SELF IMPROVEMENT

The 4 Biggest Time Blunders You Might Keep Repeating

Here’s how you can identify and deal with them

Time is a precious commodity, and without it we are nothing. We all want more of it — more time to spend with loved ones, more time for leisure activities, or just more hours in the day. There are plenty of things you can do to get that extra hour every day — like getting up earlier or going to bed later. But there are also some blunders people make which waste their time and cause them great frustration.

Time is what we want most, but what we use worst. (William Penn)

Here are four ways people commonly waste their most valuable resource:

1. Procrastinating

Procrastination is one of the biggest time-wasters there is. It’s the act of delaying or postponing a task that needs to be done. Sometimes it’s out of fear, sometimes it’s out of laziness, and other times it’s because we’re just overwhelmed with everything we have to do. But whatever the reason, procrastination always ends up costing us more time in the long run.

How to avoid:

1. Break the task down into smaller, more manageable parts.
2. Set a specific deadline for completing the task.
3. Find a friend or family member who will hold you accountable.
4. Remove distractions from your environment.
5. Set a specific time each day to work on the task.
6. Reward yourself for completing the task.

2. Overscheduling

Overscheduling is another big time-waster. It’s when we pack our schedules so full that we don’t have time for anything else. We often do this because we’re afraid of being bored or because we feel like we need to do everything. But overscheduling ourselves always leads to stress and frustration. We feel rushed and overwhelmed, and we’re never able to fully enjoy the things we’re doing.

How to avoid:

1. Leave some room in your schedule for spontaneity.
2. Say no to things you don’t want to do.
3. Learn to relax and take it easy sometimes.
4. Set realistic expectations for yourself.

3. Multi-tasking

Multi-tasking is often seen as a desirable skill, but the truth is that it’s actually very inefficient and can lead to mistakes. When we multi-task, we’re trying to do more than one thing at a time, and this usually leads to us doing all of them poorly. Our brains are not capable of focusing on multiple tasks simultaneously, so instead, we end up switching back and forth between tasks which wastes time and causes frustration.

How to avoid:

1. Single-task by setting specific time blocks for each task.
2. Remove distractions from your other tasks (notifications, browser tabs).
3. Set a specific goal for each task.
4. Take short breaks between tasks to relax and refocus.

4. Distractions

We live in a world full of distractions, and it can be hard to stay focused on what we’re supposed to be doing. Whether it’s checking Facebook or attending to Whatsapp notifications or answering emails, if we’re not focused on the task at hand, we’ll lose time quickly.

How to avoid:

1. Set aside specific times of day for tasks that require your full attention.
2. Turn off your phone and other electronic devices when you’re trying to focus on a task.
3. Remove distractions from your workspaces, such as piles of papers or unused gadgets.

By avoiding these common time blunders, you can make the most of your time and get more done!

What is your biggest time blunder that you keep repeating? Please share in the comments. Mine is “procrastinating.”

Copyright © 2022 Vishal Mehta. All Rights Reserved.

Let me take the opportunity to share a nice read from Michael Miles on — the biggest time-waster habit of your day!

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