8 Strategies To Plan Time Better

Do you feel that there are not enough hours in the day to accomplish all your pending tasks? Is it hard for you to plan your time better?

If you are one of those people, then it is time to  reconsider your routine. If you want to plan your time better, you need to organize your day and be disciplined.

The crucial thing is to organize and spend your hours in the day properly. That said, we have some solutions here if you do not know how to behave.

Possible reasons why you do not have enough time

Several reasons prevent us from getting the most out of the hours of the day. Most of them have to do with the way we organize our time. 

Among the most common are the following:

Lack of planning

Do you usually make a list of your imminent tasks and prioritize them? Do you schedule the execution of your activities in advance?

If you haven’t tried it, it’s time to make it a habit. Organizing your activities is a basic quality if you want to plan your time more efficiently. 

People who do not know how to organize themselves and have many tasks waiting, usually do not know where to start. They also prioritize those that are not so urgent. By doing this, they are investing their energy and efforts in the wrong way.

You are wasting your time on the internet

There are a large number of people who spend a lot of time checking their social media or surfing the internet. This poses a problem  as they tend to forget that there is an off-screen reality and there are tasks to do.

You are not able to say “no”

Another reason why you do not have enough time may be the fact that you accept too many tasks. After all, you exceed your limits and slacken on the quality of what you do.

Therefore, if you know that your schedule is under pressure,  avoid offering or accepting more activities than you already have. An initial step is to recognize your boundaries.

You do many things at once

It is common to find people who multitask. For example, while answering an email, they talk on the phone and make sure that what is on the stove does not burn on.

If you are one of those types, it’s time to start doing things in order and focus on one thing at a time.

You focus all your efforts on one thing

The other extreme is to invest a great deal of effort, time and concentration on one thing. This leads to neglect of other tasks. It is not wrong to dedicate yourself to something specific, but it will be better for you to be effective and complete it in the least amount of time.

If you feel you are not progressing with one activity, allow yourself to  move on to another that is the next in line of priorities. Also, do not forget to complete the activity when you are more willing and able to do so.

Strategies to plan time better

Let’s take a look at eight strategies that can help you plan your time better. Some of them may be combined with others and each person will have to define whether they fit their agenda or not.

Make a list of your priorities to plan your time better

The night before or as the first thing in the morning, write down everything you want to accomplish this day. Next, give each task a priority level. 

For example, you should write “urgently” about the activities to be done within the next 24 hours. Mark the activities to be done within the next few days as “important” and “not urgent” by those who can wait longer. This will allow you to focus on the most relevant tasks.

Set aside time for your activities

Once you have made a list of your duties, you should ideally schedule your day efficiently. This means that each activity and task should have its own place to be performed at a particular time. 

You also need to decide how long it will take you to make them. That way, you will be aware of everything you need to do, as well as how long it will take.

Try to start the day by doing the activities that have the highest priority and difficulty. Earlier in the day we are clearer in the head and more energetic.

Likewise, save the most simple and mechanical things for the end of the day. As the day goes on, you will be more overwhelmed and it is better to do the things that require the least effort here.

Avoid postponing your tasks to plan your time better

To complete all the tasks of the day, avoid skipping actions as much as possible. Skipping actions will cause your tasks to pile up and you will be very stressed because of this. 

Instead, try to complete your tasks well in advance so that you can take care of possible obstacles and still follow your schedule.

4. Always make room for yourself

Even if you have many activities waiting to be done, always schedule time for yourself. It is preferable that you do this before your day begins. 

That way, you will increase your energy levels and be more prepared to deal with daily stress. Among the activities you can do in the time you have dedicated to yourself is to meditate for 10-20 minutes after you get up, exercise or eat a healthy and nutritious breakfast.

5. Prepare what you can, the night before

Another way to plan your time better is by organizing the time you have in the morning. This means that you have to prepare your clothes, your food for the day and the materials you need the night before. 

It will prevent you from running around looking for or preparing what you need to start your day.

6. Keep your workplace tidy and clean to plan time better

Order and cleanliness in the workplace enable people to feel comfortable and be more productive. Avoid wasting time looking for things due to clutter. 

That said, the most important thing is to always make sure your workplace is clean and tidy – no matter where it is.

7. Remove distractions

Some of the biggest distractions are social media and messaging on electronic devices. When we work, we need to avoid falling into these habits because they can distract us.

If this is very difficult for you, there are various applications that can block your social media or personal email while you work.

8. Go to bed early

It is crucial that you get a good night’s sleep if you want to plan your time properly. Therefore , try to go to bed early before 10 pm.

That way, you will enjoy the benefits of sleeping and have an easier time getting up.

It takes perseverance to plan time better

The problem is not that the day has too few hours. It is about being able to organize and schedule the time spent.

It is also of utmost importance to know your abilities and limits. It will allow you not to overburden yourself with tasks you are not going to complete.

In short, it depends on the good organization of your tasks and following that planning to make the time work better for you. If you achieve this, it will no longer be a problem for you to plan your time!