How to Manage Your Time More Effectively

Time management is a skill that isn’t taught. From a young age, we learn that there is a specific time to go to bed, a particular time to wake up, a time for meals, and a time for naps. As we get older, our days are not as simple, and we have to create schedules and routines to keep everything in order. However, time management is an essential skill for being successful. It says a lot to employers when people are on time or even early. In social situations, being on time is proper etiquette, and it shows respect and consideration for others.

It is easy to let time get away from you. You may have a family and find it challenging to fit all the things in the day. Children seem to make time disappear! When under pressure at work or school, productivity can sometimes push people to get more done. However, the pressure can quickly turn into stress if time is not managed well. Managing your time wisely can make life much less stressful. If you have a plan for the day, you will feel more prepared and put together. Many successful people follow a daily routine, which helps to compartmentalize and focus their full attention on the activities they need to do.

Time management is essential for working smarter — not harder.

Take a Step Back

Take a step back from your busy schedule, and allow yourself the time to breathe. When we allow our schedule to become so jam-packed, we lose sight of the pleasures of everyday life. Instead of spending quality time with family, we are frantically rushing around in a frenzy to get everything done. If you need to, place some things on hold. Pause the project you’ve been working on for work. Instead of driving your kids to school every day, have them ride the bus. Let yourself sleep in an extra hour. Declutter your schedule by removing small things that can be done more efficiently. Instead of shopping for groceries for hours, plan out your meals, and order your groceries online.

Take a step back and learn to relax; meditation is excellent for this. You can wake up five minutes early and meditate. Everyone’s meditation looks different. You can spend this time quietly to yourself, you can journal your feelings, you can listen to some upbeat music and dance around your room, or you can try some deep breathing. Whatever you choose to do, taking time to yourself to prepare your mind and body in the morning can help set your intentions for the day.

Set Your Priorities

Prioritize tasks based on importance and urgency. For example, look at your daily tasks and determine which are:

• Important and urgent: Do these tasks right away.
• Important but not urgent: Decide when to do these tasks.
• Urgent but not important: Delegate these tasks if possible.
• Not urgent and not important: Set these aside to do later.

Evaluate Yourself

Do you ever wonder how people wake up at 6 AM and are a nonstop powerhouse with all the things they get done? Evaluation is critical for maintaining a healthy routine. We need to make sure we are evaluating ourselves. A busy schedule can contribute to stress on our emotional, physical, and spiritual health. When we evaluate ourselves, we need to check in on each of these aspects.

Mental Evaluation

Mentally, we can evaluate by journaling our feelings. If we are feeling too overwhelmed, seeing a therapist or psychiatrist may be a good option. Clinically trained professionals can help you minimize stress with therapy or medication.

Physical Evaluation

Physically, we need to plan a time to exercise. It is recommended to get 30-60 minutes of exercise every day and at least three days a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, muscle-strengthening activity, and bone-strengthening activity.

Vigorous-intensity aerobic activities include running, doing jumping jacks, and fast swimming. Muscle-strengthening activities include playing on playground equipment, playing tug-of-war, and doing pushups and pull-ups. Bone-strengthening activities include hopping, skipping, doing jumping jacks, playing volleyball, and working with resistance bands.

Spiritual Evaluation

We can evaluate our spiritual health by engaging in prayer or silent reflection. Community is also a great way to expand and nurture spiritual health. Going to church or attending a support group can help create the support you need.

Remember, balance is the most important thing when evaluating yourself. If you find one area of your well-being slacking, it is time to invest in that area. Equilibrium in every aspect of your wellbeing is critical for maintaining a healthy mind.

Time management can make you feel like you’re drowning or on top of the world.  Learning to manage your time efficiently may require you to take a step back or evaluate yourself. If you find yourself struggling with productivity or focus, it may be time to see a professional. If you are struggling with the effects of stress or believe you need a clinician’s advice, we are here to help. SokyaHealth is a unique, multidisciplinary, private psychiatric and mental health practice. We treat a wide range of mental health disorders, from anxiety to substance abuse to ADHD. Our team of mental health experts prides itself on holistic and well-informed care, while our patients take comfort in the compassionate approach with which they’re treated. If you would like more information, we would be happy to help. We provide services for Southern California, Oregon, and Alaska regions. To schedule a free consultation with SokyaHealth contact us today at (619) 375-3977.