Several months ago I did a post on productivity as a part of a group writing project. Vivien at Inspiration Bit has a new group writing project going on a similar topic – time management, which is something I think most of us deal with on a daily basis. I have a toddler at home and with the increasing number of opportunities that are coming my way, I am finding that it is very important to maximize my time. I have to make every minute that I have available to work count, because there are never enough of them! Here are some things I do to help with time management:
1. Don’t waste time. This seems rather obvious doesn’t it? I used to waste a lot of time watching stats, checking e-mail often, keeping things in my feed reader that might be sort of amusing, but were just time suckers. I had to ruthlessly eliminate things that were pulling me off track.
2. Carry a notebook. In my post about Moleskine notebooks I mentioned that I had started keeping a notebook with me at all times. So, for example, If I have 15 minutes to wait at the doctor’s office, I can begin to formulate a blog post or sketch some logo ideas.
3. Keep a calendar. I used to just sort of keep a running list of things that I needed to do in my head and just get them done as quickly as possible. Now, with work backing up I can no longer keep track of everything, nor can I give clients a feel for when I could begin their project unless I keep a calendar in which I plan out projects, estimating the number of hours things will take. This goes a long way towards eliminating stress as well, since I have a clear plan for getting everything accomplished on time.
4. Work anywhere and everywhere. I use online tools like GMail, Google documents, and WordPress so that I can work from any computer. If I end up an my parents’ place with time to kill, I can turn on the laptop and get some things accomplished.
5. Break all tasks into small bits. If I have even one minute, I sit down at the computer and do something. Every little thing I can do gets me closer to finishing a task.
6. Learn to say no. That is a hard one for me… really hard. I want to do everything! I want to help everyone that e-mails me and needs something designed, fixed, written, etc. but I just can’t. Saying no does get easier the more I do it.
Even with all of my efforts, I still feel as though I could do a better job managing my time. Do you have any tips for me?
Thanks for sharing with us your Time management strategies, Randa. I will have lots of tips for you on the weekend, when I’ll post all other entries to this group writing project
Saying No, is the hard one for me too. It’s something that my husband keeps telling me – you just can’t do everything, you should cut down on work. He’s right, but… So it is smth that I really have to work on.
The strategy of you providing for us is so useful that we can make our life more perfect and significant!
Number 6 is such a good one. I am such a pushover though. I’m like you, I just want to say yes to everyone and everything. I went to a conference a while back and the speaker said to say “love to, can’t now.” It doesn’t work for me, but thought I would pass it along.
Good tip Barry – nice to add in the “love to” when you’re saying no.
Oo, dear – I need to work on all 6 of those … and it is so hard to say no, particularly to offers of work, because you never know if they’ll come back. Must try harder.
Saying ‘no’ is an art form.
It’s hard, but essential, and is certainly something I wasn’t taught in school. Now there’s a lesson I would’ve liked to have sat in on.
Off-topic, I should be back to my own avatar for this comment, rather than stealing Viviens.
Agree with all of these points, I especially find carrying a notebook useful personally – you never know when you’re going to catch a spare 10 minutes, time which could be used more effectively!
My biggest problem (and I am working on it) is that I cannot focus on one project at time. I allways come with ideas for other projects I am working on, I remember something important, and I jump from job to job, I finally I forget what I was doing in the first time.
Well, I know how this sounds… but I can manage, I am not such a mess. My advice is focus on one thing at time and WRITE any idea you have rather than actally begin to put it in practice.
Great reminders! I especially appreciate the “work anywhere and everywhere tip”. Time management is all about making the most of every minute. When we are waiting in lines, on our doctors or for our family to arrive, we can use that time to create, organize or take a much needed break.
Hi Randa
One of the major timewasters today is … television. So turn it off! Turn on some music and get busy.
Yeah – when we moved this time, we didn’t even get cable TV or even hook up an antenna because TV just ends up sucking time away from more important things. It is much easier to be productive without the lure of the couch and the remote!
I especially like No5 , I often procrastinate over tasks and take ages to get started , however If i just do a little bit at a time I can do it.
OK, that sort of answered most of my questions except one: what happens if I am just plain old lazy!? I mean, if procrastination were a profession, I would be a guru!
I disagree with number 4. I dont like to work on airplanes, they are so cramped, it kills me to see people do that.
I’VE FOUND THAT BREAKING MY DAY DOWN INTO SEVERAL SECTIONS HELPS TO ORGANIZE MY MULTITASKING. FOR INSTANCE, DO ANY SNAIL MAIL AT THE SAME TIME (PLANNED TIME) PLAN ANY MEETINGS AROUND THE SAME BLOCK OF TIME(ONE RIGHT AFTER ANOTHER) PLAN A BLOCK OF TIME FOR ALL PHONE CALLS. AND PLAN THE TIME EACH DAY FOR WRITING YOUR BLOG/BLOGS. PLAN ANOTHER SECTION OF TIME FOR RESEARCH ON THE NEXT BLOG . FINALLY DON’T LET OTHERS STEAL YOUR TIME. PLAN TIME FOR YOUR FAMILY! AND STICK TO THAT TIME. PLAN TIME FOR EACH TASK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE! STICK TO THAT TIME PUT ASIDE. I ACTUALLY WRITE DOWN MY PLANS FOR THE NEXT DAY IN A TIME I HAVE SET ASIDE FOR THAT PURPOSE. THIS SHOULD HELP GET ABOUT SIX TIMES THE WORK DONE(AND INCREASE GOOD TIMES WITH FAMILY) HOPE THIS HELPS. SINCERELY, TODD
Grrr My biggest problem is time wasting. sometimes I look back on the day and realize I’ve wasted so much time. Its so frustrating. Seems like such a waste of a day. My biggest problem is chatting to friends while I should be working.
