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  • Writer's picturePeter Bennet

5 Time Management Tips to Help You Draw the Line Between Work and Life






It’s not easy to keep your job and personal life separate and still have time to be successful in both areas of your life. That’s why many people turn to time management tools to help draw the line between work and life while still being productive at both jobs, though it’s important not to let yourself become overly dependent on these tools that can only do so much to help you manage your schedule better. With that said, here are five time management tools that can help you draw the line between work and life without feeling overwhelmed or overworked in either area of your life.


1) Set working hours and stick to them


It's easy to get carried away with work, but you can't be productive for eight hours straight. Set your working hours before you start your day, and stick to them. Also, remember that it's okay if you need time away from work; don't feel guilty about taking a break or coming in late. And if you're feeling burnt out, take some time off! Your health is more important than anything else. If you aren't happy at work, try looking for other opportunities that are better suited to your interests. One of the biggest mistakes people make when looking for another job is staying at their current one when they know they don't want to be there. Be honest with yourself and go after what you really want!


2) Make a daily/weekly/monthly plan


1) Set a time that you will start working each day. For example, if your workday starts at 9 am, set a goal to be done with all of your tasks by 8 am. This leaves you two hours for breakfast, lunch, dinner, errands or anything else that needs your attention. 2) Block out times of the day for errands or tasks. If you are trying to get into better habits with cooking, make an hour in your day where you can cook without any distractions. The same goes for making phone calls- block out 15 minutes in the morning before starting work and another 15 minutes after getting home from work.

3) Be realistic about what you can accomplish in a given amount of time. If it takes 45 minutes to go grocery shopping and another hour to prepare dinner, don’t try to cram both activities into one hour- this is unrealistic!




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3) Set deadlines


If you're feeling overwhelmed by your work, or just want a better way to manage your time, try these five tools for better time management. The best thing about these tools is that they are all free, so there's no reason not to give them a try! The first tool, Wunderlist , can be used as an easy to-do list and task manager.

You'll be able to share lists with friends, family, or coworkers and set reminders as needed. In addition to this app, Google Calendar also has many of the same features like events syncing across multiple devices and creating separate calendars with reminders tailored specifically to what matters most in your life.


4) Take breaks


To take a break from work, you don't have to go on vacation. Just limit your time on-task. Schedule a specific time for work, such as 9 am - 12 pm or 1 pm - 4 pm. Set an alarm for these hours so you know when it's time to take a break and do something else, such as reading or going for a walk. Take a 10 minute break every hour by setting an alarm for one hour before your scheduled stop time.


5) Use a time tracking tool


Using a time tracking tool is one of the most effective ways to draw the line between work and life. When you use a time tracking tool, you can decide how much time you want to dedicate to work tasks each day, week, or month. It takes away the guesswork of figuring out if you're overworking or underworking. Tracking your time also helps you see where your strengths and weaknesses are so that you can make changes accordingly. For example, you might find that you don't have enough time for family because of all the hours you spend in meetings. If this is the case, try shifting some meetings from after-hours to during-office hours so that more time becomes available for personal things outside work.


Takeaway


These five time management tips will help you draw the line between work and life. They range from low-tech methods, like using a timer or scheduling meetings with yourself, to high-tech methods, like task managers or taking advantage of your smart phone.

-Use a timer: Setting a timer for specific tasks can help you focus on one thing at a time. It's also good for avoiding distractions because it forces you to focus on what's in front of you. But be careful not to overdo it; if you spend too much time focused on one thing, your productivity could decrease.


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