Learn how to better manage your time and make the most of your days

Days are 24 hours long. It doesn’t matter where you are or how fast you are moving— this will always be true. However, what you can do is learn how to manage your time in the most effective way to make the most of your days.

Good time management is often related to greater vitality, better management of emotions and better relationships with others.

How to make the most of your day

1. Plan: spending time planning your day will help you set priorities and focus on what is important. Draw up a plan for the day: devote one space to work, another for personal activities, and another for basic activities such as eating or resting.

2. Set realistic objectives: don’t include more things than you’re really capable of doing, or you’ll get stressed and discouraged. It has been shown that multitasking does not save time and that it is more efficient to do one thing after another.

3. Stay focused: avoid being distracted by what’s going on around you. You can use the Pomodoro Technique, which consists of dedicating 25 consecutive minutes to one thing (without interruptions), and then resting for 5 minutes.

If you still feel like you can’t cope, seek help to complete the task you’ve set for yourself. Delegate and look for support, which can take the mental load off your shoulders.

In addition to these tips, try to reduce unhealthy habits (tobacco, alcohol, a sedentary lifestyle) and invest your free time in more beneficial activities, like practising sport, reading or going for a walk.

“Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend”, Theophrastus.

This post is also available in: Portuguese (Portugal)