Everyone gets 24 hours in a day. So why does it feel like some people have all the time in the world and can accomplish what seems like the impossible – and others can’t seem to get anything done at all?
If you are living a busy life with days filled with work, friends, family responsibilities and studying for an MBA, it doesn’t mean that you have to settle for being stressed out and never completing your to-do list. You can actually get everything done and feel like you have plenty of time. It just takes a bit of discipline, an honest assessment of how you spend your time and a commitment to focus on what really matters.
Step 1: Figure out where your day is going
Have you ever looked at the clock and wondered where the day went? Or found yourself rushing from place to place because you underestimated how long things will take? The first step to getting a better handle on your time management is to figure out how your spending your time. Chances are, you are wasting a lot more time than you think you are.
To help identify your time suckers, write down everything you do and how long you do it for, for several days. Before long, you’ll start to see patterns emerge and notice where you aren’t using your time wisely. For example, are you rushing out the door every morning so you can stop for coffee – and then spend 20 minutes in line? Are you spending hours scrolling Facebook, or chatting with co-workers, instead of getting work done?
Once you have idea of where your time is going, you can make changes to the areas where you are spending too much time without any return. This doesn’t mean you have to cut out the things you enjoy entirely, but when you are more mindful of where you’re spending your time, you can make better choices; for example, you might decide to make coffee at home instead of heading to the coffee shop, and give yourself more time in the morning to get to work early or run an errand instead.
Step 2: Change your schedule
As you log your typical day, pay attention to how you feel at various points throughout the day. When are you the most energetic? When do you feel sluggish? Everyone has their own natural rhythms, and working with those rhythms can help you be more productive.
For instance, if you’re most energetic in the morning, you won’t be as productive if you put work off until the evening. Assume, for example, you’re working on earning an MBA from Santa Clara University in California. You might think that waiting until after work and the kids are in bed to work on your assignments is ideal, but if your natural tendency is to be a morning person, you aren’t going to be as productive as you could be. Try changing up your schedule. Go to bed early and get some rest, and set the alarm for an hour or two earlier. There’s a good chance you will be more productive, and perform better, if you tackle your work before the day begins and you’re pulled in all different directions.
Step 3: Minimise distractions
It might sound obvious, but the best way to get everything done and feel less overwhelmed is to minimise distractions. How many times every day are you interrupted by notifications on your computer or phone? Or interrupted by co-workers? To get more time in your day, do your best to minimise these distractions. This means silencing your devices but also being diligent in avoiding the “rabbit holes” that take your time. To stay on track, schedule breaks throughout the day during which you can check social media, read your favorite blogs or chat with a co-worker over a cup of coffee. That way, you’ll be productive and still feel connected to the world.
Step 4: Plan for interruptions
There are times during each day when you know you’ll be interrupted. Plan for those periods when making your schedule, and don’t try to do anything that will require concentration. In other words, if you know the kids will be home from school in the late afternoon and will need help with snacks and homework, don’t try to get your reading done then. Instead, focus on other tasks that lend themselves to multitasking, like checking emails or filling out paperwork. That way, you aren’t constantly trying to pick up where you left off, and you will still feel like you’re accomplishing your to-do list.
The fact is, there may be days when you think you can’t possibly handle one more thing. But if you use these tips, you’re going to feel like you have more time in each day and be better able to handle the stress of life.
Do you have a family to care for whilst studying for an MBA? Let us know ways you have found to cope with juggling multiple commitments.
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