{"id":21822,"date":"2019-12-04T16:41:46","date_gmt":"2019-12-04T22:41:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/?p=21822"},"modified":"2021-11-01T08:01:26","modified_gmt":"2021-11-01T13:01:26","slug":"3-easy-steps-to-improve-your-time-management-skills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/3-easy-steps-to-improve-your-time-management-skills\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Easy Steps to Improve Your Time Management Skills"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last updated on November 1, 2021<\/p>
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Getting organized, staying focused, and managing time are challenging for every gigging artist and entrepreneur. The work-life balance, the time to create and develop, or the bandwidth to grow your brand or business requires time and energy beyond the daily grind and it seems like there are not enough hours in the day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the right tools and system, you can manage your limited time and maximize your productivity. These three critical steps from our team will help you master your calendar and get stuff done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Create a schedule<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Planning your day allows you to prioritize what needs to get done and sets the time to do it. The ability to be productive starts with a plan that is easily accomplished. Kevin Kruse, the author of 15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management<\/em>, said this in a Forbes.com<\/a> post:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That which gets scheduled, actually gets done.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Think mission-critical<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Mission-critical thinking is an invaluable skill in managing time and productivity. Thinking \u201cmission-critical\u201d means defining your values and goals and focusing your time and energy on accomplishing those. It provides you the boundaries to know when to say yes to certain tasks and when to say to no to others. By focusing on your business’ mission (for example, booking 200 gigs in 2020), you make time-and-effort decisions based on that singular goal. You\u2019re free to say no to anything that doesn\u2019t move that mission forward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tackle the biggest projects first<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Accomplishment is its own reward. Often, when we look at our daily schedule, we are tempted to focus on small tasks that are easily checked off the list. Instead, look at the projects or tasks that can create the most momentum for your business or those items that are the greatest hindrance to your service and create a plan to tackle those. You may not finish the whole project, but even taking steps to move that forward delivers a feeling of progress and the motivation to move forward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Platforms such as Asana<\/a> or Trello<\/a> are incredible tools to help you manage projects and plan execution schedules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2. Create a routine<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now that you have a plan of what needs to get done, establish the routines and rhythms that foster productivity. This should be a fluid approach that recognizes your personal and business life, as well as times of the day where you are more productive or creative. For example, if you find that early morning is when you have the most energy and focus, schedule that time to pay bills, answer emails, and order supplies. If you\u2019re most creative in the evening, block out spaces in your day to write, compose, rehearse, or personally develop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Set up your day (the night before<\/strong>) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Taking time each night to map your next day means that you are attacking your day rather than reacting to it. In a post for Fast Company, Interview Success Formula founder Alan Carinol lays out four strategies<\/a> to get your day planned and focused. This includes blocking out segments of time for getting tasks done, routines to conserve brainpower, breaking down deadlines and due dates into smaller events, and getting to bed on time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eliminate distractions<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Even as you\u2019re reading this, you\u2019re surrounded by 24-hours’ access to smart devices, wireless connections, and the internet. The average person gets between 65-80 smartphone alerts<\/a> a day. Taking into account that it can take up to 25 minutes to get back on track, that means you\u2019re rarely focused on the work you need to get done. Utilizing focus software and platforms such as Focus Booster<\/a> and Rescue Time<\/a> helps you see where your time is going and stay directed towards moving your business forward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Work in short segments<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many of us procrastinate because we find long periods of work intimidating. Breaking your tasks into shorter segments with planned breaks frees you up to ignore distractions and stay mentally fresh. The Pomodoro technique of 25 minutes on with 5 minutes off is a great way to keep your brain dialed in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make your bed<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One nearly universal habit of productive people? Making their bed every morning<\/a>. This simple act of accomplishment means that you\u2019ve already been productive that day and your brain is motivated to get more done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3. Set reminders<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

No matter how methodical your planning or precise your schedule, you will forget something. Art Markman, author of Smart Thinking: Three Essential Keys to Solve Problems, Innovate, and Get Things Done<\/em> reminds us that, \u201cThe cognitive system is designed as much as possible not to think.\u201d Your brain prioritizes and categorizes the information designed for survival. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of us need systems that will bring tasks and meetings to our memory in order to get them done.  <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Use your calendar instead of to-do lists<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many people thrive on lists, but many to-do lists are never-got-done lists because there is no deadline or due date attached. One way to push through this dynamic is to create calendar appointments for your tasks rather than a checklist. So instead of \u201cCheck in on GigSalad bookings\u201d as a to-do item, schedule it as your 9:30 am appointment every day. Even creating an appointment for checking your to-do list is enough to drive accountability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use your smart devices to your advantage<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve already established how our smart devices provide a constant distraction. By utilizing great apps and platforms, however, they can become powerful tools for managing your time and directing your focus. Here are just a few project and task management tools we love: <\/p>\n\n\n\n