Declutter your Time

Do you find yourself running out of time to get through everything you want and need to do? The following tips and ideas (as well as links to previous time management posts) may be the inspiration you need to help you think through managing your time more effectively.

Photo by Fabrizio Verrechia

The most helpful time management tip I have ever read is from Julie Morgenstern's book "Time Management from the Inside Out". She explains that time is like a cupboard. Just like you can only fit so much into the physical space of a cupboard, your "time space" is limited too.So it might be helpful to think about organising time in the same way that you would go about organising a space:

• Think about what the priorities are for your time. As only a limited number of items can fit into a physical space your main priority tasks should be put into your schedule first. I would strongly recommend writing down your goals to help give you a focus for how you prioritise your time. Lower priority tasks can then be fitted around those of higher importance. You might like to read my previous posts "Setting Big Picture Goals" and "Setting Achievable Goals" as inspiration for goal setting.
• Estimate the size of tasks (how long they will take) so you know what will fit into your "time space". If you know how long each particular task will take it is easier to see what will realistically fit into your day so it doesn't get filled beyond capacity. 
• Try grouping like with like tasks. As you would put like items together on a shelf, it might be helpful to do similar types of tasks at the same time. For example if you are going out to do errands, then do all of the tasks that need to be done when you are out and about at the same time. If you are doing admin tasks on the computer then do all your electronic tasks that day while you are at the desk.
• Get rid of "clutter" - that is tasks that are not meaningful or important for you to do, or tasks that can be delegated to others. This may also mean saying "No" to activities and tasks that are not priorities in the current season of your life."The Opportunity Cost of Time" is a previous post about realising that choosing to do something actually means declining to do something else with that time.
• Just like you wouldn't stuff a space absolutely full, allow some space in your schedule to rest and re-charge. "Resting is Doing Something" is my reminder to prioritise rest. Related to this is our need to take time to care for ourselves. "Developing a Self-Care Plan" is some encouragement to do this too.

I hope these ideas have been some inspiration for thinking about how you use your time. Please comment with your top tips and advice for being an effective time manager.