A notebook and calender musts.
[...] 6 Essential Time Management Strategies by Randa Don’t waste time, work everywhere and anywhere, carry a notebook and keep a calendar, once again – break tasks into small bits and learn to say “no”. [...]
[...] 6 Essential Time Management Strategies by Randa [...]
[...] 6 Essential Time Management Strategies, Randa Clay Design [...]
[...] 6 Essential Time Management Strategies by Randa [...]
[...] 6 Essential Time Management Strategies – Randa Clay Design [...]
[...] 6 Essential Time Management Strategies by Randa [...]
The only thing that would be appealing and refer to me is “Work anywhere” because the other 5 strategies I am still learning. Great post and this will make me build on my time-management and organizational skills even more.
Carrying a notebook is awesome, it helps me so much
[...] 6 Essential Time Management Strategies by Randa [...]
This should be every person’s guide to meet tight schedules or simply to make time for more things. It helps to get everything done and organized! Great tips!
Thanks for sharing the time management methods with us. I hope that I can truly manage my time effectively. Start from this moment, I think I should use these methods to spend my time. Thanks again!
[...] 6 Essential Time Management Strategies by Randa Don’t waste time, work everywhere and anywhere, carry a notebook and keep a calendar, once again – break tasks into small bits and learn to say “no”. [...]
[...] how I manage my time is a private topic. What? Did you expect that I’d share with you the 6 essential time management strategies which allow me managing large multi-user projects? No [...]
Break all tasks into small bits is very helpful..when you work from home, it’s very easy to work yourself too hard in one sitting and not notice how much your effectiveness degrades. Have a plan, stick to it, and take it as seriously as you would a job – and you’ll really succeed.
[...] 6 Essential Time Management Strategies by Randa Don’t waste time, work everywhere and anywhere, carry a notebook and keep a calendar, once again – break tasks into small bits and learn to say “no”. [...]
[...] 6 Essential Time Management Strategies Randa Clay Design Six quick strategies to keep your productivity up, even if it means breaking things up into smaller tasks and tackling them piece by piece. [...]
Thanks for the post! It is really useful!
I have to add something to the list above: whenever we do something, for instance when we take part in an activity we dislike we have to be there, to pay attention to everything, to listen, to try to learn something, and “steal” everything we hear and see that might be useful to us. Other way, it’s a total waste of time!
So, whatever the circumstances, you have to be PRESENT with your mind, not only with your body!
Cheers and keep up the good work!
To true, especially #2: Carry a notebook. I started carrying a notebook (or the occasional sticky notes pad) around with me at all times, it works wonders for those random moments when a perfect idea pops into your head.
I highly recommend Field Notes for the outgoing designer: http://fieldnotesbrand.com/
Time management is a crucial ingredient for the success of any blog. I will without a doubt be passing along these great tips to some fellow bloggers who are struggling to appropriately manage their time.
Thanks for these tips/reminders!
#1 is a big problem for me.
#2 is something I do to keep me sane.
Thanks again!
Great work!
I think that I will put this tips on practice to increase my productivity.
Congratulations for your blog.
This is what I really need to work on, thanks for the tip, I will apply them.
[...] 6 Essential Time Management Strategies by Randa 简介： 不要浪费时间，随时随地工作。带着你的笔记本，日程表，把事情分解成小的部分来完成，学会说不。 [...]
[...] 6 Essential Time Management Strategies by Randa 简介： 不要浪费时间，随时随地工作。带着你的笔记本，日程表，把事情分解成小的部分来完成，学会说不。 [...]
There is a very good book by David Allen – Getting Things Done – I would recommend anyone who is interested in this subject to read it. I picked a copy in a local Barnes and Noble just to flip the pages, but then couldn’t let it go and bought it. Great book and cost less than $15.
[...] 6 Essential Time Management Strategies by Randa Don’t waste time, work everywhere and anywhere, carry a notebook and keep a calendar, once again – break tasks into small bits and learn to say “no”. [...]
“4. Work anywhere and everywhere. I use online tools like GMail, Google documents, and WordPress so that I can work from any computer. If I end up an my parents’ place with time to kill, I can turn on the computer and get some things accomplished”
The above mentioned point is most valuable. While the data stored in microsoft word or any other file in your computer can be destroyed by virus, the data in online tools remains safe and the best part is you can see it and edit it or modify it in any computer at any place. Well done.