Effective time management is a skill that many people, even professionals, have yet to learn. While we all have 24 hours to use within a day, not all of us are capable or used to making the most out of the time that we have.
Good time management, simply put, refers to a person’s ability to control how they use their time. It is a difficult skill to pick up, as it requires a great deal of self-discipline and consistent practice. Some people even take up a time management course to get the guidance that they need.
That being said, having the ability to manage time well offers distinct benefits that one can use to advance their career, maintain their personal and professional relationships, and improve their overall productivity. To help you get a head start, here are some of the advantages that people with good time management skills get to enjoy:
Reduced Stress Levels
People get stressed for a lot of reasons such as having pressing deadlines, being responsible for an overwhelming number of tasks, and not having enough resources to ensure that their final output will meet their minimum standards of quality. Many of these can be avoided by being able to manage time efficiently. People who have excellent time management skills are able to discern how much time they need to complete each step of the project that they’re handling and whether they have enough time to deliver the quality of work expected of them. In turn, they can start and finish each portion of the project on time, eliminating the need to keep on catching up and burning themselves out just so they can meet their deadline.
More Free Time
Professionals who are able to use their time more efficiently waste less of this precious resource. They are less prone to giving in to the desire to procrastinate or let their attention wander, and this can help them finish even unpleasant but necessary tasks more quickly compared to their colleagues. By wrapping up their work tasks in a shorter amount of time, they can devote more time and their full attention to activities and people that matter more to them. Once they’re off the clock, they’re free to indulge in their hobbies because they don’t have leftover tasks that they need to worry about.
The Ability to Focus Better
It can be difficult to focus when a person is in charge of completing equally urgent and important responsibilities at home or in the workplace. This happens when the person is unable to decide which tasks to do first—an essential skill in managing time well. A person who is able to determine which tasks require higher levels of prioritisation can devote their entire attention to a particular activity, allowing them to finish this task in the shortest amount of time possible. After that, they can move on to their next priority and focus on that task as well.
Improved Productivity
Being able to use time efficiently allows a person to accomplish more without compromising the quality of their work. This, in turn, gives them the time and resources they need to aim for bigger and better results. Take note that being more productive doesn’t necessarily mean having a longer to-do list than everyone else; it can also mean that a person is capable of accomplishing their regular workload in a way that surpasses what is regularly expected of them.
A Better Work-Life Balance
People who are good at managing their time are able to finish their work within the time that they are paid to do so. They leave work in the office, they’re less likely to experience burnout because of working for longer hours than necessary, and they’re able to dedicate time to cultivating their personal relationships and goals.
Acquiring good time management skills is a long and difficult journey, but there are certainly tools and techniques that a person can use to make this challenge much easier. In particular, there are many productivity programs and applications that people can easily access using their smartphones or computers.
Those who want to keep better track of their projects and plan ahead can make use of Microsoft Project. People who want to organise their emails and set the perfect time for sending messages to their colleagues and clients can make use of Microsoft Outlook. Meanwhile, professionals who depend on their smartphones to keep track of their goals and tasks for the day can easily access a slew of Google Applications to stay on top of their responsibilities.
More than simply having access to these tools, professionals who are eager to fast-track their adoption of effective time management skills should know exactly how these apps and programs can help them. Our team at Priority Management offers online courses to professionals who want to familiarise themselves with these programs and discover tips and tricks that they can use to make their everyday work more efficient and less time-consuming. Check out our flexible learning programs and book one of our courses today.
Want to have more time? Enrol to one of our time management courses today.