07 Dec 5 Simple Tips for Time Management

By Chelsea Calello, LAC

Does it ever feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day? A recent study found that our state of mind could actually change the way we perceive and experience time. Three experiments showed that individuals who felt awe, relative to other emotions, felt they had more time available and were less impatient.

Experiences of awe, such as a first kiss or a beautiful landscape, make us feel like we’re in the present moment, ultimately experiencing time at a slower rate. People that experience an “awe” feeling, compared to other emotions, perceive having more time available, and in turn make them generally happier.

Regardless of whether or not we’re able to incorporate more “awe” experiences in our life, here are five simple tips for managing time that can be utilized on an everyday basis.

Prioritize. It’s helpful to figure out what’s a priority and what can wait. Consider dividing your to-do list into three sections: things that need to be done immediately, things that can get done at some point during the week, and those that are long-term or ongoing projects.

Think ahead. Look for ways to minimize steps from a task or cut the amount of time you spend getting ready. This might mean doing a little extra work the night before or the next morning.

Delegate. Sometimes we would rather do things ourselves because we prefer our way. Try to ask for help with certain tasks and let it go if it’s not exactly how you would do it.

Delineate a time limit in which to complete task. Instead of just sitting down to work on a project and thinking, “I’m going to be here until this is done,” try thinking, “I’m going to work on this for three hours”. The time constraint will push you to focus and be more efficient, even if you end up having to go back and add a bit more later.

One thing at a time. Don’t think of the totality of your to-do list. Thinking about all of the things we have to do can easily overwhelm us. Get it all on paper and take it one task at a time. Realize that no amount of thought will make it any shorter.