Good time management has become essential not just to productivity but good mental health at work.
So much so that the NHS is now giving advice on good time management:
Good time management is essential for coping with the pressures of modern life without experiencing too much stress.
If you never have enough time to finish your tasks, better time management will help you regain control of your day.
Good time management doesn’t mean you do more work. It means you focus on the tasks that matter and will make a difference. Whether it’s in your job or your lifestyle as a whole, learning how to manage your time effectively will help you feel more relaxed, focused and in control.
“The aim of good time management is to achieve the lifestyle balance you want,” says Emma Donaldson-Feilder, a chartered occupational psychologist.
Read her top tips for better time management here
And sometimes less is more……
Many people work through their lunch break to gain an extra hour at work, but Donaldson-Feilder says that can be counter-productive. “As a general rule, taking at least 30 minutes away from your desk will help you to be more effective in the afternoon,” she says.
A break is an opportunity to relax and think of something other than work. “Go for a walk outdoors or, better still, do some exercise,” says Donaldson-Feilder. “You’ll come back to your desk re-energised, with a new set of eyes and renewed focus.”
Planning your day with a midday break will also help you to break up your work into more manageable chunks.
- Are you a good time manager, or not? Why?
- What activities case you the most time related stress?
- Which are your best time managing characteristics?
- Which are your worst time managing characteristics?