On a daily basis, how many times do we hear our friends and co-workers make excuses that there isn’t enough time in a day to accomplish all their necessary tasks on time?
Far too many.
Coming from a college student who recently began developing his first startup, it has been quite difficult to balance the different assignments, projects and other outside activities such as piano performances, soccer matches throughout Florida, and assisting family in increasing business operations. However, by arranging a well-organized schedule, accomplishing these tasks successfully has not been as difficult as what others might assume. I can assure you that you DO have enough time to complete all the various errands and responsibilities; you just need to learn how to manage the given time adequately. Today, I’ll give you some tips on how to be efficient with your time, and if you pay attention, you might end up with a little bit of time left over.
Make Lists
I am fully aware that all of the time management articles around the web have “make lists” somewhere within the page. There is a reason for this: it actually works. This is by far one of the most efficient methods in order to achieve all the tasks in anyone’s hectic day.
I know I speak for many when I say the iPhone is the most convenient and practical piece of technology invented so far. It’s where I write my thoughts, ideas, and most importantly, my daily list. Whether it’s a meeting, an assignment, or chores that have to be completed, I always type what I have to do and when it has to be done by. When making lists, it is important to arrange the tasks in order of importance; by finishing the most crucial tasks first, and then completing the remaining accordingly.
Stay away from the television
Watching television makes you stupid. Honestly, ask yourself about the advantages of watching TV. Can’t think of any, right? I questioned several close friends & relatives and nearly all of them agreed. It’s the truth, there are no advantages of watching television, unless it’s these types of shows. We should watch videos that inspire us; shows that can help us succeed in the future. You’re reading this article for a reason, it’s mostly because you want to go forward and thrive. Right now you’re not watching television; your brain is active and constantly absorbing valuable information. Take for instance this quotation from Steve Jobs: “You watch television to turn your brain off and you work on your computer when you want to turn your brain on.” Let’s always keep our brain on.
What’s more important?
Take a day off from going out with your friends and focus on your short and long-term goals. Ask yourself whether going to the game with the guys or watching a movie with the gals is more important than what your boss or professor asked you to finish over the weekend. Make your list and place the most important tasks at the top.
There will always be that one Friday or Saturday night that you want to go out and take a break from all the weekday busyness. Your friends will be on your ass about working too much, or focusing too much on the special project you’ve wanted to complete. This is normal, but do not let your conscience run you over. I’m not saying never have fun, but it is crucial to always keep focus on priorities and decide what is more important.
Don’t wait until the last minute
Assuming that a vast majority of our readers may still be attending undergraduate or graduate school, procrastination plays a major role in blocking a student’s ability to complete their assignments. From personal experience, waiting to complete an assignment until the last minute is usual among college students, it’s either waiting until the last day or the morning of, but that is a habit that we have to begin departing from. I honestly do carry this nasty habit and it’s always ended up being quite successful for the turn out. But some day, something strange will occur and then I’ll be the one suffering. So in order to prevent this from happening, I began to complete my assignments to its entirety and with some time left over for revisions. Remember what our moms have always told us: it’s better to be safe than sorry.
When we think of time management, it is important to be aware that we don’t really manage time; we manage our activities. By managing our activities appropriately, we become much more productive and dynamic when it comes to completing our tasks and you will be surprised how much time left over you will have when the day comes to a close. If you follow these tips correctly, I promise you will begin to notice some changes. Let us know how it goes & thank you for taking the time to read our article. Happy holidays to all our readers and have a prosperous and productive 2012!
Javier Duarte is a determined college entrepreneur who recently began working on Keen Empire, his first start-up. You can learn more about him at about.me/javidee or connect with him through twitter: @javivo.
