By Dawn Arkin
Business today is more hectic than ever before. Corporations are streamlining their workforce, leaving remaining employees overwhelmed with the extra work to make up the slack. Learning to manage your time will not only help keep your regular work flowing, but will free up time for special projects as well.
But how do you organize your time when you are under pressure? It's not easy when you are being pulled in several directions at one time. Here are some tips for managing your time better.
1. Start managing your time today. Don't wait until next week or even tomorrow. There is no time like the present to put these valuable tools into action.
2. Get into a routine. Take care of your normal tasks at the same time each day to help you stay focused and organized when the emergency projects come up.
3. Don't bite off more than you can chew. Only volunteer for tasks you can work into your schedule. If you are overworked, don't offer to help.
4. Break down a large project into more manageable pieces. Organizing each project into smaller tasks will make the project easier to finish on time.
5. Do not make a project more difficult than it has to be. Perfection is expected in the finished product, but not necessary during the start of the project. Look at what is expected in regards to the project and don't add more to it.
6. Deal with tasks when you get them. Don't wait until the last minute to start a job. One of the biggest time wasters is starting and stopping projects. The more times you start the same project, the more time you'll waste repeating the same work over and over.
7. Figure out how much time a project should take to complete, then schedule blocks of time during your days to complete it. Some projects will have to be finished as soon as possible, while other tasks can be worked on over a period of time. Scheduling both kinds of tasks into your day's activities will make finishing them much easier.
8. Plan your activities. Using a calendar, computer program, or even a PDA will help you keep track of your tasks and when they are due. When planning your activities, be sure to schedule time for breaks, lunch, interruptions, and meetings regarding your projects.
9. Make a master to-do list. On a pad of lined paper, list the things you need to do for each project you have and place an estimated time of completion next to it.
10. Learn to delegate as much as you can. Most of the time, your projects will be ones you have to accomplish on your own, but there might be times you can delegate tasks like gathering information to co-workers.
Have a good handle on your business projects will make you a better worker and more valuable; for your employer and for your career.
Dawn Arkin is a freelance author of articles and fiction. This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.Facsimile.Com/ which is a site for Fax Machines.
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