Whether you are a business owner, manager, or employee, effective time management is essential to career success. Unlike other assets, time is a resource that dissipates and disappears when it is not efficiently utilized. Here are some strategies that can assist you in making the best use of your time.

Schedule Your Time

The most important step, of course, is to schedule whatever tasks have to be performed throughout the day. Block off sections of time for each activity. Make sure that you have sufficient time to perform your tasks optimally but also that your allocation of attention is tight and focused. Put urgent and important projects first even if they take longer to accomplish. Set time-sensitive goals, and track your progress as you proceed.

Take Breaks

Many business people feel that they have an unrelenting and overwhelming amount of work. However, to be able to function at peak efficiency you must take periodic breaks. This includes brief pauses to get up from your desk and stretch as well as longer breaks when you take a walk or hit the gym.

Watch Out for Time Sinks

Be wary of and avoid situations and activities that waste your time. These traps may include lengthy lunches with colleagues or checking your social media accounts too frequently.

Avoid Multitasking

Some people think that they can accomplish more when they multitask, but in fact, they are sacrificing accuracy and quality of work for speed. Instead, focus on one task at a time, perform it well, and then go on to the next.

Obtain Assistance

If your deadline is tight and you have too much to do, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Obtain assistance from colleagues, or delegate some of your workloads to subordinates. On a larger scale, if your company is underperforming because employees are overwhelmed with trivial tasks, consider outsourcing some of the work to independent contractors.

For more advice on achieving work-life balance through effective time management, contact Means Commercial Capital.