Is it high time to start managing yours?

The New Year is upon us once more, and with it a deluge of New Year’s resolutions of one type or another. Corporate wellness is at an all-time high, as workers return to offices all over the country filled with good intentions, whether that be to lose a few pounds, give up smoking cigarettes or go out for that daily jog. Instead of one of the clichéd favourites, bound to be broken within days, this year you can really give yourself a gift for New Year – you can give yourself the gift of time.

By managing your time better, you can actually increase your wellbeing. There are so many distractions in the modern world and so many ways to lose focus, that it can be really hard to stay on task and keep motivated. By following these five simple tips, you can ensure that every day is a successful day.

One time: Make yourself a rule that when you tackle a piece of work, you will deal with it there and then, and not file it to come back to. As soon as you start with one piece of paper, take the action that needs to be taken and then move on.

Make time for e-mail: The frequent ‘ping’ of an e-mail arriving can be a great distraction at work. Instead of allowing this constant interruption, close down your e-mail and set aside time for detailing with e-mails at a few intervals throughout the day and stick to these times.

Be less sociable: Social networking sites can be a great distraction. If necessary for work, schedule time for them and stick to it. If not, don’t visit them at work.

Make technology work for you: Use the features of any software you use, such as the prioritising of e-mails, to your advantage. This will save time searching for e-mails that you need.

Find the agenda: Before going into any meetings, ask for an agenda. Don’t go to a meeting unless there is an identified purpose, or they will simply swallow up time.