{"id":15455,"date":"2018-06-28T17:19:27","date_gmt":"2018-06-28T21:19:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.eztaxreturn.com\/?p=15455"},"modified":"2023-05-30T17:19:24","modified_gmt":"2023-05-30T22:19:24","slug":"9-tips-to-sharpen-your-time-management-skills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.eztaxreturn.com\/blog\/9-tips-to-sharpen-your-time-management-skills\/","title":{"rendered":"9 Tips to Sharpen Your Time Management Skills"},"content":{"rendered":"

Time management is something many of us aren\u2019t very skilled at.\u00a0 What typically happens is you think you have all the time in the world, so you procrastinate<\/a>.\u00a0 Then you freak out when it becomes clear that you underestimated how long a task will take.\u00a0 You may even vow to do better in the future but odds are you’ll just continue the cycle.\u00a0 By adding some structure to your day, you can become a lot more productive.\u00a0 Here’s how to sharpen your time management skills.<\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

Monitor your daily habits for the next week
<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

If you\u2019re like most people, you probably have no clue where all your time goes.\u00a0 That ends now.\u00a0 Spend the next week writing down every single detail of your day.\u00a0 This includes time spent on social media<\/a>, watching TV, lollygagging in the bathroom, etc.\u00a0 Don\u2019t omit anything.\u00a0 At the end of your experiment, review your findings so you know exactly what’s stealing your time.\u00a0 Then come up with a plan to manage your time better.<\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

Eliminate distractions<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

Having internet access is a gift and a curse. On one hand, it makes a lot of tasks easier.\u00a0 You can shop, pay bills and do your taxes without leaving home.\u00a0 But it also presents the opportunity for more distractions. One minute, you\u2019re checking things off your to do list. The next, you\u2019re clicking on a random article with a catchy headline.\u00a0 An easy way to break the habit is to use a time management tool like Rescue Time<\/a>. The software runs in the background of your phone or computer, tracking how you spend your time online. Then it gives you a detailed report of your activity.\u00a0 A paid version of the program can even notify you when you\u2019re spending too much time on a task and block distracting websites.<\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

Prioritize<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

Guess what?\u00a0 The world isn\u2019t going to end if you have to take some stuff off your plate.\u00a0 It\u2019s one thing if the task is a part of your job description then okay, you have to do it. \u00a0But outside of work, you can give a few things the ax and no one will even notice.\u00a0 Decide which activities are crucial to your goals and push those to the top of your priority list. \u00a0If there are things that need to be done but not necessarily by you, feel free to enlist outside help.<\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

Automate when possible<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

These days, there\u2019s no need to pay your bills in person.\u00a0 Save time and gas by handling your financial needs online.\u00a0 It only takes a couple minutes to have your savings and bill payments automated.\u00a0 Just tell them who needs to be paid and when.\u00a0 To ensure there aren\u2019t any issues, we recommend checking your accounts weekly.\u00a0 The last thing you want is to wind up in the red because your math was off.<\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

Be less accessible<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

Some people are natural born fixers.\u00a0 They love throwing on their superhero cape and saving the day when there\u2019s a problem, no matter how small the issue.\u00a0 There\u2019s nothing wrong with doing an occasional favor.\u00a0 But if people are constantly coming to you with things they can handle on their own, you need to start setting boundaries.\u00a0 You don\u2019t want to be so consumed with their stuff that you forget about your own priorities.\u00a0 Instead of being \u201con call\u201d, let them know you\u2019ll be unavailable during certain hours unless it\u2019s an absolute emergency.\u00a0 Follow through by turning your phone off or putting it on silent so you can focus.\u00a0 You may even want to have a special time dedicated to answering texts, emails and returning phone calls.<\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

Set a time limit<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

Sometimes we know exactly what needs to be done but we dread doing it.\u00a0 In those instances, it helps to set a time limit.\u00a0 Give the task a solid effort for 15 minutes.\u00a0 Once time’s up, you can call it quits until another day or keep going if you’re in a zone.\u00a0 Just make sure you finish everything before the deadline.<\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

Take regular breaks<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

An important part of time management is knowing when to take a break.\u00a0 Working straight through the day isn’t the best way to get things done.\u00a0 Eventually, you\u2019re going to feel burnt out or your minds going to wander.\u00a0 Taking a breather helps get your creative juices flowing again and boosts productivity.\u00a0 In fact, studies show that the most productive people take a break every 52 minutes.\u00a0 So, the next time you find yourself hitting a wall, step away from the project for a bit.\u00a0 When you return, you might see things differently.<\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

Plan each day the night before<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

Before you go to bed at night, take few minutes to create a game plan for tomorrow.\u00a0 Write down everything you\u2019d like to do and assign each activity a time slot.\u00a0 This includes work and play.\u00a0 With everything clearly listed, you\u2019ll never have to wonder what to do next, or have something important slip through the cracks.<\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

Pad your schedule<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

Whatever you do, avoid booking an airtight schedule.\u00a0 There’s always a chance that something unexpected will happen and you’re going to need time to deal with it.\u00a0 Whether it\u2019s someone needing to talk as you’re walking out the door, getting stuck in traffic or circling the block for the 15th<\/sup> time trying to find a parking spot.\u00a0 By giving yourself extra wiggle room, you can handle unforeseen events without throwing everything else off.<\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Fast and ez tax filing for busy people.<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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 <\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Time management is something many of us aren\u2019t very skilled at.\u00a0 What typically happens is you think you have all the time in the world, so you procrastinate.\u00a0 Then you freak out when it becomes clear that you underestimated how long a task will take.\u00a0 You may even vow to do better in the future […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":20221,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15455","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general-discussion"],"yoast_head":"\n9 Tips to Sharpen Your Time Management Skills<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Time management is something many of us aren\u2019t skilled at. 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