Carpe Diem – Top Work Time Management Practices

Time Management: Use these basic principles to seize the opportunities that life brings to you.

Exclusive for OpusTime
Written by Aleah Cristy

There is this quote that goes: “Enjoy life today, for yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come.” It’s another way of looking at Roman poet Horace’s famous Latin phrase “Carpe Diem” or “seize the day”. But with the constant demands of today’s fast-paced world, how can one manage to make the most out of today? Successful people will tell you that the key is to prioritize and manage your time. These are two of the most valuable time management life skills you need to learn if you want to be able to succeed in most, if not all, aspects of your life. When it comes to work, here are some of the best time management practices that can help you make the most out of your workdays:

Learn to say no

There is an art to being able to firmly say no without feeling bad afterward. Social media manager Ohui Kwao believes it’s important that you know you can’t please everybody nor can you do everything that is asked of you. “It may feel like you are disappointing others by saying no but if you constantly say yes, people will take advantage of you,” she says. Not only that, constantly saying yes to tasks at work can fill your schedule with more than you can handle. Saying no to a few tasks is better than saying yes to everything and not being able to deliver.

Use technology to your advantage

One of the best things about working in the digital age is how almost everything you need is available online. Trackers and schedulers are some of the best examples. Schedulers like OpusTime allow you to keep track of everything with one simple click. It can even handle tasks automatically helping ease your workload.

Find a good work/life balance

No matter your job, you need time to recharge. This is especially true with the rise of remote workers. Fast Company states how remote workers need discipline, as “the lines between the home and office get blurry”. As there is no definitive stop time, remote workers have to be able to set their own schedule or risk an increase in work-related stress. The shift to remote working structures has led to a change in how many businesses now operate. A post by Maryville University on organizational leadership shows how there is an increasing demand for tech-driven employees who can manage remote workers. This new breed of leader needs to understand how to handle remote workers, and how to make sure they are productive without sacrificing a healthy work/life balance. However, the responsibility ultimately lies with the remote employees as they will be working independently.

Don’t procrastinate

If you spend more time preparing yourself for work than actually doing some work, you will never get things done. Lifehack notes that procrastination is one of the top things that affect productivity. One of the best ways to stop it is to avoid your triggers. Identify what often stops you from working. Do you get easily distracted? Do you feel demotivated? Are your goals clear and realistic? Understanding why you put off work until the last minute can help you build better habits.

Seize the day means something different to everyone. However, it doesn’t remove the fact that unless you are able to manage your time properly, you won’t be able to make the most out of your days.

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