Time flies when you're having fun! But you're in the office busy as a bee, and it still flies! Before you know it, it's 5 p.m. and you've barely made a dent. What happened? Whether it's a nasty case of procrastination, the inability to say no, or a very busy lifestyle, there aren't enough hours in the day to finish all the work you have to do. Unfortunately, there's no magical wand to wave away that growing mountain of work. Instead, check out these seven helpful tips to get your work done faster and go home with a bounce in your step. 1. Make a list, check it twice You may have too much on your plate, but no amount of groveling, wishing or pleading will make it all go away. One of the biggest obstacles people face is realising how much they have to deal with. Prioritising your tasks or activity will help accomplish more in less time. Label them A, B and C. Always start with the A's and don't get too excited about finishing off so many C's….They might be little victories, but not your ultimate job objectives! 2. Set realistic deadlines …quot; and often So you've made that list. Great. That doesn't mean you can kick back and relax. Start prioritising. What needs to get done ASAP? (In other words, what will you get fired for if it isn't done? Sorry, too blunt!) 3. Do small, similar tasks at once Once you've created a list and prioritised it, you may notice a bunch of small, simple tasks that are easy to do or don't take very long. Do these quick and mundane tasks when you're facing some downtime (like waiting for a meeting) or need a quick distraction from your current project. Holding the phone line is not a task, so whenever you're on hold, check the in-tray, junk mail, or your e-mails. A lot of emails are no brainers and could be deleted or reacted to very easily. Combining irrelevant tasks is a creative way to buy more time! 4. Mind over matter Of course, the biggest obstacle in managing your time has to do with the dreaded P-word: Procrastination. Then again, if you're reading this, at least you've admitted the problem..and I didn't take much of your precious time! 5. Decisions, decisions …quot; just decide already! Are you one of those people that can never decide what brand of bread to buy at the supermarket? Or spends hours in front of the mirror each morning, deciding what to wear? 6. Delegate Sure, you're efficient, organised, on top of everything… and yet there still aren't enough hours in the day. If that's the case, you need to learn to delegate. Put a team together to work on a major project. Or ask the intern to take over simpler tasks that don't need your direct input. Learn to delegate effectively. Some of your daily tasks must be delegated, but you just got used to doing it so much you think they are yours forever! Remember that delegation can be done on three levels: boss, colleague or subordinates. Link your request for delegation with one or more of their objectives. Some amazing results might be found! 7. Take a real break When you're at work, do work, so that when you're not at work, you're not doing work. When you take lunch or a small break, really take a break. Don't bring notes or files with you, don't take the office home. You'll come back the next day recharged to start working, plus you'll avoid burnout. Final words: There is no such thing as time management. If you look into this hoping to find the answer, you are in the wrong page. Time management is gone, SELF-management is here to stay!
