“Time is money.” – Benjamin Franklin
It surprises many people to learn that it was, in fact, that Benjamin Franklin who was first quoted as saying these words of wisdom.
“Remember that time is money. He that can earn ten shillings a day by his labour, and goes abroad, or sits idle one half of that day, though he spends but sixpence during his diversion or idleness, it ought not to be reckoned the only expense; he hath really spent or thrown away five shillings besides.” – Benjamin Franklin
It’s amazing how the context of these words still rings true today. When you don’t spend your time wisely, you’re throwing money away.
Many of us already know that we should be managing our time more effectively. But what we don’t know is how. Time management is a skill many struggle to master. With all the complexities and demands of our professional and personal lives, how do we recognize what needs to get done first and in what order?
Here are some things that you may not know about time management:
Quicker is Not Always Better
Getting things done quickly doesn’t always guarantee success. Rushing through projects can result in sloppy work. And the output is poor, the likelihood of having to redo it is high. So while you may have produced results faster, you risk quality and may have to double your efforts when you need to go back and correct mistakes you’ve made.
Taking Breaks Can Be Beneficial
To some people, taking breaks throughout your day can seem like you’re avoiding work or just being plain lazy. However, short breaks can give you a boost of energy and can, therefore, recharge your level of productivity. Avoid taking too many breaks as it can disrupt your momentum. However, when you feel that you need to clear your head or get some fresh air, a short break can do wonders for your output.
Work Smarter, Not Harder
If you want to increase your productivity, don’t multitask. You’re not maximizing your time by doing several tasks at once. Juggling too many things at once does not make you a hard worker but one who can’t recognize that by attempting to perform multiple tasks at once, you’re risking not being able to finish all of them.
Urgent Tasks Don’t Always Have to Come First
Unless your urgent task needs to get done because it’s a critical component of a bigger task, urgent tasks are rarely important; they just happen to be needed right away. When it comes to prioritizing your tasks for the day, start with the ones that add the most value to your work.
What Works for Someone Else May Not Work For You
Someone in your office may seem as though they have it all together. They consistently submit their deliverables on time and always seem to have time to spare. But while they can offer you advice on how they do it, following their advice may not always work for you.
Remember that your workloads, skillset, and level of experience are different. The secret to time management is finding what works best for you. You can discover this by trying various approaches. Eventually, all that experimentation will pay off and you will find a system that works for you.
Do you struggle with time management? If you feel that you need more guidance on how to manage your time, I believe I can help you. If you’d like to learn more about how I have helped people transform their leadership skills through coaching techniques and highly-personalized programs, connect with me: https://meetme.so/GregNichvalodoff or greg@inscapeconsulting.com
