How to Manage Your Time

Learning to Slow Sown That Clock

Time management is a skill that seems to escape most of us. We watch the clock while our employers push us to meet deadlines. We try hard to balance our lives while doing the best we can as parents, employees and neighbors. At the same time, we are working very long hours and the conveniences of modern technology are blurring the line between work and leisure. We often find ourselves torn between the demands at work and our families and end up feeling overwhelmed. Here are some ways to keep your busy lives in order while keeping your stress levels down and still achieving your goals.

Firstly, its important to prioritize your tasks. What are the most important things that must be done daily, weekly and monthly? Make these priorities of your life the most critical and make sure they get done first. Many people today rely on computer programs such as Microsoft Excel to handle these matters. Others make simple lists. Stick to the schedule and you will find that things are actually getting done in a timely manner. You will find yourself accomplishing more than ever before without feeling rushed. Prioritizing your goals will also allow you to stop doing things that you previously thought were important but now seem unnecessary. Setting prioritized goals and making them happen can actually free up time that you never knew you had. With dedication, it can be easy.

The most important thing to remember is to never over work yourself or you will not be able to effectively manage your time. If you choose to take on more than you can handle, time will run out. You will be left emotionally and physically tired. You will feel out of control of your life. Tell yourself that is you do not have to be the best or do your best at everything. By taking the simple steps above, you can meet your goals and even have time left over for relaxation. Perhaps you can go on a weekend getaway or a simply workout at the gym in the afternoon.

Remember to prioritize; set realistic time goals, make lists and stick to it for a more organized lifestyle. You will have harmony rather than worry over jobs left incomplete. Additionally, if you have a partner, talk to them about yourself and your limitations and enlist his or her help to help you manage your time better. A supportive environment does nothing but help in the quest to manage time. With lots of support, time management becomes a win-win situation for everyone.

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Here’s another mental exercise to help you increase your ability to stay focused. It’s simple yet not easy to do. Give it a try though because with practice the results are well worth it!

Empty your mind. Another focus-killer is a head full of scattered thoughts. You know those days when you’ve got a million things going on and you’re trying to remember them all at once and you keep forgetting things anyway? Emptying your mind can do wonders for scattered thoughts! Before you do this exercise, first make a list of everything you can think of that you need to remember. This will help you feel more comfortable about releasing your scattered thoughts.

Then, set aside 5 or 10 minutes to focus on quieting your thoughts. Though this exercise is called empty your mind, you really can’t completely empty your mind of thoughts. Your thoughts will keep on flowing through your mind the whole time. However, you can detach and simply let them pass by. You become an observer of sorts, watching your thoughts flow by. You’re aware that you’re having thoughts, but you don’t latch on to them and start actively ‘thinking’ about them. You simply sit in a space of peace and being while your thoughts flow calmly past. This experience is hard to describe, but once you master it you’ll have discovered a powerful technique for releasing stress and improving your focus in a very short period of time!

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How to Manage Stress Effectively

There is two hours left until your deadline and you still have what feels like an insurmountable amount of work to finish. You can feel that familiar migraine creeping in and know that the effects of too much stress are starting to kick in.

The presence of some stress is entirely natural; in fact, it is nature’s way of making sure that you stay active and meets your responsibilities. Excessive stress, on the other hand, generally contributes to serious health ailments such as heart attacks and is a result of pressure from sources which include familial and romantic relationships, financial debt, lack of income (which contributes to financial stress), and deadlines for school and work. With so much stress coming from so many different angles, it may seem like it is impossible to manage your stress levels effectively; however, with some planning and organization, you can minimize the amount of stress you receive from your everyday life.

The first thing to keep in mind is that balance is key. Working non-stop to achieve your deadlines without a break will only result in your burnout and is not worth the stress that accompanies it. Break down your workload into manageable intervals.

Trying to fit an inordinate amount of work in all at once or worrying excessively about the bills will not solve anything for you or for the situation. Stop, take a deep breath, and walk away. The distance from the problem will give you a chance to refocus and perhaps even find a different way to approach the situation.

If you still feel like you cannot overcome the stress you have as a part of your daily life, seek support from someone. There are many organizations, including most major banks, which will help you to re-evaluate your financial situation and make the sea of payments more manageable. If work from school or home is the bane of your existence, ask if your deadline can be extended or seek help from a tutor, who can make the information more palatable.

Finally, if you find yourself receiving inordinate amounts of stress from any relationship, walk away from the situation.

Currently, when everything seems to be needed yesterday, stress can seem to come at you from all angles. It is impossible to eliminate all forms of stress; however, managing what stress you have will make your life happier and your life span longer.

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