3 More Time Management Mistakes You're Probably Making
Improving time management is an ongoing task. Why? Because life phases change. Resources change. Training and skills change. If you haven’t already looked through our “5 Time Management Mistakes You’re Probably Making” post, hop over and read it first. Then, consider these three additional suggestions when you are looking to improve your time management skills.
1. Not delegating. If you’re a leader, or work as part of a team, then you know that trying to take care of everything by yourself is virtually impossible. You're simply not going to have time for everything. If you try to accomplish every task by yourself, you're inevitably going to feel overworked and burnt out. And when you have too much on your plate, you're going to be stressed out.
At work, consider the strengths of your team members. Delegate tasks to other employees when applicable and you'll be able to make space on your calendar for those tasks that are most important or for the things that can only be accomplished by you.
Next, consider training options for your staff or yourself that will better equip you and your team to complete your responsibilities quickly and efficiently. Training may seem costly or inefficient when you already feel behind on your workload or when you are working understaffed. However, according to LinkedIn, failing to sufficiently train staff members results in $500 billion lost annually to companies from turnover, work that must be redone, and other costs that are difficult to see up front. Properly training, educating, and delegating to team members can make or break your attempts to improve time management.
At home, talk with your family. What items can be delegated to others to lighten your load and allow you to focus on what’s most important? Teaching your kids to handle laundry, cleaning, or cooking at age-appropriate levels will empower and benefit them in the long run and improve your time management as well.
2. Carve out time for self-care. This one might seem out of place in a post about time management but hear me out. A car can’t run on an empty gas tank, and you can’t run on empty energy reserves. At least not indefinitely. Taking the time to invest in your own health and well-being will allow you to accomplish more with less time in the future.
It is so easy to get in the habit of relying on caffeine or the quick pick me up that sugar provides to get you through the day. It’s also easy to let this become a cycle that puts a larger and larger drain on your body, immune system, and energy reserves.
Consider one habit that you could change today to set yourself up for more energy, a clearer mind, and a more efficient work process in the future. Can you go to bed earlier? Pack healthy snacks to eat through the day? Begin your day with prayer or meditation? Don’t underestimate the power of small steps.
3. Make time for the things you enjoy. Similar to the point above, I have found that my own time management can be enhanced if I balance work (whether on the job or at home) with activities I enjoy. Life is short and you only get one life. While improving your time management skills allows you to get more work done, that shouldn’t be the only benefit of improved time management. Take advantage of the opportunity to take a class, enjoy new experiences, or grow spiritually, intellectually, or relationally.
Successful time management is simply a matter of making intentional decisions over time. With better time management, you can hone skills in areas that interest you or will further benefit you as you work to reach long term goals. The more you learn, the better your time management will be and the more you can do in less time. The result will be more time to spend on the things you really enjoy!
