Time Management Strategies In The Workplace: 5 Practices

Ever had a day at the office where you spent the bulk of your time doing meaningless tasks? You have a moment where you’re like, “Ugh, today was a complete waste; I didn’t get anything done.” If you only had better time management strategies in the workplace, there would be far less trouble than it usually would.

In this article, I’ll list the best practices for saving time at the office. 

UPDATED: MARCH 23, 2023

Time management tips for work

Luckily, it doesn’t mean you’ll lose your job or it’s the end of the world. From a worker’s perspective, you can easily change your habits and have a better mindset. If you’re a procrastinator, it won’t be easy at first, but if you can make an effort, then you’ll notice some changes in your work routine.

1. Prioritize Your Tasks
2. Quit Checking Your Email So Often
3. Avoid Multitasking
4. Use Your Peak Time To Do Challenging Tasks
5. Clean Out The Clutter: Keep It Simple

Prioritize your tasks

You want to determine what tasks need immediate attention whenever you start your workday. If it’s writing a report, prioritize this task at the top of your to-do list. 

For example, if you have a project that needs to be finished within 48 hours, don’t put it off the night before or the morning it’s due. Unless you work very well under pressure, waiting until the last minute is an effective strategy.

Regarding to-do lists, you want to make a list where you’ll take action on completing those tasks. Often, people will write a long “laundry” list of functions, so they can keep themselves busy. 

Unfortunately, I found that writing a long list didn’t get me to check off every task. So I ended up wasting time writing out dozens of jobs I probably wouldn’t get to that day.

Quit checking your email so often

Do you find yourself checking your email first thing at work? Email is good for communicating with others. Checking email as your first task can take up 20-30 minutes of valuable time. 

Still, it can be a huge time waste if not used properly. My suggestion to professionals is to utilize the last two hours of your day to check your email. 

When the end of your day arrives, you’ll know that you saved time for the little things, such as checking email. Even I’ve been more cautious about checking my email. 

I usually spend no more than 30 minutes a day reading and responding to emails. For this reason, I have other tasks that require more time and effort to produce the best outcome.

Avoid multitasking 

Multitasking has been a common practice among working professionals. It can be convenient and a requirement for some jobs. 

Still, there are disadvantages if you consider yourself a multitasker. We may think it’s an effective way to get things done quicker and more efficiently. 

But even some little tasks can make completing a project even much longer to get done. So if you start working on a report while keeping an eye on your email often, be aware that you’re taking more time away. 

Use your peak time to do challenging tasks

There is a time frame when we perform our best, and creativity is rolling through our minds. If you’re a morning person and work a traditional 9-5 job, you’re likely to get more things done during the morning hours. 

You’re starting your day, you have your coffee, and you’re ready to dive into work. But once the afternoon kicks in, you feel a slump and don’t have much energy as you did in the morning.

Many people experience this pattern on a typical day at the office. It’s good to know that if you’re this type of person, prioritize your complex tasks in the morning rather than at the end of the day. 

Of course, not everybody operates on this schedule. Their bodies may perform the opposite of standard peak times for others. If you find that you’re more alert in the afternoon, utilize that time frame for more challenging work.

Clean out the clutter: Keep it simple

If you’re somebody who has a messy desk, this tip is a “must” for you to be successful. There’s nothing worse than having a dozen of crap lying around, and you have no idea where to start. 

Items such as empty bottles and old food have to go. If you have clutter sitting around, clear it up and make room for only the things you need during work hours. Also, it’s excellent for you to stay on top of things and remain organized.

I consider myself very organized and somewhat of a clean freak. My workspace is never cluttered. 

But even if there are a few things that I don’t need, I move them. It may look nice to have something on your desk, but if you’re not using it, move it. 

To show some illustrations; here are some images of my desk to get an idea of what your office should look like:

MESSY                                       

CLEAN

A relevant article from notimekillers.com

Read next on “How To Start Your Workday: 5 Things To Avoid When Possible“, to get your workday started on the right track.

Final Words

Hopefully, these helpful tips can help you save more time at the office. It’s incredible how much I’ve learned over the years that these bad habits resulted in wasted time at work. 

Now that I know better, I feel much more productive and make my valuable time. Applying these practices to your daily work routine can make a significant difference for the better.

Your Turn: What are some tips you use to manage your time at the office?

What are some ways you manage time at the office?

I would like to hear some of your thoughts on this topic. If you would like to share some valuable tips, please leave a comment below. I look forward to reading them, and I’ll gladly help with any concerns you might have.

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Eric is a content writer and the site owner of notimekillers.com. He takes great pride in helping people manage their time and grow their businesses. Eric is a firm believer in time freedom, as he believes in taking ownership of time. 

“Time is your most important asset. It can be your best friend or worst enemy. How you use your time can shape the future you desire to have.” In his leisure time, Eric loves to write and read whenever possible. He enjoys going for long walks outdoors while doing in-home workout videos every week. You can follow Eric on LinkedIn.