How many times a day are you checking your watch, running late, or struggling to finish a task due to a time crunch? With so many things to get done in a day, how can we effectively prioritize and delegate so that we aren’t constantly feeling stressed for time?

  • Focus on solutions, not problems. Thinking about the problem is a cause of worry and stress, whereas coming up with a solution is an active way to help yourself and move forward. Always try to be proactive and solve problems as soon as they appear. Complaining about how little time you have not only promotes a negative environment, but it also wastes more time and energy that you could have put into the task itself.
  • Set a list of priorities and stick to it. Some people prefer to do items on a list that they are more familiar with or that are more enjoyable, but at the end of the day all tasks need to be completed, so it is better to start with the most important and demanding tasks and finish with the ones you can easily tackle later on. Come up with a schedule, which includes appropriate breaks and time limits for projects. Planning ahead is always important, and even plan for the unexpected.
  • Put an end-time in your schedule. When chatting with a visitor or on a phone call, set up a designated time to chat for a specific time frame. This will ensure you get straight to the point and will not use up more time than needed.
  • Supervise others rather than micromanage. As a leader, this skill will direct fellow coworkers into the right direction but will not require you to devote so much time into responsibilities that are not your own.
  • Work in an organized space. A clean workspace sets up the environment for a clean headspace, creating the ability to work more efficiently.
  • Identify what is wasting your time and decide if it is serving you. Sometimes we put off something we need to do because another event keeps getting in its way. Search for these patterns and decide if that additional event is necessary.
  • Don’t have such high expectations. Feeling the need to be perfect and controlled will drive you crazy. Know that you are doing your best and use tips to be more effective, but there is no need to punish yourself if something does not work out in the timely manner you hoped for.

References

BH-0038 RevA