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Time is a commodity of untold value. The better you are at managing it, the better off you will be in life. It also determines how much time you have for fun, rest and time with friends and family. Use this time management advice to accomplish more as quickly as possible.

If you’are always the last one out of the door, it helps to set deadlines for yourself. When you become aware that a deadline is coming up quickly, you must take time away from other priorities to handle the more urgent matter, and you end up behind on just about all the other tasks on your list. On the other hand, if you keep up with the various deadlines, you are less likely to put aside one task to handle another that has become more urgent.

Purchase a digital timer. If you have problem with focusing on tasks, set a timer for the amount of time that you need for your task. If you need to work for one hour, set your timer for the hour so you are not looking at the clock the entire time.

When scheduling a day, don’t forget to include time for interruptions. When you leave no time between your appointments, you’ll end up being late. By planning for these distractions, you’ll stay on schedule.

If time management is difficult, focus on one task at a time. A lot of people have a hard time finishing things well when trying multi-tasking. Multi-tasking often leaves you exhausted; thus, the quality of your work suffers. Take your time with the projects and move on when the first one is done.

A good time management practice is to do things one day in advance. Plan out your agenda the day before. Making a to do list the day before is a smart way to complete your current day’s work. When you have your tasks already ordered, you can start working immediately.

If time management isn’t your strong suit, then try planning your day the night before. You can do this via an eventual to-do list made when the work day ends or a more thorough plan. This will help you feel better when you wake up in the morning, and you will be able to jump right into work.

Prioritize the tasks in your day. Some people spend too much time on unimportant projects. Make sure you do the most important things first. Jot down what needs doing, and tackle each item in order of priority.

If you wish to organize your time, use a calendar. There are many people who like to use a paper calendar to record notes and keep track of dates. Other people enjoy using an electronic calendar that they can use with a computer or their phones. No matter what type of calendar you use, you will find it is an effective time management tool.

Think about the things that are costing you time. Try to use it more wisely. Do not randomly check emails, instead set specific times to do so. Checking constantly during the day will interfere with your time for other things.

Understand that it is alright to refuse. Many people suffer from too much stress because they can’t say no. If you’re overextended, review your schedule. Are there items on your schedule that you could give to someone else? If so, enlist the help of family and friends.

If you often find yourself late, try increasing your awareness of deadlines. When you see a deadline is coming, don’t let other priorities fail and get you behind on everything. However, if you keep those deadlines in focus and allocate your time wisely, you won’t have to sacrifice one project to finish another.

Close the door to your office to improve how efficiently you work. An open door signals that you are available. Close the door to give yourself the privacy you need. People will know that you need time alone, and you can complete tasks more quickly.

When you’re focused on a task, ignore everything else. When your train of thought is interrupted, it is difficult to get back on track. Follow up on any missed texts, instant messages, or phone calls once you have finished the task you were working on.

Always portion off time wisely. Consider the amount of time required to complete each task, and provide yourself with a certain amount of time to handle each task. This way, you can make better use of the time you have. If it turns out that you have extra time, use that extra time to complete other tasks on your schedule.

Review your schedule. Do you have things that could be removed from the daily routine? Could you delegate some of those tasks to others so that you will have more time? The most important skill to time management is delegation. You must be willing to let to of a task once you delegate it, however.

Be aware that it really is not possible to do everything you want to do. In fact, most of the time, it is impossible. Odds are high that only 20 percent of your thoughts, conversations, and actions will produce up to 80 percent of your results. Get done those things that you must and eliminate those things that do not serve your goals.

When scheduling your day, be sure to add in any interruptions. When you leave no time between your appointments, you’ll end up being late. Planning for these issues will keep you on track.

Maintain a diary to better manage time. Keep the diary for three or for days with tasks and time it took to complete them. Check your journal at the end to see what can be altered.

As discussed here, time is precious. Using your hours well gives you more of them to spend on the really important people and goals in your life. Use these tips to start making the most of your time.

If managing time is rough for you, concentrate on individual items instead of many. Do not try to do more than one task at once. It can be difficult to do too much at one time. Breathe, relax and focus intently on one project until it’s done, then move on to the next.