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Tips for Time Management


Growing up, time management wasn’t something most people worried about very much. Due to school and weekly extra-curriculars, we often followed the same schedule every day. Instead of having to regularly check the time or think about where we needed to be, a school bell signaled it was time to finish up one activity and move on to another. There was a set routine laid out for us each day that was typically implemented by teachers and parents to make sure we were on top of what we need to accomplish.

However, when college and adult life comes around there may not always be someone looking over our shoulders and instructing us on how to manage our time. This is why proper time management is such an important skill to learn at an early age and can benefit an individual for the rest of their life. It can lead to better productivity, more success, and even better mental health.

Why Time Management Is Important for Mental Health

If you struggle with time management, you may also struggle to keep up with personal and professional responsibilities. You may miss deadlines and fall behind on your workload no matter how hard you try. It may feel as if the days are long but you’re not getting anything accomplished. You may look around you and wonder how people seem to be in control of their workload and wonder why you’re falling behind.

This can become overwhelming and can quickly lead to heightened levels of stress. The longer this goes on, the greater the chance your mental health will suffer. It can lead to problems like depression, anxiety, and even decreased self-worth. In many cases, a person who struggles with time management will also experience burnout. When this occurs, you may feel mentally detached from work and develop a pessimistic attitude toward life.

When you learn how to properly practice good time management, you may find that life becomes a lot smoother, calmer, and more organized. You may find you’re better able to prioritize, you’re able to sleep better at night, and you’re more relaxed during your free time. You may even find you have more time in your day than you ever realized.

Tips for Practicing Good Time Management

If you are ready to start practicing better time management, consider the following tips:

#1. Make a daily schedule and stick to it

This is especially important if you work from home, have loose deadlines, or don’t have a boss making sure that you’re doing what you’re supposed to do. On a piece of paper, break the day up into blocks and fill in what you need to be during doing each of these blocks. You may have a work block, a study block, a housework block, and a family time block. This can help make sure that your work life is not bleeding into your private life and you know what you should be doing when. Be sure to schedule time to take care of yourself, such as meal times, break times, and times to exercise.

#2. Make a to-do list every day

You can make the list on your phone or on paper. This list can include everything from work tasks to more personal things like grocery shopping, walking the dog, or cleaning the house. After you’ve finished writing down everything you want to get done that day, go through and circle or put a star next to priority items. These are items that absolutely must get done before the day is over. This will help you see the most urgent tasks that need finishing so you can focus most of your time and energy on those and move other things to the next day if need be.

#3. Set alarms

When you have a set amount of time for things, it can be easier to move from one task to the next. For example, if you’ve set a 30-minute block for yourself each day for lunch, set an alarm to tell you when this block is over and it is time to return to work. Similarly, if you give yourself a certain amount of time to complete a work task or household chore, you’re more likely to be motivated to finish it when you have a self-imposed time constraint.

#4. Don’t try to accomplish too much

Though it can feel good to set lofty productivity goals for a day, you don’t want to set yourself up for failure by trying to get more done than is realistic. This can lead to disappointment if you don’t get everything done that you were hoping to. Instead, set realistic goals for yourself that push you without overwhelming you.

#5. Reward yourself

Don’t forget to take the time to reward yourself after a productive day. Let yourself feel the pride and joy that comes from getting things accomplished. Allowing yourself to unwind with some television, a bath, or a favorite snack can help you recognize your hard work and get you geared up for the next day.

Proper time management is one of the most important skills to have in life. It is necessary to be productive, successful, and meet your goals. When you don’t have good time management, you may find it hard to keep up with all your responsibilities. You can even suffer from problems like anxiety, depression, and low self-worth. Practicing good time management can not only boost your mental health but help you sleep better and accomplish more in your life. If you would like to practice better time management, let our amazing staff at SokyaHealth help you gain the skills necessary to improve your productivity. Our staff is well versed in treating many mental health concerns, and time management skills may be the thing you need to get on the right path. If you would like to learn more, call 866-932-1767 today to learn more.

More than 50% of Americans struggle with mental health.

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