We all have only 24 hours a day. However, some people manage to get a lot done during the same course of time when compared to others.
In other words, there are those who always manage their time effectively and then there are others who struggle to perform well - even when they have the whole day at their disposal.
If you think you belong to the latter category, then you might have to reconsider your priorities. You can start by looking out for signs that can tell you if you are currently managing your time effectively or not.
Read on to find out how your time management is affecting the different aspects of your life.
1. Lack of Punctuality
Do you find yourself arriving late to scheduled meetings? Or leaving the house 30 minutes later than you are supposed to?
Of course, occasionally, we all find ourselves racing against the clock. However, if this becomes a regular habit, you should accept that your time management skills require a serious upgrade.
Pro Tip: Make sure to take on only what you can handle. This will allow you to optimally manage your time.
2. Procrastination
There are times when procrastination and tardiness go hand-in-hand. If you keep setting aside tasks for later, you are rushing yourself all the time, unable to give the undertaking your full attention.
There could be any number of reasons for you to end up procrastinating. Sometimes, you have too many tasks to do by yourself that you have to push a few to the last minute. Other times, it is simply a matter of no motivation. Regardless, more often than not, this would lead to subpar performance and unnecessary stress.
Pro Tip: Try to associate all your activities to something you enjoy. This will keep you more motivated to start the task rather than to keep pushing it. You can also try rewarding yourself after successful completion.
3. Not Delegating
More often than not, you might find yourself saying yes to everything. It might be the quick remedy to make others around you happy. However, regardless of whether it is your boss asking for help, or your extended family pushing you for a favor, sometimes it is crucial that you learn to say no.
When you take too much weight on your shoulders, you will find it even more challenging to tackle all the tasks alone. This is where you need to delegate. But not everyone can do this with ease. Oftentimes, we fear that if others take over your workload, they might not be able to deliver the same quality or that you would offend them by even asking.
Pro Tip: Learn to say no to things you cannot handle yourself. If left with no other choice, then make an effort to delegate the task to others.
4. Impatience
Impatience is another trait that you often experience because of poor time management. If you have failed to dedicate the required time or procrastinated on a task, you will be under extreme pressure. This can ultimately lead to impatience and frustration.
Your impatience might be a result of the self-imposed deadlines. These can be suitable to a large extent, but not always. In many cases, these deadlines will make you more focused on completing rather than the activity itself. With better time management skills, you will set aside more time and reduce the pressure you exert on yourself.
Pro Tip: Learn to allocate sufficient time for each task so you do not have to rush through the process.
5. Underperformance
Among the most frustrating consequences of poor time management skills is poor performance. This can be even more bothersome when you know that you could have done something better, but the only thing that stopped you was the lack of time.
When you are rushing through a process, your productivity level naturally declines. Even if you manage to get the job done in time, it might not be up to the quality you would prefer.
Pro Tip: Peg a time box to each task beforehand. This way, you will know you need these many hours to complete one and will be able to find time for it.
6. Not Setting Goals
One of the critical attributes of effective time management is defining the goals. It also means that you have to first identify your priorities and plan your time accordingly.
Now, to set things straight, we are not focusing on long-term goals here. Rather, consider what you want to achieve or complete within the day. By having proper goals, it will be easier to assign sufficient time to each task. As long as you do not procrastinate, you will be able to produce better results by sticking to your planning.
Pro Tip: Start your day with a proper plan on what you want to get done. You can also create weekly schedules and make adjustments as needed.
7. Exhaustion
We are all exhausted after a long day of work. However, there is the type of exhaustion that comes from a stressful and unfruitful day. If you are unable to manage time properly, you are likely to allocate your spare time to other tasks. This means that you will not get sufficient time for rest, or for other more enjoyable activities.
This will highly influence how you perform, your concentration, and your ability to handle tasks throughout the day. In other words, your time management will have a direct impact on your energy management as well.
Pro Tip: Use an organizer to keep a tab of all your appointments, deadlines and tasks. This way, you will have a clear impression of what you need to accomplish in a day. Make it a point not to take on any other commitments if there is no time.
8. Indecisiveness
Do you find yourself spending an absurd amount of time making simple choices? Even if you think it might not be a serious cause of concern, such indecisiveness can often eat away a considerable amount of your time.
In many ways, this characteristic can be traced back to all other points we have mentioned here. When you are indecisive, you often fail to delegate your work or keep your appointments.
Pro Tip: Know your priorities. You will need to set clear criteria to understand what is most important to you, which will help you make better choices.
Summary
If you find yourself agreeing to all the points we have mentioned here; then it is crucial that you reflect on your time management skills. It will help you identify where you need to improve and allow you to work on a better version of yourself.
Written by Jillian Woods
About the Authors
Jillian Woods is an essay writer currently working at Grademiners.com, a renowned academic writing platform for students. She has extensive experience in content development and uses her expertise on different niches to motivate and educate others.
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