There’s never enough time in the day, and our task lists grow with no signs of slowing down. Lately, I’ve seen a lot of blog posts about how to manage your time better, and I thought I’d throw my top five into the ring:

1. Do your “routine” first thing in the morning and get it out of the way.  We all have a morning routine, but sometimes we get to work, and there’s a rush of work to start on.  I’ve found that when I skip the morning routine, I feel tense and rushed for the rest of the day.  So sit down and check your e-mail, read your blogs, and play a little Farmville before the work day picks up.  If you know this isn’t possible at work, schedule time to do it in the comforts of your own home.

2. After your routine, prioritize your tasks before you start the meat of your work. Since I’ve had a little time to unwind by doing my routine, I find it easier to jump into any task on my list (and not just the easy stuff first).  Plus, it’s important that you look over everything you could be doing and tackle the most important stuff first.  It also forces you to think about what you do every single day, instead of just go on auto-pilot.

3. Have access to reader feeds whenever you have 5 free minutes. During the day, you’d find yourself with lots of 5 to 10 minute chunks.  Use this time to read something useful about your field.  Set up reader feeds that can be accessed from computers and your phone and devote those little chunks of time to staying current in your field.

4. Take breaks by yourself, for yourself. All of us take time for breaks, but sometimes breaks don’t feel restful if we use them to aimlessly surf the ‘Net, gossip with our co-workers, or get some other task done.  A break should be just that: a break from what you’re doing.  Don’t worry about taking it alone and try to rest your mind away from everything you’re working on.

5. Devote specific chunks to time with family and friends. One of the hardest things for a workaholic to do is get away from work.  But remember, most of the important things in life we cherish have to do with our friends and family. Try to devote a little time each day to them.  Bigger breaks are also welcome and necessary.

-Deborah Fike

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