Time management has never been more important

Health & Wellbeing: Kate Pigeon-Owen, Wellbeing International

“The key is in not spending time, but in investing it.”
 Stephen R. Covey

Finding time

Here are ten simple but effective changes to make the most of your time, 168 hours a week, 52 weeks a year. Let’s unpack our relationship with time and turn it into our superpower.

1. Psychologists tell us that time scarcity is a myth! Managing our time effectively is all about prioritising and delegating.
2. The majority of us are at our most efficient from 9-11am. If this is true of you, try to protect those hours to maximise on that productive spell. 
3. When are you less effective? Our body experiences a natural slump between 11am-12pm and from 2-3pm. Instead of pushing through with a cuppa and a biscuit during these hours, why not give yourself a 10 minute break to allow your energy to replenish naturally?   
4. Take regular ‘microbreaks’. A study conducted by the University of Sherbrooke, Canada, revealed that microbreaks were essential for maintaining our energy and concentration levels. Consider setting microbreak reminders and creating an office culture that allows for these revitalising pauses.
5. Daydream! Our best ideas happen unconsciously when we unfocus our attention. How many of us have had a brainwave while doing the washing up or staring out the window? 
6. Avoid the weekend mop up. We’ve all experienced it – doing things you couldn’t fit in during the work week. This ‘Boss Mop’ approach is fine, occasionally, but if dealing with a backlog becomes the norm, it might be time to re-prioritise.
7. Use The Traffic Light System. Crossing off tasks is always a great dopamine hit. Years ago, I was in a meeting with a colleague who ran a vast, international department and, having asked her how she managed her time, I was surprised to discover that she used this simple method:

• RED – the top three things that you must achieve in a day, come rain or shine.
• AMBER – strategically important tasks which should make up at least 40% of our working day but should only be completed after your ‘red light’ tasks.
• GREEN – bonus tasks that you would love to achieve. 

8. It’s important to play with time in our day-to-day. Author Stephen Covey describes a beautiful example of this – after leaving work early one day, he had a life changing experience with his son that allowed him to confront why he was working so many hours, and find a balance between work and enjoying human connection.
9. Switching off from work can be difficult. Establish your own process of decompression to be present for both yourself and your loved ones. E.g. changing into home clothes or going for a walk. 
10. What is your go-to escapism? We all have ways of avoiding difficult feelings or everyday stresses. From TV to drinking, it’s important to do everything in moderation and find a balance between unwinding and being present. Prioritise doing something dedicated to your wellbeing each day.