Time management is a challenge many of us grapple with. While it seems like there is an abundant time during the day, such a large portion gets consumed by working that you are left with little to no time to yourself. Struggling with time management also disorganizes your priorities and makes it challenging to keep up with the current tasks at hand, therefore instilling high levels of stress and anxiety.
However, this predicament does have a solution, and it's called effective time management. Once you learn the art of balancing your work life, social life, hobbies and passions, the stress in your life will be alleviated considerably and lead to positive changes in your mental well-being.
Managing your time while working remotely
It gets easy to get caught up with work, especially when you are working remotely, but it is a feat that can be conquered once you follow effective strategies to manage your time.
What are my priorities?
If you want to determine your priorities, consider where your time is being spent. Time management means matching your specified priorities to your current priorities.
You probably have a lengthy list of things in your life you wish to do. It is important to note that when you prioritize everything, nothing is a priority because it leads to an increased sense of being overwhelmed and abandoning all tasks altogether. The solution to this problem is by creating a list that distinguishes clear priorities from unclear ones. These sets of clear priorities could include making it a priority to spend quality time in contact with your friends and family, preparing nutritious meals at home to eat healthily and watching online courses that assist you in learning about a certain subject of your interest.
Use time effectively
Invest more time in productive activities such as working out, spending a dedicated time on your work-from-home job, reading a book etc. Take frequent breaks between your remote job and consider using the `pomodoro technique` to help achieve focus and concentration.
Planning tools
Experts in time management suggest that you can use a customized planning tool to increase your productivity. Tools for personal planning are planners, calendars, telephone applications, wall charts, index cards, diaries for pockets, and notebooks. Writing your tasks, schedules, and things might help you concentrate on your priorities. The trick is to select and consistently use a planning tool. Download time tracking, time saving, habit developing, and task managing apps on your phone to assist you in this strategy.
Manage time-wasters
You must have caught yourself going overboard with using social media during work, but this is a struggle faced by many. To eliminate such time-wasters, you can download apps that set limits on your smartphone to curb your social media usage.
Additionally, there are other techniques you can incorporate in your routine. You can use voice-to-text tools like transcribed voicemails to compose emails and text messages when you are busy, set a specific time for responding to email, and avoid planning meetings unless they have a defined purpose or agenda etc.