How often do you spend more time thinking about what you need to do vs. actually doing it?

Thinking about something may give an illusion that you’re working on it, but how productive are you unless you take action?

Here are some tips for better time management:

1. Track how your typical do goes. Pay attention to what you wanted to accomplish and see if you actually accomplished it. Note how long it took you to complete it. Did it take as long as you thought it would? Longer? If so, why? This will help you to identify your distractions so that you can help minimize them.

2. Tackle your most challenging items when you’re most energetic. If your energy level is highest in the morning, tackle your more challenging tasks in the morning.

3. Set time limits to complete your tasks. If you have to write a report, give yourself one hour to do it. Don’t check your email, don’t check your phone. Close your door or find a quiet place to do it without distractions. Start setting time limits on all your tasks and completely focus during those time slots. You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish.

4. Are there things you can delegate?  Are there items on your list that don’t align with your strengths that someone else could complete in a fraction of the time to free you up to focus on where you add the most value?

5. Understand the difference between being busy and being productive. They are not the same. You can get busy rearranging files on your desktop, but how productive is that?

What are other effective tips to better manage yourself and your time?