By: Eric Guo
It is likely that at one point in your life, you have found yourself laboring over your work at some time past midnight. At this point, you may ask yourself, “Why can’t I manage my time effectively so I can stop forgoing so much sleep?” Then, you promise yourself that you will start managing your time effectively and never procrastinate again. When the next day comes, however, you find yourself in the same situation again. You can’t manage your time, you’re tired all the time, and you feel like you can’t get anything done.
As you have learned from your experiences, time management is an important skill in life. Many people are affected by procrastination, and postpone important tasks that they need to accomplish. Because time management is so important in school and in real life, it is important that you manage your time effectively. Here are some things that you can try doing for effective time management:
- At the end of the day, think about what you did over the course of the day. Were you actively working for the majority of the day, or were you spending time doing things you weren’t supposed to? Your browser history is a good way to help you figure out if you have been productive or not. Once you know what you tend to do on a daily basis, it will be easier to cut down time doing unproductive activities.
- Make a to-do list. Write down all the things that you want to accomplish for a certain day. Try to be detailed, so you know exactly what you need to get done.
- Create a schedule at the beginning of the day. Think about how long it might take to finish each of your tasks, and assign each task to a period of time. Make sure to make your schedule a little loose. You should schedule time for interruptions that are bound to happen. Once you have created your schedule, you must find a way to adhere to it and do your tasks.
- Try to minimize distractions as much as possible. Put phones, computers, and anything distracting away from you when you work. If you need to use the computer, block distractions such as Facebook and other forms of social media.
Time management is definitely not an easy thing to do. To manage your time effectively, you must be committed to doing your tasks. Create a to-do list, plan a schedule, and work in an environment without distractions. However, utilizing these things won’t guarantee success. It is up to you to stay committed, work hard, and understand what you have to get done in order for you to manage your time effectively.
