1. Effective time management begins with mindfulness.

It’s important to include mindfulness into your time management approach. One way to do this is by being fully present and engaged in the tasks you’re working on—no distractions and no unnecessary multitasking! This way, you can cultivate a healthy awareness of how and where you allocate your time which leads to conscious choices that help you avoid activities that do nothing for you and waste your time.

But how do you become more aware? What are some of the steps you can take? Try mindfulness journaling for instance. You can also pay closer attention to your planner and the schedule you follow so you can tell how you use your time—here are 4 things to consider when planning a successful week, month, or year!

2. Use time management tools wisely!

Let’s face it: a lot of our tools are digital nowadays and, while a lot of us want to keep utilizing analog means, this isn’t always possible. Since this is the case, we want to take advantage of the many time management tools and apps that are available to us now. I don’t have specific recommendations—my needs and preferences change along with my tasks and I constantly change what I use as needed. But among the many things we want to utilize can be digital calendars, task management apps, and project management software that can assist us with organizing and prioritizing our tasks. These can work hand-in-hand with our analog methods. 

Need reminders? Set notifications to stay on track and meet deadlines so that you don’t forget anything important. But as in anything, we go back to mindfulness: make sure you don't get overwhelmed by excessive notifications which can turn into distractions. Assign a specific time block for checking emails and to-do’s through digital means so you can minimize interruptions. 

By setting boundaries and prioritizing your time, you create space for important tasks and activities that align with your goals.

In the beginning, especially if you’re not used to it, you may feel bad about declining co-workers, family, or friends whenever they have requests. But just like them, you have important tasks that you need to focus on, too. Prioritize yourself and your goals because no one else will

5. Learn to either eliminate or delegate non-essentials.

One of the most effective ways to manage your time is by taking a close look at your to-do list and identifying tasks that are not essential to you or can be done more effectively by somebody else. This is so you can free up more time for activities that give you higher value and lets you accomplish more.

By focusing on tasks that focus on your strengths and contribute to your goals, you’re able to make the most of your time and really, truly optimize your productivity.

Need a way to keep track of what you need to do? We’ve got the solution! The Field Journal is a great system that can help you with organization, allowing you to comfortably carry up to our six different refills. This means no more leaving notes, lists, trackers and more behind. Take them with you using one easy-to-carry waxed canvas case.

6. Want a closer look? Start time tracking.

If you find yourself struggling to figure out just where your time is spent, spend some time—a week or two, even a month—really looking at your habits and the patterns that make up your day. It can be as simple as employing a habit tracker or jotting down the things that you do: activities that you engage in, no matter what they are, and how much time you spend doing them. It’s important to be honest; otherwise, you’re just making it harder for yourself to manage your time effectively.

 Once you have enough data, sit back and reflect. Analyze. Which activities don’t help? What unproductive habits do you have? What are certain things you do that waste your time? Knowing this will help you minimize or eliminate them. This is the only way you can get valuable information so you can make the best decision on how and where to allocate your time.

7. Don’t forget that effective time management includes breaks and rest!

Recognize the importance of taking regular breaks and allowing yourself time to rest. Breaks help refresh your mind, prevent burnout, and maintain productivity. Add short breaks into your schedule, such as a quick walk, stretching, or deep breathing exercises. Also make sure you get enough sleep each night so you can maintain sharp cognitive abilities, not to mention better overall well-being.

Effective time management starts today! Now!

Effective time management is a skill that can have a very big impact on our lives as a whole. It allows us to do more and be more! At the end of the day, it’s not about squeezing in as many tasks into your day as possible. At the end of the day, it's all about making deliberate choices that lean towards our personal goals. In this way, we can better manage our time and have a greater chance at success.

What other strategies can you think of to manage your time effectively? Share it with us in the comments below! We’d love to hear what you think.