Many people experience high levels of stress due to having more tasks to accomplish than they can handle. Just the pressure of such a workload can increase stress. One way to lessen this high level of health jeopardizing stress is to take charge of your work load and your life to put things in perspective. Implementing the tips below will have the added benefit of actually getting more done!
1. Identify how your time is currently spent. Keep a journal for a few days or a week to see what type of tasks you do, how much time they take and to identify activities that take up too much time or ones that are non-productive.
2. Set goals and prioritize. Decide what is really important and what needs to be done NOW. Always ask yourself if what you are doing is getting you closer to your goal.
3. Keep a calendar handy and make a habit of using it. Write down your appointments and other important obligations. We are all guilty of overlooking or forgetting things because we didn't write them down thinking there is no way we would forget.
4. Avoid distractions. Set yourself up for success by avoiding the activities you identified that were taking up too much time. It is OK to still do them, just be sure you monitor how much time you spend. You might start by scheduling it in so you know you will get a chance to watch your favorite show for example, and not end up wasting the entire evening.
5. Break tasks up into smaller steps. Start small and build yourself and your time management skills up in a positive way.
Every step you accomplish is a reason for celebration, and by having parts of a larger task done ahead of time you will find the last minute rush to completion is much easier and less stressful.
Mary Ann comments "My clients have told me that by incorporating my time management tips into their daily lives they have found a much higher level of satisfaction in their lives, more enjoyment from the tasks they do perform and much lower stress levels becuase they are confident everything will get done on time."
Mary Ann offers a downloadable guide entitled "How to Get More Done with Less Stress" at http://www.healthwellnessconnection.com/
