Time management is a well sought after skill for all level of employees in any organization
We are expose to various Time Management theories and books but however, many people still find that they do not have enough time for all the tasks they aim to get done either at work or at home.
The reality is there is always things that we get it done in any given time. It is not how much time we have to get things done. It is our approach in viewing time and tasks in hand. Prioritize is the key.
I personally like to use the 4 quadrant by Stephen Covey and focus on getting what is important and urgent that needs my immediate attention. It helps me to get a sense of clarity on how to line up my to do tasks in an orderly manner.
Prioritize your tasks
I personally like to use the 4 quadrant by Stephen Covey and focus on getting what is important and urgent that needs my immediate attention thereafter I move on to what is important but not urgent and thirdly will be what is urgent and not important. Lastly I will definitely limit what is not important and not urgent. My own experience has show me once I put my focus on to what is important and urgent and then what is important and not urgent, eventually the fire-fighting seems to reduce to almost none. The good news is I no longer need to get stressed at work.
Setting up systems
Very often we get distracted by the quadrant 3 event which is not important but urgent e.g. a client whom request for a receipt of his company payment to your company as he needed it to complete the monthly account. This could be done by setting up a system for example, client receipts are issued every 1st and 14th of the month. Payment made 5 days before those dates will receive a receipt, any payment thereafter will be issued a receipt in the next batch. Once the system are made known to the clients, you will find yourself dealing less situation of the quadrant 3.
Get it done
When you adopt the approach of focusing your energy to get those task that is important and urgent or important and not urgent done, discipline yourself to follow through to accomplish those tasks til the end. By doing this. your are training yourself to be discipline to getting the important tasks done and not get distracted by events that is urgent but not important. This also create satisfaction to you as you know your time is well spend.
Be flexible
The matrix is a good reference to use to prioritize your work or personal affairs. However learn to be flexible at time if you needed to give attention to an event that is outside of your norm e.g. spending quality time with your spouse whom you stay with and see each other everyday. Carve out time in your day that you can spend quality time to nurture the relationship that you value and cherish e.g. chit chatting over a good dinner instead of watching TV over a meal. It is the human interaction that give rinse to an memorable experience. As a professional that works from home, I often work all day long to meet deadlines. I have learned to give time out to myself during meal time, what more to ask for a meal with my spouse whom is supportive of my passionate work. Mutual understanding in a relationship and deal with it with maturity goes a long way to support your career growth.