The only resource that is equally given to all of us is time. And the difference between us is how we manage it.
Therefore, if you want to be successful it’s important to be a good administrator of your time. Might sound very rigid and boring but it requires creativity and enthusiasm to balance the domains of your life.
In this article, you’ll find 5 methods by which you can use your time more efficiently and with no regrets.
So, are you ready to dive in?
1. Make a list of priorities
We tend to spend our money on things that are a priority for us. I think it’s the same with time. I know that people generally work 8 hours a day and this does not mean that the family is not in the first place. Yes, we spend perhaps most of our time at work, but this is because we need to earn money to support ourselves and our family.
But after work, how do you spend the rest of the day? Our families and friends need our attention and involvement, and if we don’t build quality relationships with them, we will regret it. Also, make time for your health and passions.
Remember to invest in yourself.
Put down a list of the ten most important things for you and start doing those things. You can quickly make lists using apps like Notion. This great tool makes you more efficient and more organized.
2. Split the hours of a normal day
If we have priorities, we can plan things. The schedule is just a guide to help you manage time. I know that the days are not the same and that many factors can influence our plans. The schedule does not have to be rough, it has to be a guide, for the moments when you don’t know what to do.
What you have to do is something like: set an hour of sleep and try to fall asleep as soon as possible from the time you set. Don’t forget to sleep 6-8 hours a night 
Experts from the University of North Carolina suggest some behavioral benefits of sleep are improving our memory, restoring neural connections, and optimal emotional control (decision making and social interaction).
The next step is to make a more organized routine for the morning, it will help you to not be on run all the time. Prepare your clothes, wake up in time for what you have to do in the morning, and you will go to school/work more relaxed (Ta-da!). At the workplace try to focus on work (a good sleeping routine can help you on this) and after that allocate the remaining time to your priorities, family, friends, hobbies, and other activities.
A useful tool here can be Toggle. By using it you can track your work or other activities that you want. Just remember that it is supposed to boost your productivity, not to put pressure on you.
3. Use dead times
Now, this point makes the difference. How long does it take to get to school, or to work? Whether you are walking, you go by car, or by bus you can use that time. Listen to audiobooks or podcasts. What do you do during breaks from work or school? It’s a good time for networking, or you can take a book with you. Time is money. Don’t forget that.
4. Think about the future and act now
Think ahead. It’s good and healthy to have high goals and plans. But it’s even better to do something about them. Make a battle plan. Try to picture where you see yourself in 3 years. Then write what you can do to get there. And once you find the methods put them into your schedule.
If you do something today, you will reap something tomorrow.
Maybe you say “it’s 8 pm, I’ll start tomorrow”. We all know that story. Start today with small steps and keep doing it.
5. Eliminate bad habits
Not a catchy word, but discipline helps us to eliminate bad habits. And productivity involves order and discipline. Learn to throw away all bad habits by trying repeatedly. Don’t spend too much time on the phone looking for entertainment but start learning how to make money online instead. Don’t watch Netflix too much but start reading a book. Don’t leave the sink full, but start cleaning your house, and we guarantee you’ll feel more productive and confident.
“Be the designer of your world and not merely the consumer of it.”
James Clear
Atomic Habits, written by James Clear is a great book that can guide you on how to start building healthy habits. One interesting aspect presented in the book is that to change your habits it’s also crucial to change your environment and in the book, he explains the relationship between our habits and the environment we live in. We should evaluate our friends, the community we are part of, our university, and our workspace. Are all these people a good influence on me? Take time to answer this question, don’t just work towards your bad habits.
Before you leave
Take the advice that is useful for you. And most importantly develop a routine that allows you to work, be healthy, spend time with your loved ones and do what you like. After that keep doing it and develop it.