We wish it were possible. But we have already proven that it is not in the previous part of this two-part article. We know that your colleague who has a similar position at work as you cannot “puff up” his work time; however, he is able to plan effectively and is aware of how much time each activity engulfs. Moreover, a leader should be able to work effectively, and without a doubt, proper time management is part of it.
When you look back at your schedule from the previous week, do you see time that you could save instead of swinging from one task to another? If not, then read the following additional tips prepared by the Fast Company website. It will help you to plan your daily tasks more effectively, and thus save time and your nerves too.
5. Act like a host.
Imagine that some visitors arrive for dinner. You know that they will arrive at seven, and you have to find out what steps you need to take and when, since dinner should be on the table at exactly seven o'clock. So if you start counting down the time required for each activity from seven o'clock, you will get what time to start. Likewise, you can also do this with individual projects. Spread them out into a single step. For example, you can use the Gantt chart that allows you to plan time much easier. Could some activities be done at the same time?
6. Ask someone experienced.
The worst thing is to plan activities that you do rarely or not at all. It is like when you paint your apartment. You start on Saturday afternoon and suddenly you find that you are still struggling to move a heavy cabinet at three o’clock. Do not rely on your own guesses, ask advice from someone more experienced. If such a person is not available, ask more people and take a broader view. Collective wisdom is often surprisingly accurate.
7. Define the scope of activities.
Effective planning also requires objective thinking about how much time individual activities can absorb. Therefore, identify dispersions. The more unpredictable or challenging the activity, the bigger reserve you need. If you have multiple plans with an indefinite time frame, spread it out over several days.
8. Divide your time.
As time goes on, your only assurance is that you cannot "inflate" those 24 hours given to you daily. With this in mind, start allocating time for each activity - 10 hours of work including commuting, 8 hours of sleep, two hours for sports... How well can you manage your time?
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