Fact: Every person has exactly 24 hours in a day, 168 hours in a week in which to accomplish their goals and to-do’s.
We all know it’s true, but doesn’t it sometimes feel like maybe some people got lucky and ended up with a few extra hours to work with? Some people just seem to get more done.
Why is that?
It all comes down to time management.
The most effective people are the ones who take the 24 hours they have each day and use them in a way that moves them towards their goals, instead of away from them.
The first step towards truly managing your time well is knowing HOW your time is currently being spent. I’m talking about nitty-gritty detail. You can’t make changes or optimizations if you aren’t aware of what is currently happening.
So, let me ask you…when was the last time you did an audit of your time?
When was the last time you intentionally tracked and analyzed how you are spending each of those 24 precious hours in a day? If it’s been a while (or you’ve never done this), let me encourage you to give this helpful practice a try!
Here’s how it works:
- Choose Your Focus – Which area(s) of life do you find yourself struggling with time management? Perhaps juggling commitments and to-do’s in your personal life has gotten tricky. Maybe your professional life could use some attention. Possibly both?
- Choose A Method for Data Recording – This entirely comes down to personal preference. There are many different options for apps or software programs that make recording each of your activities simple and easy. There’s also the good ole’ fashioned paper and pencil option for those that prefer the old school method. It doesn’t matter what you choose, but you need some kind of record log in which to record your daily activities.
- Set Timers For Record-Keeping – The hardest part of doing a time audit is remembering to record your activities. This audit will be more effective and helpful when it maintains a high level of accuracy. In other words, sitting down at the end of the day to estimate and record how much time you spent on various activities isn’t going to help you much. Instead, try setting alarms to remind yourself to pause and record your activities. I’d recommend adding to your log every hour or so.
- Record Your Activities – A good time audit takes more than one day. I’d recommend recording your daily activities for one full week (or one workweek if you are just focusing on professional life) to get the clearest picture of how your time is spent day-to-day. Record each and every activity you do throughout the day (yes, even those 5 minute breaks to scroll social media.)
- Analyze Your Data –After your record-keeping week is complete, it’s time to analyze the results. The key is to look for patterns. What activities take up the bulk of your time each day? What time wasters exist in your schedule? Where is your time being well spent?
If completed with precision and attention to detail, this time audit will provide valuable information that will help you to make important choices as to how you spend your time in the future.
This November, I’m hosting a 5 Day Challenge aimed at helping you make some changes to your day-to-day schedule that will help you achieve more in your day-to-day life! This work goes hand in hand with the time audit I described today.
Click HERE to learn more about the progress YOU can see in just 5 short days!
Article was contributed by: Maria Lees, Team Writer with Sarah Boxx
