How to organize your time…When you don’t have time
Staying on task sometimes can feel like you fell into a rabbit hole. You have an hour to work a project, and you intend to work on it, but your phone dings, and you have a text message. Your mind wanders and you get on instagram, facebook, or pinterest, and all of a sudden, the hour is up, and nothing got accomplished. Sound familiar?
Here are key tips that will help you stay on schedule. It takes discipline and practice.
Using a timer
Use a timer on your cell phone, an app, computer, an egg timer, or watch.
- Productivity – When you are focused on one task at a time, you can finish quicker. For projects, I am a huge believer of the FOCUS FOR 25, which is setting your timer for 25 minutes, and then taking a 5 minute break. By using this method, you will stay more productive without becoming distracted, and as a result, you will stay on schedule. Below are some time limit suggestions:
- Daily To do List – 10 minutes first thing every morning
- Check email – 10-15 minutes.
- Research on internet – 5-10 minutes
- Social media – 10 minutes
- Big projects – 25 minute (Focus for 25)
- Motivation – There are times when starting a project seems daunting, but once you start it, you will be amazed how it will keep you on task. Like the old saying goes, How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
- Incentive – Play beat the clock. I always work faster when there is a little friendly competition, even if it is with a clock.
Unplug
- Put your phone on silent, and mute the vibrate sounds. There is nothing more distracting than hearing the silent phone vibrating while you are supposed to dedicate the scheduled time toward your project.
- Move the phone away from your reach. As a result, you will focus easier on your projects.
- If someone interrupts you, tell them you have 15 minutes left on a project, then you can talk to them.
Limit Social Media
- Train yourself to not pick up the phone to look at social media until a task is done
- Give yourself certain times of the day to get on social media (and when you do, SET A TIMER)
- Turn off notifications (This is a big one. Turning off social media notifications, eliminates distractions)
These are a few tips that I have found very helpful, and I hope you that can put them to good use. If you have any tips that you would like to add, please leave them in the comments below.
Until next time friends…
H~
These are such helpful tips on how to organize your time and be productive! I definitely don’t have time most days to stay organized, so I will be trying your tips and tricks! I like the timer idea!
This is such good advice!! I myself struggle with staying on task! I will be implimenting these immediately! Great post!
Unplugging and off social media is for sure a great thing to avoid. I love the to-do list idea as well as the time windows with it. Such a great ready and super useful
I love the idea of focusing on one task fro 25 minutes then taking 5 minutes to reset! Thanks for the tip.
These are such great tips!! I will definitely use them to help me manage my time better!
This is such great advice! I really need to be better about social media…not only how much time I spend on there, but mainly how much I get distracted by it while I am trying to get something else done. I have had times where I come-to and don’t know how I got on my phone or how long I’ve been on it. Scrolling Instagram is where I am normally at, haha! Thanks for the post!
I love these productivity tips!! Thanks for sharing! I use a timer often when I’m trying to stay organized on task and I’m always surprised by how effective such a simple thing can be!
unplug is such a tough one for me, but its sooo helpful when I actually do it. What a great list!