The right time management tips and strong time management strategies can help you organize your life and get back in control so that you can have it all!

Do you remember back in grade school, looking up at the clock, praying for the hands to speed up? Inevitably, that never happened, of course.  If anything, those hands slowed as if they had been dunked in molasses.

Fast forward a couple decades, and now, most days it seems like those same clock hands travel at the speed of light. With all of the commitments we have — work, kids, life, etc. — more often than not, we get to the end of the day saying, “Where did the time go?  I didn’t get done half the things I wanted.”

This is where those effective time management strategies come into play…

Being efficient in our daily activities can be vital to getting more done.  Be willing to embrace new habits, such as time management tips from others who have “been there, done that”—especially those that allow us to work smarter.  With just a little bit of effort and commitment – and some new time management strategies – we can begin to transform how we operate and maybe gain back a few of those precious hours that seem to slip by every day.

Here are some easy time management tips that can help anyone become more efficient and help in creating happiness – in life and work – again:

1. 1. Designate a drawer or table in your home to put your keys, phone, wallet, sunglasses, etc. as soon as you come in the door.  We waste SO much time looking for lost or misplaced items, and it is not necessary.
   2. Start planning today for tomorrow.  Each night before going to bed, write out the things that you need to accomplish tomorrow.  This way you can go to bed and wake up with much more clarity and focus.
   3. Learn to prioritize.  Even the most organized, most efficient people struggle to get their entire to-do list done; it’s just not realistic.  So, prioritize your to-do list, focusing on the most important issues first and leaving the less pressing tasks for later.
   4. Meditate.  It might seem counterproductive to spend time in silence and thought, but the improved focus will allow for greater accomplishment.  Take just 5 minutes and focus on breathing.  Or whatever your desired method of meditation or mindfulness might include. The benefits are proven to be many, and there is good reason why companies like Apple, Google, Nike, and many more are now promoting on-the-job meditation. You can also check our guided meditations too!

1. Write down everything that you do in a day.  Also record the time that it takes to complete each activity. This only has to be done for a couple days or a week at most.  In doing this, you will be able to see how you are really spending the biggest chunks of time and determine which activities you should be doing less.
2. Write out a list of things you can accomplish in 5 minutes.  We don’t always have hours of free time on our hands.  Maybe we have 5 minutes before we leave the house or 5 minutes until a meeting, so make the most of it.  Delete or sort emails, unsubscribe from email lists, meditate, do push ups or sit ups, book a sales call, send a ‘love text’ to a loved one, learn something interesting, read 5 pages in a book, anything you could justify as productive.  (And Social Media doesn’t count unless it’s necessary for business!)

Susan Sly is a best selling author, speaker and entrepreneur. She has appeared on CNN, CNBC, Fox, Lifetime Television and the CBN. Susan is the mother of five children and resides in Scottsdale, Arizona. 

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