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5 Time Management Myths That Hurt Your Productivity

Time is money, this is how you make the most of it.

5 Time Management Myths That Hurt Your Productivity

Monday January 21, 2019,

5 min Read

With a multitude of time-management tips available online, you may feel you have a good grip on things. However, what if I told you that some of those tips are myths? Points that will actually result in things becoming harder? Would you not prefer to avoid using those tips?


I understand if you have some nerves wondering about the myths that you may have used. So, I’m listing five of these myths to help you change your time-management approach.


1. The To-Do List

I’ll start with this one as it’s going to surprise most people. The idea of using a to-do list with time-management often appears, and they do work.


However, I want you to think about the downside of this list and that is the fact they are depressing. Now, you might wonder why I say that, but think about it. You create a list of things to do but we often list too many tasks. At the end of the day, you look at the list and then feel bad about the things you’ve failed to complete.


It’s because of that negative feeling that I suggest you stop using only a to-do list. Instead, I recommend having a second list where you write down the tasks you have completed. This gets around that disappointed feeling while also giving you a chance to see where you spent your time.


2. Trying To Do Too Much


With time-management, there’s a theory that you should try to complete as many tasks as possible in the shortest period of time. The idea is that it creates a sense of accomplishment. You feel that you are burning through your list, and to many it sounds like a good idea.


However, what we end up doing is spending time on tasks that cannot further our end goal. We waste time in trying to rack up a score instead of focusing on those tasks that will allow us to move forward.


I believe that you will work better when there’s a shorter list of tasks that give a bigger reward. Look at removing things that are more of a nuisance and pointless to then dedicate more time to the issues that lie at the heart of whatever you want to achieve. In this instance, quality is superior to quantity.


3. The Need To Focus


When referring to time-management approaches, there is a common thread whereby they say you must focus on your list of tasks and nothing else. Well, I’m telling you not to stress.


You must include breaks throughout your day or to even switch your focus onto something else. Concentrating on the same things leads to mistakes as does trying to battle through even when frustration strikes.


I would recommend switching off for a few minutes every hour. The other option is to take a short break after the completion of every task. In doing so, you remain fresher and will also have more energy to then get through more tasks.


4. Begin With The Hard Tasks


People argue that the best option with time-management is to start with the hard tasks. To some extent this is a good theory, but I’d like to flip things on their head.


Instead, getting started is often the hardest thing of all. Due to that point, I’d recommend starting with a few easy tasks with the help of a business like Informeo. This allows you to feel as if progress is being made. Once you feel that this is the case, it often becomes easier to complete the harder tasks due to being more mentally astute.


If you only begin with the difficult things, then it’s all too easy to become bogged down in a task. Later, you then feel that you have fallen behind. When that happens, the stress does kick in and your day can fall apart.


5. You Don’t Have Enough Hours In The Day


Another common mistake is the belief that you don’t have enough hours in the day. While this is partly true, it doesn’t have to be like that.


Instead, you must remember that the only person in control is you. Yes, you cannot add extra hours to the day, but you decide what happens and when. Believing that you don’t have enough time puts you on the back foot immediately. Also, you run the risk of defeating yourself.


Accept the limitations and plan accordingly. That’s the only way to make progress, and you will discover that there are enough hours for you to achieve great things.


As you can see, I’m attempting to get you to do things differently when tackling your time-management issues. If you have felt stuck and unable to make progress, then what do you have to lose with trying this new approach? You never know, you might discover that you prefer it.

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