Managing your time is one of the most valuable skills you can learn. We all have the same amount of hours in a day, yet some people seem to be able to get much more done in the same amount of time. Whilst this could be down to some form of time machine, it’s much more likely that they’ve mastered the art of time management.

Even if you feel like you’ll never get anything completed, there are a few simple things you can do to get yourself started.

1. Know what needs to be done

You can’t really start managing your time until you know exactly what you need to be getting done. Setting goals is a great way of deciding where you want to go, but you still need to break it down into smaller chunks that you can actually do.

If you’ve set yourself a goal, grab some paper, write your goal in the middle and then list all of the tasks you’ll need to do before it’s completed. You don’t have to think of everything, but it will give you a much firmer plan to work with. Once you’ve listed your ideas, write them down in the order you want to complete them. Some might be more urgent than others, or might yield the greatest return. For example, doing a bit of research at the start might reveal some sticking points that you can avoid (and save time).

Finally, estimate how long you think each task will take. It’s always best to over-estimate these, as there are usually unexpected complications. I find it helpful to write down how long things actually took once they’re done so I can estimate better in the future.

2. Monitor your time

I’ve written about using time logs before, and they’re a really easy way of getting a grip on where your time goes. If you use a computer a lot, you’ve probably had days where you’ve been "just checking" your email but ended up wasting lots of time. Once you see just how much time you’ve spent on surfing the web, it can be quite sobering.

All you need to do to get started is grab a sheet of paper and note down when you start each task and when you finish it. Remember, you’re not just noting down work tasks but everything. Getting up to make tea/coffee, answering the phone and "checking emails" all count. It might sound trivial, but it’s these trivial tasks that can take up your time.

After a week or two, you’ll have a firm idea of what’s taking up your time and you can start doing something about it. Sometimes just the act of keeping a time log will make you more effective, as it makes you resist the urge to procrastinate as you know it’ll be noted down!

3. You can’t do everything

Nobody dies with an empty to-do list. There will always, always be some things you won’t be able to do. Whether it’s a simple project or going into space, it’s a fact that you will have to sacrifice some things in order to do others.

It can be difficult to turn projects down, so to ease yourself into it keep a separate list of projects on the back burner. Once the initial excitement has worn off, the project might not seem like such a good idea after all.

Another way of giving yourself some extra time is delegating your work to someone else. You can either give it to a friend or relative, or hire someone from an outside agency to help. This isn’t just a strategy for big jobs either. Even something simple like mowing the lawn can be outsourced. There are always people looking for a little extra cash, so keep an eye out for them and reward them for their work.

Good time management doesn’t happen overnight

Creating the habits of good time management takes time and effort. No amount of tips and tweaks can suddenly make you super-efficient (I wish they could!), but if you take things one step at a time you can build upon your successes. Over time you’ll become more experienced at recognising time sappers, and you’ll have developed the strategies for dealing with them.

One of the simplest ways you can improve yourself is to read a good book. Reading gives us an insight in to how other people have overcome challenges, and what they’ve learnt from their endeavours. There’s a huge array of personal development books available, and through the years I’ve read several that have had a real impact on my life.

1. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

Steven Covey’s book was the first real self improvement book I ever read. It’s fair to say that it was one of the most important things I ever did, as every page is packed full of information. The seven habits aren’t particularly complex, and are more useful when treated as foundations to greater habits.

It takes time and effort to truly internalise them, but it’s worth the effort once you start feeling the difference. You’ll learn how to become more efficient in your work, how to improve your relationships with other people and how to maintain your habits once learnt.

2. The Power of Focus

Focus is a vital ingredient for any kind of productive work, as without it you can end up moving from project to project without ever completing anything. This book is a little heavy on the emotional side of things, and there are a few too many stories in it, but the core lessons are extremely useful.

There’s everything in here from creating a balanced life, to learning how to ask for things (which has always been a barrier for me). Even if you find it a little sappy, it’s worth reading just for the "pick me up" effect it has.

» My review at sodaware.net.

3. Getting Things Done

The GTD method of time management has become quite popular, and once you’ve tried the system it’s easy to see why. It’s very easy to get started with, and you don’t need lots of tools or software to do anything. A few sheets of paper and some folders are all you really need to start becoming more productive.

The core idea of the system is to stop your brain from having to remember everything you need to do. Once you have your ideas and tasks on paper, you can use your brain power to actually work on things instead of remembering them (or forgetting them if you’re anything like me )

» My review at sodaware.net.

4. The NOW Habit

This is another great book for managing your time, but it also takes recreation into account. Knowing that you have to sit at your desk for 12+ hours to finish a project can make you less productive, so scheduling in some fun time gives you something to look forward to and can make you more efficient.

I’ve used a lot of this book to create my own effective schedules, and knowing that I’ll be able to take a break does work. When you work for yourself you can fall into two traps: working too much and not taking time to relax, or relaxing too much and not actually working. Creating a schedule can help with both problems, so it’s definitely worth finding out how to make them.

5. The 100 Absolutely Unbreakable Laws of Business Success

It might have a particularly long title, but this book is packed with useful tips for becoming more successful. The laws are split into different categories, including business laws and personal laws, and each law also has tips at the end for applying it to your own life.

There’s a little repetition as you get further in, but you’re bound to find something you can use to become more successful.

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There are more recommendations in the personal development books section of the site, so take a look if you’re after some reading material.

I’d love to hear about books that have made a difference to you, so please feel free to leave them in the comments section!