Running out of time to get everything done is something we are all becoming increasingly familiar with. The constant rush of current modern lifestyles, requires us to always be on the run and tackle many different responsibilities on a daily basis.

It can feel very overwhelming to know that you have so much to do and feel that you are not achieving everything as you plan. This is often due to a lack of organizational skills or unrealistic expectations of what you can accomplish.

Being able to effectively manage your time is an incredible skill that can make a difference in how you deal with your day-to-day tasks and on how you cope emotionally with everything you have to do. If this is something you want to improve, in this article, we will advise you on how to properly manage your time.

Assess Where You Spend Your Time

It is difficult to improve your time management skills if you do not know how most of your time is being spent. A good way to do this is to time yourself as you complete certain daily tasks. This is helpful as you may think that you need less time responding to emails, for example. This will give you an idea of how much time you need to accomplish different tasks. You can do this by either writing it down or downloading a time management app on your phone. This way you can make adequate adjustments to your time.

Use a to-do-list

Having a visual cue of your tasks is often very helpful, even if you are not a visual person. You will need more than just to write everything on a piece of paper – make sure that you set yourself realistic goals. When you have too many things going on, it can be easy to want to tackle every single thing, which will make you lose your focus and motivation. A great idea is to make a to-do list for the week, with everything you have to do during the week and a smaller to-do list with one or two goals only to focus on for the day. When you focus your attention on one thing, your productivity will increase.

Set a time limit to each task

Having self-discipline is crucial if you want to successfully manage your time. Once you have your list of goals to achieve, set a time to tackle each one and stick to them. However, be mindful to be realistic about this and give yourself enough time to complete everything without having to rush. If you feel that you are falling behind on your to-do list, this may make you feel overwhelmed and it is counterproductive.

Plan ahead

One of the most detrimental things you can do to yourself is to start your day without a plan. You are more likely to wake up motivated to accomplish a goal if you have already set your mind the night before. Before bed write down what you expect your day to be like tomorrow and what you will be doing so you can prepare for this.

Use a calendar or diary

Having a calendar or a diary is a necessary time management tool that will help you know what you are expected to do and when. It is vital that you do this if you wish to be more organized and manage your time efficiently. There are many different ones available, and experts from BlankCalendarPages.com advise you to choose those with a monthly management space and make a habit of marking all important events for the entire month to be adequately prepared. Some diaries allow you to focus on the day or the week, therefore you could even use a combination of both.

Expect The Unexpected

Every day is different and depending on your career and lifestyle, you may have to deal with unplanned emergencies that require your immediate attention. This can have a dent in your schedule. This is why it is vital to always expect urgent tasks to arise and have a contingency plan so that you can deal with this.

Have a break between tasks

No matter how many things you have to accomplish, do not be tempted to try and get everything done consecutively. You may think that having a break is a waste of time, but it can be difficult for your mind to focus without having a proper break between tasks. This can be five or ten minutes, but fully take a break by going outside for some fresh air or listen to music for a bit. 

Managing your time can seem difficult at times, and make you wish that you had more hours in the day to get everything done. If this is a feeling you can relate to, make sure to follow some of the tips discussed above to help you properly manage your time and make you feel like you can conquer the world.