Time Management Habits for Spring
As a landscape designer, a Canadian spring always holds a special place in my heart. It’s the anticipation of a new season as we watch the snow melt, and the spring flowers and buds make their presence known. But, for many in the horticultural industry, it’s a critical time to get a handle on the goals, priorities and tasks before the real spring arrives.
Time management is a critical skill that we all need to master if we want to achieve our goals. The ability to manage our time can help us be more productive, and reduce stress. The more we work on establishing our time management habits, the more we can make the most of our time and keep working towards our goals.
Photo by Estee Janssens on Unsplash
Time Tracking:
Time tracking is a powerful tool that can help you understand how you spend your time. It can help you identify time-wasting activities, track your progress toward your goal and optimize your workflow. Many tools are available to help you track your time, from simple pen and paper to other software apps available on your computer or mobile device.
When you track your time, you become more aware of where your time is spent. You may discover that you are spending more time on low-priority tasks, or that you are not spending enough time on important items. By having this understanding, you can adjust your schedule, determine your service rates, and direct your time towards your priorities.
My favourite app that I have used for years is Toggl. It syncs in real time between my phone and computer. It’s easy to use and although there are paid plans, the free version is all I have ever needed.
Unsubscribing:
I don’t know about you, but my inbox is always full. 🙂 We all receive too many emails, and it can be overwhelming to keep up with all of them. One of the best ways to manage your time is to unsubscribe from emails that are not important or relevant to you. (and yes, I need to take my own advice!) It may take some time to go through your inbox and unsubscribe from various emails and spam, but it will be worth it in the long run.
Unsubscribing from irrelevant emails can help you reduce distractions, improve your focus and save time. There are tools out there to help manage your subscriptions, but I like to be more hands-on. Review the email, scroll to the bottom and hit the unsubscribe button/link. Then go to the search bar, put in the email address/sender to find all the other emails, select all and delete. It is very satisfying to get a handle on your emails and it makes you appreciate the messages that you have chosen to receive.
When are YOU most productive?
Everyone has a time of day when they are most productive. Some people are morning people (my favourite time of the day!) and can get a lot done before lunch. Others are night owls and find that evening is their best productive time. It is essential to identify what works best for you so that you can aim to complete the most important items during that time.
When you work during your most productive time, you will be focused, efficient and will be amazed by all the things you can cross off your list! Once you have determined your best time, you can adjust your schedule and divide your time accordingly.
Time Blocking:
Time blocking is a technique that is used to schedule specific time slots for different tasks. It helps individuals prioritize their work and ensure that important tasks are completed first. Time blocking also helps us stay focused on a specific task during the allocated time slot, reducing distractions and improving productivity.
This can be done using a calendar or scheduling app. In my business, I use both Google Calendar and my paper planner. I have days of the week set aside for different tasks and then break them down further into morning and afternoon blocks. (I use this planner)
Focus on just ONE thing:
Finally, my most important tip is to focus on one task or project at a time and complete it before moving on to the next. This can help individuals stay focused on the task at hand and reduce distractions. Don’t forget to take short breaks between tasks to recharge and maintain focus.
Multitasking can reduce productivity and increase stress levels as it takes our brain time to go back and forth between tasks. Focusing on just one thing means we will feel less stress and be more productive because we will be in a state of deep focus. We will be able to dig deeper and find creative solutions that we hadn’t thought of before.
Time management is a skill that can be practised every day in both our personal and professional lives. It may take some time and effort to develop good time management habits, but the benefits are well worth it. For all my horticultural friends, try some of these tips to create good routines in time for the new spring season ahead! We all have the same minutes and hours in a day… it’s how we manage the time we have that matters.
Cover photo by Rachael Crowe on Unsplash
These are not affiliate links – my opinions are my own.
