You'll
get more done in less time!
#1. Timesheets
First, think about where your time is going. Do you really know what you work
on all day? Timesheets will show you exactly how much time you spend pulling
together reports or responding to emails. Then there's the 5 minute break to
check Facebook that turns into 20 minutes...
Start
tracking your time so you know where it's going. This will help you prioritize
and ensure you are self-aware when it comes to managing your time.
#2. Task lists
Many people get off to a slow start in the mornings because they are wondering
what their priorities should be and thinking about what they should be doing.
Task lists resolve this. A clear list will tell you exactly what you need to
work on. If you add in a column for dates it will also tell you what needs to
be completed by when, which is a huge help when it comes to scheduling the top
priority tasks first.
The
task list feature built into ProjectManager.com makes it simple to create and update
your tasks from wherever you are. Even if you are travelling, if you've got an
internet connection you can quickly add a new task to the list (or tick one
off) with the handy mobile app.
#3. Milestones
Milestones are a good way to manage your time as they focus the mind! Put some
milestones on your project plan and review them regularly. As you are coming up
to the deadline, make sure that all your work is aligned with the objective of
getting it done and hitting that date.
Most
milestones relate to project tasks but you can also create personal milestones
on your calendar to remind you about scheduled dates for other tasks on your
task list.
#4. Automation
Project managers tell us that preparing reports is one of the things that takes
the most time each month. There's getting status updates from team members,
preparing the data, checking it, formatting it, reviewing statistics from other
systems, then checking it again and sending it to the stakeholders. It takes
forever!
Automate
your reporting (and anything else) as much as you can. Set up templates that
pull data from your project management software and show you status in
real-time. Everything that is automated is one less job for you to do.
#5. Saying no!
Finally, say no! You don't have to do everything that is asked of you, and
sometimes you simply can't take on more work. If you don't feel that you can
say no to a request, ask your manager or project sponsor what they want you to
drop. "I'm working on X, Y and Z right now. Which of those should I move
to the bottom of the priority list so I can take on A and B as well?"
If
it isn't feasible or reasonable to get everything done, then negotiate
priorities with your stakeholders so that you aren't overloaded and they
appreciate what can realistically be done in the time available.
Try
these 5 tips for managing your time and see how many extra hours you can find
in a day!
It's
easy with ProjectManager.com. The
system is fully automated and manages reports and timesheets for you. It leaves
you free to work on critical project tasks and tick things off on your To Do
list.
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