Time management is something we can all tighten up on. Regardless of whether you’re an executive or a Virtual PA, time is, and always will be, your greatest commodity. But how you manage your time says so much about who you are and how seriously you’re taking your business. So, bearing that in mind, how well are you at managing your time?

If your time management could do with some tightening up, here’s 7 ways you can ensure you’re taking more control of your time.

#1: Track your time

I’ve recently started tracking my time, and the one thing I’ve been surprised at, is how much more productive I’m being as a result. Tracking your time makes you more aware of how you’re spending it – so you’re more likely to spend it well.

#2: Allow your Virtual PA full control to manage your time

If you’ve handed over your diary management to your Virtual PA – let them manage it. It’s counterproductive, both in terms of time and money, to be paying for a Virtual PA to organise your day, if you’re then micromanaging it yourself. If you’ve made your priorities and criteria clear to them, totally hand it over and get on with managing the free time this has cleared for you.

#3: Managing time is easier, if you install time buffers

One way to ensure you’re not always rushed and frequently late, is to not set appointments back to back in your calendar! It’s inevitable that things will overrun or start late. If you want to minimise this happening, make sure you’re installing a time buffer, before and after events or appointments. Whether you allow 15 minutes or more, is entirely up to you, but having this breathing space will minimise stress and maximise your efficiency, as a result.

#4: Stop using your diary as to-do-list

Your diary isn’t the place for your to-do list – you should always keep a separate to-do list. At the start of each day, you can look through your to-do list, select a couple of tasks to schedule in for today and then block of time in your diary, to complete them. If you attempt to keep a long list of to-dos in your diary, it’s going to get cluttered and difficult to manage.

#5: Keep track of key events

If there’s things you want to keep an eye on, but aren’t needing their own time slot within your day, set them up as all day events, so they don’t clutter your 9-5 daily schedule.

#6: Give your focus to one thing at a time

Part of an effective time management strategy is that of focus. If you’re giving your total focus to one task at a time, that task is going to get done a lot quicker, than if you’re looking to juggle several.

#7: Honour your working hours and your downtime

Whether you’re a Virtual PAs or an executive, one of the biggest steps you can make towards gaining control of your time, is to honour your working day. The second step – honour your downtime. By switching off at the end of each day, you’re allowing your body and mind the time needed to rest and relax, and adequate rest ensures you’re more focused and efficient, when you do return to work.

How did you get on with today’s article? Do you feel there’s areas you need to tighten up on your time management and, if so, what action steps will you implement? Why not share your thoughts on today’s article, along with your action steps, in the comments box below!

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