What has covid-19 taught us about time management?
Time seems to move differently when working from home, doesn’t it? And depending on your experience of it, this can either be a good thing or a bad thing.We’ve been talking for weeks about how productivity is deeply affected by our thoughts and surroundings, but how has our understanding of time come to affect it since lockdown began?The first thing to understand is that we are operating in very strange times, and that means making certain allowances for how our day is structured and how our time is spent.
- Paying attention is key.
Having been working from home for quite some time now, we have learned how easy it is to get sucked into non-essential tasks or distractions. Remaining mindful of this is the key to using your time effectively.
- Healthy boundaries are essential.
Whether it is defining your most vital working hours with your team or letting your family know that your working hours have begun, it’s important to let both sides of your life know when you need space to focus.
- Your calendar is much more important than you thought.
Days can often bleed into each other during lockdown, and this can make it difficult to keep track of them, especially when time-sensitive projects are involved. Keeping a calendar has never been more beneficial than when working from home during this lockdown, and it may just be the missing element that’s making time-management difficult for so many.
- Your energy levels are vital.
We’ve always known that we are more or less productive at certain points of the day, but this has suddenly become much more defined from home. Take note of when you are usually feeling at your best and plan your most important tasks for that period.
Time management, like everything else during lockdown, has changed, but that doesn’t mean we can’t rise to meet these challenges with positivity and confidence. We hope these time-management tips are of use to you as you continue to navigate the new workplace