Making the most of your resources while working effectively requires time management. One of the main causes of time management issues is the failure to create clear goals and reasonable priorities. By the end of the week, you can feel as though you are facing an enormous task because you will have fallen farther behind if you misjudged the time required to finish your daily workload. As a result, you get unmotivated and believe you are overworked and incapable of coping.
Is coworking a time management tool?
Flexibility in working hours is one of the benefits of coworking. You can recharge by taking a quick five-minute break, going for a stroll, or simply enjoying a cup of tea. This can help clear your head and enable you to work more productively when you return.
The flexibility of a coworking space can help with your time management, because if you start flagging, you can simply leave your desk and take a break whenever the need arises. It can be far more difficult to do this in a corporate environment.
Many coworking spaces are in areas where there’s plenty to do outside the office. For example, our coworking space in Bloubergstrand is within easy access of coffee shops, places to have an affordable lunch and right across the beach for the perfect walk during your break time.
If you have a lot of work on one day, but not as much the next, you can adjust your working hours accordingly by staying later a particularly busy day and rewarding yourself with an early finish the next!
Here are 5 tips to improve your time Management:
1. Set reminders
The key to good time management is to know exactly what you have to do. Setting a reminder for 15 minutes before an event or meeting gives you time to prepare and gather whatever you need to make it a success.
2. Use a daily planner
Create a daily planner of the tasks you need to complete on a day-to-day basis. Make a note of changes to your schedule, deadlines, and upcoming meetings as soon as you’re aware of them. As you work through your list, tick off the tasks you’ve completed and flag up the next most urgent.
3. Set yourself time limits
Give each task a time limit, based on how long you think it’s going to take. Set realistic time limits, so you won’t feel like you’re always behind. When the allotted time ends, stop what you’re doing and move onto the next task, even if you haven’t finished you can go back to it later.
4. Block all distractions
Email notifications can be one of the biggest distractions. Always minimise non-work distractions, including notifications on your mobile phone and social media feeds.
5. Establish a routine
Establish a workplace routine that is sensible and feasible. Try to stick to it, so that even on a hectic day, you have some structure in place.