One of the things many of us struggle with when working towards our professional goals is keeping track of time. Procrastination is an epidemic! Luckily there is a way to get over this learned behaviour. Here at NLG, we’re happy to offer you some tips to manage your time!
1) Plan out your day
Even as kids, teachers or parents have told many of us that planning out your day is important. Having a solid plan can keep us on track as it allows us to see exactly what we have to accomplish that day. When planning out your day, do it in a way that works best for you.
Make a to-do list of tasks to accomplish and check them off as you go along. Or use an agenda to manage long-tern commitments. Try setting alarms. Have a big report to submit? Set an alarm indicating that you need to start, an alarm indicating your deadline is approaching, and an alarm at the time limit. This can add the pressure you need to get that task accomplished.
2) Know what times you are most productive
Early bird or night owl? If you work best at night, see if you can adjust your schedule to match this. Whether that means starting your workday late, or doing necessary errands at night. Consider your own needs when planning out our day. Everyone is unique so be sure to take this into your consideration when figuring out what works best for you. As the saying goes, “Work smarter, not harder.”
3) Reward yourself
Give yourself things to look forward to. If you finish a task on time, treat yourself. Go out with the buddies, watch the hockey game, eat an extra slice of cake. You’ve earned it! Having rewards to look forward to at the end of the day can keep us productive and motivated,
These tips can all help you work efficiently and avoid procrastinating. But at the end of the day, you have to be willing to work hard to make your goals a reality. Breaks are allowed, and slip-ups happen, but don’t forget that it’s up to you to make your dreams come true. So grab life by the horns and take your life to the Next Level with these tips. And if you need a little extra support, be sure to check out what we have to offer in terms of business coaching.