7 Time Management Strategies to Beat Stress Effectively

Ask a million people how they plan their day-to-day activities and you will get a million different answers. While some rely upon the art of journaling, others resort to procrastination to plan their day. What’s even more astonishing is that recent data shows almost 82% of people don’t have a dedicated time management system.

 

So, no matter which part of the world we live in, we all struggle to manage our time effectively. This struggle to attain a work-life balance results in one common problem: stress.

In this article, we shall dive into the advantages of effective time management and learn about 7 time management strategies to beat stress constructively.

1. Set Goals for Yourself!

Are you someone who spends more time deciding what to do the entire day rather than actually getting the work done? Well, mark us guilty as charged because poor time management can take that toll on you.

What’s the solution, you ask? The answer is simple: set goals for yourself.

Set daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly goals to manage your tasks efficiently. This comes in handy when you want to battle the dilemma of ‘what to do’ and ‘what not to do’ as well as stay on track without losing precious sleep.

While you are at it, make sure you jot these goals down on your calendar to avoid the unnecessary stress of remembering these goals.

2. Write Off Your Distractions

 How many times has it happened that you sat down to meet your work deadlines but a sudden urge to scroll through your phone put a speed breaker to your work?

Well, it happens to the best of us. But don’t worry, we’ve got a one-step formula for you to fight these distractions.

The key here is to write your distractions down. The sooner you write these distractions down in your notebook, the quicker they leave the halls of your mind and provide you with the required mental room to carry on with your tasks.

3. Bid Goodbye to Timetables!

Yes, you heard us right. We know that creating timetables with strict timely deadlines sounds promising but it’s hardly always effective.

More often than not, these timetables result in the added stress of staying on track and can even walk you up the ladder of mental exhaustion.

Instead, simply list down your tasks without time allotments and open the door to flexibility. This one change will not only reduce the stress but also breathe positivity into your life.

4. Say ‘No!’ to Over-Commitment

Are you someone who always nods a ‘yes’ to additional tasks despite having too much on your plate?

Well, it’s high time you learn to say ‘no’ to over-commitment when it comes to handling your tasks. Why, you ask?

When you over-promise your tasks, you shake hands with the risk of missing deadlines and kiss goodbye to your ideal sleep schedule – all leading up to a mountain of stress.

Begin with jotting down a rough time commitment to each of your tasks before you go ahead and make a promise on the deadline. Trust us, this tiny change will go a long way!

5. Use the Potential of ‘The Pomodoro Technique’

Quit trying to finish all your tasks at once, you are not a robot!

As a matter of fact, the human brain tends to focus better in 25-minute work sessions than hours of continuous work. This is what scientists call ‘The Pomodoro Technique’.

It help you maximize your productivity and manage time effectively by adopting the following steps:

1. Choose a task out of your priority list
2. Set a 25-minute work session
3. Treat yourself to a 5-minute break
4. Again, set a 25-minute work session followed by a 5-minute break
5. After four consecutive Pomodoro sessions, treat yourself to a 30-minute break

6. ‘Journal’ is Your Best Friend!

To-do lists sound daunting but they have proven to be one of the most effective ways of time management. Needless to say, these lists help you stay on time and keep track of all your potential work commitments in one place.

While you are at it, don’t forget to add a little gratitude section to your journal. Work can be a lot at times and we all need to take a moment to appreciate even the tiniest of achievements in our fast-paced lives.

Believe us, it will reduce your stress to a significant extent.

7. Find the Fun in Finance Management

 Do you struggle to keep a track of where your money is going? You are not alone.

Managing your personal finances can be both tiresome and time-consuming.  But the right personal financial management tools can decrease your stress manifold and take that extra shred of the burden off your shoulders.

With SC Mobile App, you can now keep track of your personal finances with a few simple clicks- all in one place. So, what are you waiting for? Check its features right now!

Not just this, SC Jumpstart’s banking features save you plenty of time in investment deals too by providing you with assistance on online trading and high-interest savings account.

This article is brought to you by Standard Chartered Bank (Singapore) Limited. All information provided is for informational purposes only.