Accomplishing more and having leisure time is extremely important. With limited time and energy, any proven method that can potentially remedy this issue is worth exploring. Numerous time busters impede our productivity. These time bandits rob us of time needed for our daily living.

Time management adjustments can stop time bandits, improve productivity and ease the burden of daily routines:

1. Track your time on task. A basic timer can greatly improve your focus and results. For example, the next time you need to prepare your lunch for work, put on makeup or trim your beard; estimate how long it should take. Then set a timer for a couple of minutes less than your estimation. Investigate if you finish before the time runs out. This added pressure will help you spend more time on task.

• Use a timer at work. There are timers available for your computer, online and on your cell phone.

2. Take a 10-minute recess every hour. Program your timer for 50 minutes and focus on the task at hand. Then give yourself a 10-minute recess. Productivity studies have shown this to be a reasonable pattern of work and rest for the average person.

• Use the 10 minutes to stretch, go for a quick walk, talk to your coworkers, get a sip of water, or check your personal email. You’ll get more accomplished than you ever imagined.

3. Complete tasks at night that will impact your morning routine. Avoid loading your morning with tasks if they can be completed the night before. Fill your gas tank, iron your clothes prior to going to bed. If you’re already running late and suddenly remember that you need gas or you oversleep and have not prepared your lunch, this may cause unnecessary stress.
4. Map out your time leaving time to spare. Picture this: you have to be at a function in three hours. It will take 30 minutes to get dressed and 30 minutes to arrive at the event. Most people fail to calculate the time it takes to prepare and arrive with time to spare. A major traffic jam or wardrobe malfunction could prove disastrous.

• Plan ahead, build in an hour to get ready. You’ll be ready in sufficient time. You can relax until you are ready to go.
• If preparing to leave is a hurried last minute process, you’ll frequently be late.

5. One thing at a time. The key to changing old habits is to gradually implement new behaviors in phases. This strategy works whether you’re starting a new exercise routine, learning to do karate, starting a new language, or trying to implement any new habit.

• Abrupt changes can derail your efforts. Be patient and enjoy the ease of how easy it is to successfully maintain your new behavior.

6. Organize your mail. When you go to the mailbox and grab your mail toss the junk mail in the trash immediately. After place the junk mail in the trash and organize the rest. Keep your bills in a centralized location, preferably where you sit while you pay them.
7. Get a little give a little. After you and your family have accumulated a certain number of toys, shoes, and clothes the clutter gets out of hand. At some point the older stuff never get used. Institute a rule that every new item results in getting rid of an old item. Donate items to charity, give them away to a friend, or sell them. It’s a good practice and will keep your home tidier. Clutter seems to drain productivity. Have you ever tried to work from home and constantly shifting your focus to housework that needed to be completed?

Life can hit you full throttle. It can seem impossible to find time to do everything that needs to be done. A couple of time managing tweaks can free up a little time for more important things.  Life can be less overwhelming and more fulfilling when more discretionary time is available.