How To Stop Wasting Time

Do you ever come to the end of the day and think “what did I really accomplish today?”   Am I using my time wisely?  Am I putting the most into every single day?  

I think we all struggle with the hours in our day and how we use them.  Some of us are diligent and get many things accomplished each an every day, and some of us do not.

Here are 7 steps to help you stop wasting time:

1.  Plan out your day.   This can be done first thing in the morning, the night before, or at the beginning of the week.  Without a plan you are more likely to just aimlessly move through your day.

2. Set aside time for the most important tasks.  If you MUST accomplish something today, then make sure you have carved out plenty of time to do it.  See #3 for how to carve out the right amount of time for each task.  

3.  Plan enough time to accomplish each task.  How many times have you made a huge list of to-do’s and ended up frustrated at the end of the day because you did not finish your list, or even get through half of it?  Make sure to be realistic with the amount of time a task will take.  If you need to run an errand, figure in the time it will take to drive to the store, get what you need and drive back.  If you have no idea how long something takes, then time yourself the next time you do it.  From start to finish.  Then you will have a much better idea of how much time to allow for that task.  This is an important step that will help you become more realistic with your list and alleviate the frustration of feeling as if you can never complete your list

4.  Allow for interruptions.  Put some fluff in your schedule to allow for all those distractions and interruptions that are bound to happen.  Not too much fluff, but enough so that your plan will flow even when you have some unexpected distractions.  For instance I know that with our kids home in the summer, there will definitely be more interruptions than when they are in school so I have to plan accordingly.

5.  Stay focused.  Once you have completed one task move onto the next one and do not get sidetracked. Keep a list close by either written down or on your computer so that you can be reminded of your plan for the day.  

6.  Save the best tasks for last.  This always works well for me.  Doing dishes is not one of my favorite things to do, and working on my blog is.  So, I do the dishes first and work on my blog last.  I try to get my worst task over with early and I save my best task to be completed at the end of my list when I’ve done all the tasks I do not particularly like.  It’s a reward for getting through the other tasks.  When I do not have a plan I will always do my favorite tasks first and not leave enough time to complete the rest of my list.

7.  Rest.  Our lives are so busy and we can easily become overwhelmed.  Be sure to have a day saved for relaxing, resting and refreshing!  Everyone needs this time to rest, and it makes you so much more productive the rest of the week.

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