AC Now’s Weblog

How much time do you spend on tasks that do not contribute to the success of your business?  Do you feel like there just isn’t enough time in the day to complete everything you want to?

What about the tasks that you know you need to complete?  Are you aware of when you are actually doing these things, and did you know that doing certain tasks at a different time of the day could yield better results?

The best way to get a handle of how you spend your time is to keep an activity log.  My first thought when reading about activity logs was, “I don’t have enough time in the day to accomplish real work!  Why would I want to spend time writing down what I’m doing?”

The truth is, seeing is believing.  You may be shocked to see in black and white the amount of time you waste each day.  Whether you get caught up reading junk mail or chat with co-workers on your way back from the coffee machine, this time adds up!

An easy way to keep a time log, without wasting additional time, is to simply make note of the times when you change activities.  In a notebook, write down the time and the task you are starting, even if it’s just getting up to go get coffee.  This should only take a few seconds, and then you’re free to continue with what you are doing.

If you want to dig a little deeper into your work habits, you may benefit from jotting down how you feel at certain times of the day.  Are you tired and stressed out, or alert and motivated?  Some people perform better in the morning than in the afternoon.  Others may experience a slump right after lunch or after eating a sugary snack. 

Once you have an idea of how you spend your time, here are some tips that will help you be more productive throughout the day:

·         Eliminate tasks that do not directly deal with your job, such as personal e-mails.  You may also delegate some jobs that can be done by someone else in the organization, freeing up your time for more important tasks.

·         Take advantage of your peak performance times.  If you perform better in the morning, tackle your more challenging tasks during that time.  The task should actually take less time during your peak performance time than it would if you tried doing it when you feel tired or stressed.

·         Do not switch between tasks frequently.  Set aside blocks of time to work on certain tasks, including a block of time specifically for checking e-mail.  Checking e-mail throughout the day could lead to distractions and lost productivity.

Using your time wisely will allow you to complete more tasks throughout the day.  The end result is not only a more productive business, but less stress in worrying about projects getting backed up.  If you find work beginning to pile up out of control, now might be a good time to start an activity log. 

Check us out at www.centralheatingandcoolingnow.com.  A place where time management really matters!