Where Does The Time Go?

On your busiest days, it feels like time is slipping through your fingers. All of the sudden it is 5pm and you have conquered little on your to-do list. Usually the culprit can be found lurking in your inbox or the distraction of a packed meeting schedule. If you really have stuff to get done and don’t have time to run out of time, here are a few of the repeat offenders to watch out for:

Micro-Managing Manager – Everyone has had a manager that likes to see every step of your process and double check on every little thing. The goal here is to be proactive so the micro-manager feels comfortable about your work. Send your to-do list ahead of time or schedule daily calls to talk about your workload and process.

Co-Workers/Clients on Email Overload – If an email chain is going into 5, 6 emails deep, just pick up the phone. You’ll explain yourself more clearly and avoid any confusion. Not to mention save on the time it takes to type.

Procrastination – Here is where I am the worst. You assume a project will only take you an hour, only to put it off for two hours and find you actually needed three. Start the task – if you find yourself moving at a fast pace and need a break, take 10 minutes for every 50 minutes you work.

Mishandling Multitasking – The truth is, we can rarely multitask efficiently. If you have a large project, get off of email for at least an hour. While you’re jumping in to answer questions or requests, you’re distracting from the real work that needs to get done.