Are you constantly feeling overworked and overwhelmed with all the tasks you have to get done in one day? Are there new things you would like to add to your daily regimen that you know you don’t even have the time for?

If you answered “yes” to either of the above questions then it’s time to consider better time management, sis. Proper time management is a lifesaver that will help you organize your daily tasks in a way that gives you ample time to do all the things you need to do while still having time left over to do the things you want to do.

By managing your time effectively, it will help lower your stress level and make you more productive each day. However, Oprah wasn’t built in a day, and it will take time to develop and master your level of time management. It’s all about patience and finding what works best for you.

But if you’re ready to start managing your time better and decreasing your stress, then here are 8 useful tips to help you improve your time management.

1. Organize and Prioritize Your Work

Whether you do it the day before or at the start of your day, take some time out to organize and prioritize your work. Make a list of everything you need to get done in a specific timeframe and point out the tasks that will require your immediate attention. The less important tasks can be handled after you get your priority tasks done first. You might even find that you can hold off on doing the less important tasks for another day.

2. Schedule Tasks and Set Deadlines

A key component to effective time management is to schedule out your tasks and set deadlines. Our parents used to carry around daily planners and notebooks, but us millennials can easily find an app or make use of the “Reminders” feature that comes standard on all iPhones (we know there’s an option for the Android users too).

Make a simple “To Do” list in the notes on your phone, or as tasks pop up in your head, jot them down in your Reminders app and give them deadlines. You can separate the tasks based on if their for work, the house, or personal.

Setting deadlines for your tasks will help you stick to actually doing them. Give yourself the time you need to get the work done by setting a deadline that you know works for you and holds you accountable to the stuff you need to get done.

3. Get An Early Start

One of the best ways to get a lot done in one day is to get started as early as you can. Some of the most successful people all admit to getting their day started early to remain productive and make the best use of their 24 hours.

Our energy tends to decrease as we go through our day. By making sure to knock out your priority tasks earlier in the day, it gives you more time to leisurely get through the rest of your day. You might even get around to starting that gym membership you’ve been putting off since January 1st (we’re not judging you, sis).

4. Say “No” to Procrastination

Procrastination is such a productivity killer. Don’t fall victim to it. It does nothing but waste time and energy and makes you feel guilty in the process. Avoid procrastination at all costs. Put the “pro” in professional not procrastination sis!

5. Try Not to Stress

Stress has no place in the life of someone managing their time effectively. Stress can lead to forms of procrastination and we all know “ain’t nobody got time for that”. It also takes up energy and can leave you feeling exhausted and too tired to do anything. We often start to feel stressed when taking on too much work. So if you find yourself feeling stressed out from the amount of work you’re doing, be honest with yourself and ask for help.

6. Don’t Multitask

So many of us wholeheartedly believe that we’re amazing multitaskers. But the sad reality is that only about 2% of us are actually good at multitasking. A 2012 study, by a professor of psychology at the University of Utah, found that anytime a person tries to focus on more than one thing at a time, their performance suffers.

So when working to improve your time management skills, avoid multitasking. Give yourself the right time and space to give your tasks the individual attention they need to get done. Use your to-do list to stick to doing each task one at a time and knock them out effectively and efficiently.

7. Ask for Help or Just Say “No”

Taking on more work is a natural habit for most boss queens. However, taking on too much than we can bear, leads to stress and frustration. Despite how much of a hard worker you are, too much work can do more harm than good. Remember to share responsibilities with your colleagues or delegate some tasks to your subordinates. Your team is there to support you the same way you support them. So don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Sometimes you might just need to say no. Be honest with yourself about what work you can and can’t take on. As much as you might initially want to say yes to an offer or request, give yourself time to think about it. Consider the time you’ll have to spend towards it and be real with yourself about whether or not you have the time and ability to get it done efficiently. Take a look at all the tasks you already have on your To Do list. If you know you already have enough on your plate, don’t feel too bad when you politely say no.

8. Add More Breaks Into Your Day

We too often forget about the importance of taking breaks throughout our day. It’s okay to walk away from your work every 15-20 minutes. You deserve it.

Too much work during a particular time frame can lead to added stress on the body and can negatively affect productivity. Every couple of minutes take some time to go for a quick walk, get your eyes off your computer, and practice some deep breathing. Despite how it sounds, more breaks in your day can lead to improved time management and productivity.

Summary

If you take the time to incorporate these 8 tips into your day, you’ll begin to see a major improvement in your time management. Be patient with yourself during the process of prioritizing your tasks and scheduling them out on your To Do list. Mastering time management takes time, but you got this sis. Period!

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Time management