When you want to power through the working day it pays to put some thought into how you can manage your time. Take a look at these 5 simple ways you can get more done and you’ll soon notice the difference!

Time Blocking                                                                                                                                                               

This is a simple yet startlingly effective idea. By breaking down each task into blocks of time you can estimate how long each one will take. Not only will this stop you from staring at the clock as the minutes tick by, it’ll actually give you a set of mini goals to chase after throughout the day. Never again will a task expand to fill the time available; you’ll just be ticking things off all day long.

Plan For Tomorrow                                                                                                                                                          

To really take your productivity to the next level you need to think about when to plan for tomorrow. As you come to the end of the working day your head will have been immersed in your work for hours and you’ll have all the information on the tip of your tongue. This makes the end of the working day the best time to plan for the day that lies ahead. Take 5 minutes and make a quick to-do list on a single side of paper. Leave it on your desk so that you see it first thing in the morning and you’ll be able to get off to a fast start. Ideal if you want to hit the ground running by picking up straight where you left off.

There Doesn’t Need To Be An App For Everything                                                                                                   

When you say you want to do something some bright spark will inevitably tell you ‘there’s an app for that!’ Whilst our phones are great tools, too much information can get in the way. If you need to focus on a report or you’re manipulating a spreadsheet, the chances are you don’t need to see every notification popping up from your Slack channels. Pop your phone in your drawer for an hour or two and you’ll be amazed at how much more you can get done. The key point is that you need to remove it from your line of sight. By removing the temptation to check it and play with it you’ll ensure a notification never derails your train of thought every again.

Goal Setting                                                                                                                                                            

Everyone needs a goal to shoot for; they’re what get us up in the morning and what keeps us motivated. Set yourself a few achievable goals each day and work to them as if they are tasks set by your boss. Perhaps you want to deliver your report a daily early? Maybe you want to finish your presentation before the weekend? No matter what it is you’ll achieve it if you write it down, take it seriously, and then work to make it happen.

Diaries Make The World Go Round                                                                                                                                   

A diary is a great way to stay on top of things. Whether you use one on your phone or trust in good old pen and paper is up to you. Pop in key meetings, holidays, days when you need to work late, and you’ll soon see the working week take shape. Perfect if you want to make sure you never miss a beat.