We all know how important managing your time effectively is and we all know how hard it is to do. I recently spent some time looking at different approaches to solving this problem and thought I would share what I found.
Found this interesting piece on making the most of your time here: 24 Timeless Time Management Tips for Freelancers
Below, I share a collection of my favorite time management tips and lessons that I’ve learned from over 10 years of doing freelance work. These aren’t about quick “hacks.” Technology is rapidly changing, and apps will come and go, but these time management tips are… well, timeless. They are designed to help you change your attitude towards time management, the value that you create for others, and your priorities in life.
1. Know your goals, and organize them by their value and priority. Good time management starts right here. Why are you working in the first place and what do you hope to accomplish? Are you looking for a full time income, or to earn some money on the side? How do you see your working time fitting into your life outside of work? Do you have other goals, such as making a impact or helping others? Make a list of the top three to five most essential goals you are trying to reach.
2. Be prepared to test things out… repeatedly. While there are many different programs and systems out there to help you manage your time, such as Getting Things Done (GTD) or FranklinCovey, settling on the one system (or combination of systems) that will work the best for you and your particular situation will take some testing and tweaking. Don’t just jump into a program because it’s popular. Spend a couple weeks with it. See how you feel, measure how productive you actually are, and then decide whether or not to continue with the program.
Another set of tips here was also helpful. Time-Management Tips From 8 Self-Made Billionaires
There are 1,440 minutes in a day. Here’s how the most successful people on the planet make the most of them.
When I first heard about Kevin Kruse’s new book 15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management, I was intrigued. In it, he interviews seven billionaires, 13 Olympic athletes, and 239 entrepreneurs. The book was an easy read; it didn’t disappoint.
What stood out to me in particular were these time-management tips from some of the most successful people on the planet.
1. Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group:
“One of my favorite tricks is to conduct most of my meetings standing up. I find it to be a much quicker way of getting down to business, making a decision, and sealing the deal. When given the opportunity, I often like to take things a step further–literally, with a walking meeting.”
“I think the number one thing that I take with me when I’m traveling is the notebook … I could never have built the Virgin Group into the size it is without those few bits of paper … If you have a thought but don’t write it down, by the next morning it may be gone forever.”
Apparently, one time when he didn’t have his notebook with him, he scribbled the thought in his passport.
2. Warren Buffett, American business magnate, investor, and philanthropist:
“The difference between successful people and very successful people is that very successful people say ‘no’ to almost everything.”
3. Nathan Blecharczyk, co-founder of Airbnb:
“I try to fill my calendar in reverse, from the end-of-day to earlier; I try to reserve the morning for doing ‘real work.’ I find I can focus more in the morning, whereas it’s harder to get focused after having been bombarded by meetings, so I try to save meetings for later in the day.”
So I found some very interesting and helpful advice out there.
My own personal favorite is to prioritize your tasks and tackle the one you know will have the biggest effect on moving you towards your main goal or objective. Start on the top priority task and don’t be deflected from that until it’s completed. Then on to number two…
How about you? Any personal favorites? What do you do to help manage your time better?
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