By G N Patel November 06, 2023

“Time is the scarcest resource available to modern individuals. Exercise wisdom in its utilization. The real question in life is not, ‘How much time do we have?’ but rather, ‘What are we doing with it?’ – Anna Robertson Brown

Renowned philosophers have long espoused the idea that time is humanity’s most valuable asset-a universal truth we’ve all come to accept. The irony lies in our realization of this truth only after our time has slipped away. Sadly, this happens on a daily basis. Even when given everything we need, time remains the essential ingredient; without it, we can achieve nothing. Whether it’s a demanding task assigned by your boss or simply having lunch, time is the fundamental prerequisite for every action.

Time possesses unique properties that set it apart from other natural elements, including:

It is universally free.

Each new day provides us with a fresh allotment of time.

Time is distributed impartially, offering 24 hours to both a President and a Peon.

It is incredibly perishable, slipping away if not seized.

Though it cannot be stored, time can be stolen, often without the victim’s knowledge.

Regrettably, we often allow the theft of our time, and only realize the loss once it’s too late.

So, what is the solution?

As economic development progresses, we find ourselves “rich in money but poor in time.” Modern technology and gadgets were expected to mitigate this issue, but in reality, we’ve become even “poorer” in time. Time management has become an essential life skill, and below, you’ll find a blend of practical and innovative time management tips for the average working individual to choose from, depending on individual circumstances:

1. Begin your day early. If you add on few more hours to your daily routine, you can properly use it to accomplish your remaining tasks/activities.
2. Prioritize your daily routine and finish your bathroom activities before engaging with the news or TV. Do not invest long hours in reading new papers or watching news. Rather, get headlines & short descriptions.
3. Catch up on the news while having breakfast. Hence you can do multi-tasking.
4. Avoid using your mobile device in the morning unless it’s for important calls or messages. Control yourself you minimize the use of mobile phones. Get out of the addiction of using mobile phones.
5. Before leaving for work, ask your family if they need anything from the market on your way home. This way you do not have to add an extra trip for the shopping.
6. Maximize your time at the workplace by diving into your tasks upon arrival.
7. Maintain a tidy and organized workspace.
8. Utilize communication tools like intercom, mobile, telephone, or email instead of face-to-face conversations.
9. Communicate clearly to save time spent clarifying misunderstandings.
10. Avoid perfectionism; strive for output that meets acceptable standards.
11. Steer clear of procrastination, as it only complicates tasks and requires more time to complete.
12. Plan your work with foresight and be proactive.
13. Be a smart worker and don’t hesitate to seek advice from experts or use the internet for solutions.
14. Refrain from offering unsolicited advice, which not only saves time but also enhances your image.
15. Delegate tasks where possible and invest your time in training subordinates.
16. Limit discussions with visitors to work-related topics and politely indicate when you need to conclude the conversation.
17. Avoid discussing personal issues at the workplace.
18. Prepare for the next day by organizing your tasks in a “Ready to Go” state and prioritizing your to-do list.
19. Return home promptly and remember the items your family needs from the market.
20. Conclude dinner early, enjoy TV, briefly check your mobile, and respond to necessary messages while deleting the rest.
21. Before bed, prepare your clothes and accessories for the next day, and ensure your office bag contains the necessary papers or files.
22. Establish an early bedtime routine to ensure sufficient rest.
23. While “money poverty” can be alleviated through various means, there is no remedy for “time poverty.”
24. Schedule household chores and social visits on holidays in a well-organized manner.
25. Master the art of saying “NO,” as it can save both time and money and keep you away from distractions.
26. Avoid unnecessary visits to colleagues without official business.
27. When in dispute with someone, listen more and speak less. Apologize and express gratitude when you recognize your error.
28. The habit of wasting time can become deeply ingrained, requiring your conscious, ongoing effort to develop time management skills.
29. Once you’ve made your point, refrain from elaborating unnecessarily. Stop, as I will now.”
30. Use advanced time management tools available online like mobile app, task reminder tools etc. so that you can manage your time properly.
31. If you are working in a corporate environment, you can also use task delegation tool. This way you can schedule and divide your work load at workplace. That will make you free up more time.
32. Define your priorities for tasks. If a task has less priorities, you can delegate the task to your subordinates and reduce your work. Hence you can lessen your invested time and utilize that time to other priority work.
33. Same way, use can also prioritize your entertainment options like movies, web series, tv shows, matches etc. No need to watch all. Maintain quality in that option also.
34. It has been noticed recently that the most time-consuming activity for users is watching reels that consumes their lot of valuable time. So also define limited time period for that also.
35. Working smartly in daily routine activities can also save you a lot of time. You just need to find out how an activity can be completed using advanced machinery / inventions in shorter time.

Following such little activities can also make you manage more time efficiently.

Go & try out some of these tips.

Author G N Patel is a professional content writer at Gujarat Infotech Ltd.

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