or productivity. Each person on this earth has the same 24 hours in a day, so how can some people seem to accomplish more than others?

Steps to managing your time:

Areas of improvement: First, find the areas where you slack. Take a step back. Go through your whole day to see when you are most successful versus when you tend to not work as much. Finding these areas can help see where you need to dedicate more energy. Once you find the areas where you struggle, set a goal for ways to use that time more efficiently.

Write a to-do list: A to-do list can be very helpful if people use them correctly. On a to-do list, it can be helpful to write tasks from most important to least important. Having this list will keep a person focused on each task they have. Writing down different tasks that need to be completed during the day can also keep what needs to be done fresh on their mind.  

Set Goals: If people feel like they are on a mission to get something done, they are more likely make time for the task. The goals should be ‘doable.’ As in, they should be reasonable to the time frame. Setting a goal that can’t be reached can cause extra stress and hinder interest in the task itself. Goals can be a helpful tool, if used right, to motivate a person.

Taking care of your body can also help with how effective you can be when trying to manage time. Getting eight hours of sleep a night and eating food that will keep you motivated during the day helps you have the stamina to keep going. Part of taking care of your body is allowing breaks during the day to help your mind relax and take a breather. Being able to manage time in an efficient manner takes effort and doesn’t happen overnight.