Making good use of time in today’s world is something that everyone seems to be struggling with. There are a lot of different time management tools that help track how you use and spend your time. Apps like Harvest can really help track all of your activities down by the minute. The book, I Know How She Does IT, by Laura Vanderkam can really open your eyes on how you’re spending your time, and why.
Truth is, a lot of people do not realize they have more time than they originally thought. That time might not be in large, neatly separated chunks during the day, but rather smaller bursts of 15 to 20 minutes. It might not seem like much, but with some smart usage, it could potentially lead to at least a few extra hours every day.
However, that’s not to say that it’s not easy for that time to just slip by. Sometimes instead of being productive, we choose to simply scroll down social media. That’s not bad in itself, but if it’s done often it can really hinder personal progress.
Creating a systematic approach towards using time as wisely as possible is always a great idea. Sometimes those extra 15-20 minutes are all you need to get a lot of work done and save a lot more time in the process. Here are some time management tips.
Keep track of networking events
Adding a local networking event to your calendar will easily help you stay on top of things. “As a matter of fact, local networking events are a great opportunity to establish new business contacts,” says Achim Neumann, President of A Neumann & Associates, a leading mergers & acquisitions firm on the East Coast. There are also sites like Eventbrite and Meetup.org that you can use to discover events. This way you’ll never be surprised whenever a new event is happening.
Never stop educating yourself
Continually learning new things is the best way to grow as an individual, full stop. Things like TED Talks can really add value to your life. You don’t even have to separate extra time to watch them. Consider watching and reading whenever you’re on the train, or when you’re having lunch.
Keep a schedule for social media
Never blindly use social media if you plan on using time wisely. Creating a schedule for when and how to use it can be a really effective method for organizing your time. Always try to use trending hashtags for creating meaningful and current conversations online.
Take a free class online
With so many different academies offering free classes it’d be a waste not to learn something new. Sites like Udemy, Skillshare, and Coursera are great recommendations.
Reply to emails
It can be easy to get lost in the sea of emails. Using apps like Boomerang for Gmail can help you stay on top of your contacts list. It’ll remind you of when and who you should contact.
Stay up to date on your industry
Reading articles and news about your own industry is something you should never forget. It’s one thing to read in the morning or night, but try to read during the day when you’re the most focused.
Keep track of the money you’re owed
Make sure to review your invoices so that you’ll stay on top of your finances easier. This is a time management tip that pays.
Revise and improve your SEO
If you’re a brick-and-mortar store, you shouldn’t neglect SEO. Set up your account on Google’s My Business. It will help you track just what you need to keep your existing clients and gain new ones.
