Time Management Tips and Techniques to Get Things Done

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Do you sometimes feel that you don’t so much live each day, but rather survive from one daily list of chores and errands to the next?

Do you go to bed suddenly remembering things that you didn’t do and should have done?

Do you wake up anxious about all the things you must remember to do that day?

If so, you aren’t alone.

There are many people who are having the same issues as you are, but take heart, there are many more who used to have them but discovered time management tips and techniques that worked for them.

Take a look at the time management tips and techniques below and try them to see if any of them work for you. Not everyone works in the same way and so some of them may work, and others may not. Use the ones that work, and perhaps by modifying the ones that don’t work for you, you can still use the ideas to make your life run more efficiently.

The Joys of a Wall Calendar

Most people have a wall calendar but not so many of them think to use it as a time management tool. Ideally it should have one month to the page. Pin it on the wall somewhere you’ll see it often – perhaps in the kitchen. Attach a pen to it with a long piece of string tied either to a spiral binder, or a pin on the wall next to the calendar, so that you can use it without needing to detach it.

As soon as you get the calendar each year mark on it any birthdays, anniversaries and other special days that you need to know about for sending cards etc. As you see how many celebrations there are in the month, organize your greeting cards so that you write and stamp them all at the beginning of the month. You could always post them early if you wanted to – at least then they’re off your mental “to do” list.

When you get appointments to see doctors, or notification of school activities/holidays write these immediately on the calendar also. Make a note on the last week of any month to check the next month’s calendar so that you don’t get any surprises when you tear off the current month.

If you have bills due on a certain date each month, library books to return, or you know of a movie that’s opening and you want to see it, mark all of these on your calendar. If you write things down in a place you’re going to see them, you’ll soon find you stop stressing about when Auntie Mabel’s birthday is, or when the next school study is – it’ll be all on the calendar.

Evening Routine

You probably have a morning routine that ensures you get out to work or the kids off to school in some kind of orderly fashion, but do you have an evening routine? This is something that can save you a lot of pre-sleep stress and allow you to relax knowing that everything is in place for the next day.

What things do you need each day? Make a list. Now each evening before you go to bed make sure that you have all of these things ready in a place they’re easy to pick up when needed.

This can include things like setting out laundered clothes for each member of the house, ensuring that all school bags are packed with the right things and standing at the door, putting mail that needs to be put in the mail box first thing is on the table beside the door etc.

If you have errands to run in the morning, a list of what needs done/shopped should also be there. Your keys should also be near the door so that you don’t get stressed looking for them. You should know what everyone is having for breakfast and things easy to put out on the table when you awake. The last thing you should do is check that the alarm on your clock is set and working.

Planning for the morning means that when you arise, you don’t need to jump up stressing about what needs to be done. It’s all prepared. Wake up and stretch, take a few deep breaths and then enjoy the benefits of the planning you did the night before as everything you need for the morning routine is all at your fingertips.

Time management tips and techniques such as these don’t take a lot of extra time to implement.

They involve doing things that need to be done anyway. The difference is that they are done in advance of when they are actually needed. The organization is what frees you from un-necessary stress of any last minute crisis situations, and lets you feel in control of your life.

Time Management Tips and Techniques to Get Things Done - written by Katie-Anne.