Time Management in a Non-Virtual World
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the sudden transition into “real life”? Did you forget how to manage your time after spending months online?
Transitioning back into a non-virtual environment can feel overwhelming; everything we have been told to change about our daily lives for the past year and a half is now being reversed, and adjusting accordingly can cause discomfort. Here are some tips on how to adjust in the most efficient and comfortable way.
Plan enough time to commute. Whether you are a student or have a full-time job, you probably have not had to travel to work, class, or wherever you are expected to be. Make sure to budget more than enough time to ensure you arrive on time and to save you from any anxiety that could stem from being late.
Do not feel like you have to say yes to everything. As we transition back to in-person events, you may have the urge to jump back into everything you’ve been itching to do. While you should do the things you enjoy again, do not spread yourself too thin.
Plan accordingly. Your schedule may feel like it’s filling up too quickly. To make sure that you are fitting everything you want to in your daily schedule, try to set aside certain times for different activities. For example, set aside a certain amount of time each day specifically for work-related activities, as well as free time. Maybe plan a rough schedule for your week on Sunday to give yourself an idea of the time you have available. It is important to have a balance between time to yourself and time devoted to work and other responsibilities.
Delegate. If you can, try to share different tasks and responsibilities with others so you do not feel like anything is solely on you. Not only is teamwork often more effective, but this can relieve you of some of the stress that is caused by a particular task. No one expects you to do everything on your own, so you shouldn’t expect that of yourself!
Block out distractions. It is easy to get distracted. Whether it be the notifications on your phone or social media, everyone gets sidetracked. If you find yourself getting distracted by your phone, try putting time limits on the apps that cause you the most distraction. Go to Settings > Screen Time > App Limits. You can customize the amount of time for different apps. You can also delete apps on days you need to be most productive to avoid any distraction at all.
Guest Blog written by Caleigh Barber