How to manage your time and priorities at work

How can we optimise our time management and allocate the correct level of priority to work tasks?

In our society, it is often difficult to complete all the tasks we have scheduled, but by following some simple advice, exceptional results can be obtained.  So here are our 7 tips to avoid becoming a slave to the ticking of the clock:  precious advice to put into practice each day.

1. Draw up a list of things to do

In order to manage time efficiently, it is imperative to know beforehand what needs to be done that day and to achieve this it is a good idea to prepare a comprehensive to do list first thing in the morning, including all the tasks to be completed by evening.

2. Establish a timescale to be respected

In order that everything can be carried out at the right speed, it is a good idea to establish a timescale for the completion of each task on the afore-mentioned list.  You should then do everything possible to stay within the timescale, as even just a few minutes extra will reduce the time available for the next task.

3. Use a calendar

Efficient time management cannot be achieved by considering one day at a time:  when there are a lot of appointments and deadlines, it is advisable to use a calendar to organise each commitment properly.

4. Arrive at appointments early

Self-imposed early arrival provides the mathematical certainty of not being late.

You can however end up being late when you merely try to be punctual, because unexpected events can happen at any point and cause delays.

5. Work on one task at a time

Considering that we are neither computers or robots, the multitasking function is not included in our DNA;  of course some people manage to do several things at the same time very well, but in most cases the best results can be seen achieved we focus on one activity at a time.

6. Eliminate sources of distraction

Anyone wishing to manage their time better must eliminate sources of distraction as far as possible (at least during working hours):  switching the mobile onto silent mode, forgetting Social Network profiles and dis-activating chats are all strategies which can enable productivity to be increased.

7. Identify your priorities

If we assume that nobody can manage to do everything all the time, it is important to establish which tasks are the most important and which are less so.  The ideal approach is to complete the more urgent and necessary tasks, while postponing the others for a few days.

Translated by Joanne Beckwith