YOU know those people who get so much more done in a day than we do? Those people who make us feel like we don’t do enough? Obviously, they do not have more hours in a day than we do, they simply use the time better.

What may not be obvious is how to do this. Many of us have a wide variety of responsibilities- familial, employment, educational, social – most of us even have all at the same time. Considering all our duties and the fact that time management is a crucial factor in our mental health, I am not only going to talk about its effects but also how to better manage our time.

If we plan our time better, we not only get more done, we are more efficient, satisfied and motivated yet relaxed; we are less likely to procrastinate over time. We experience less stress and more self-confidence and self-esteem. We find stability and reach our goals. I think we would all appreciate a life where we feel we are getting everything done at the appropriate time and yet still have time for ourselves.
What are some things we can do to better manage our time?

Firstly, it is important to identify what your personal obstacles are. Is it procrastination?, Disinterest?, Distraction?, Forgetfulness?. Knowing this will allow you a starting point and the knowledge of the true reason you don’t manage your time well. If you do not know the answer to this, a suggestion is to document your time for a few days to identify how productive you are, at what times and what typically interrupts this.

Write a to-do list of what needs to be done. Start with the most to least important. This means that at the very least, the essential things will be completed. After you have done this, it is time to organise and prioritise. Disorganisation often leads to procrastination and unproductivity. Keep your spaces clean and your tasks easy to find and do. Prioritise based on your values. Sometimes we won’t get everything done, but if we get the right things done, your day has a good ending.

Your to-do list must be a realistic one. Visual progress fuels motivation. If you see yourself ticking things off throughout the day, it will provide the push to do more. However, if the list is unrealistic and you don’t get it done, it will have the opposite effect and de-motivate you for the following day.

Break the items of the list down. It becomes easier to do when it’s easier to read, decide and execute. For example, if you have a report to write over the next three days, decide on what day you are doing research, writing, proofreading etc. It’s much less overwhelming this way.

The to-do list also creates a schedule that allows a high chance that our day will go as planned. Doesn’t that sound like it will ease stress? Also remember that when doing a task it is more likely to be completed if you devote your entire focus to it.

Keep in mind that time management is not about doing everything that needs to be done, at all costs but rather using appropriate time effectively. For example, forfeiting sleep, eating well or exercise to get other things done will ultimately result in added stress and issues. Spread out tasks that are sources of stress. We can often predict the tasks that cause us large amounts of stress. If avoidable, try to do only one of these a day. If you try to do multiple or all, it may result in a burn out where nothing is done.

Turn important tasks into habits. Research shows that even the most mundane tasks become easier to do when made a habit. For example, whether it is cleaning your house or responding to emails if you schedule a certain time to do these every day or week, they become habitual rather than stressful.
Learn to say no and to delegate. If you already have lots to do, it is okay to say no to other people. On the other hand, if you have too much to do, it is okay to pass some on to the appropriate people. You do not have to do everything yourself.

Finally, remember to take a break and know your capacity for stress. Overworking is counterproductive and more often than not results in burn out. One study I found actually showed that the most productive and efficient an individual can be is when they work straight for 52 uninterrupted minutes, then take a break for 17 minutes; go back to work for 52 minutes and so on. I’m aware that many of us do not have the luxury to do this, but the moral of the story is that short but frequent breaks allow for more and better work to be done.

It doesn’t matter what the tasks are, learning to better manage your time to do them will result in less stress and more focus, productivity, efficiency and (in the end) relaxation.
Thanking you for reading. Please keep sending any topics you’d like to talk about to caitlinvieira@gmail.com Or come in to see me at:

Georgetown Public Hospital: Psychiatric Department:
Monday- Friday – 08:00hrs-12:00hrs

Suicide Prevention Helpline numbers: 223-0001, 223-0009, 623-4444, 600-7896

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