Do you ever feel like you’re barely getting anything done? Maybe you’re stressed out at work or you’re just not feeling your best. Although it seems like there’s never enough time in the day, managing your time and reducing stress can actually make you feel more productive.

Prioritize

The ultimate way to manage your time is to prioritize. It doesn’t matter how much time is in a day or how much you have to do, it only matters what you choose to do during that time. If you’re choosing to do unimportant things, then you’ll never have the time to do the things that are important.

So, how do you prioritize? Look at your schedule for the next week or month and ask yourself this question – “What is the most important thing I can do right now?” Once you’ve identified the top priority, then everything else can be arranged around it.

Exercise regularly

Exercising regularly can help you manage your time because it gives you something to focus on. You’ll notice that when you don’t have anything else to do, you’ll have plenty of energy left to tackle whatever else is on your plate.

Some people, especially those who are chronically busy, find it difficult to fit in regular exercise. The best way to work out if you don’t have time is to make it a priority. Commit to finding time in your schedule for regular exercise.

There are a few ways to make exercising a priority:

• Set aside specific times for work – Do the most important thing first – Learn to say no!

Do the most important thing first

It isn’t necessary to do everything that’s on your plate at the same time. In fact, it’s often better to do the most important thing first. This is because it gives you something to focus on and get done. You’ll find that you have more energy and become less distracted than if you had tried to do everything at once.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

• If you have a lot of emails to read, start with the ones that are most important.
• If there’s something that needs to be done but you have no idea where to start, start with the end and work your way forward.
• If you have a project that needs to be completed but you have no idea where to start, start with the end and work your way forward.
• If there’s something that needs to be done but you have no idea where to start, start with the end and work your way forward.

Learn to say no

We all have things that we would like to do but don’t have time for. Learning to say no is an important part of managing your time because it gives you freedom. You don’t have to do things that you don’t want to do or that are unclear when they would benefit your schedule.

Here are some ways to say no:

• Make clear, written to-do lists that prioritize the things you do want to do.
• List the things you want to get done that week/month and organize them by priority.
• Put items on your calendar that you know you don’t have time for.
• Create a “no” list for people who consistently call you when you say no.

Find joy in the little things

It’s important to find joy in the little things because they will make the big things feel better. When you’re in a rush, you have to force yourself to do things that don’t feel good. If you find joy in the small things, then you’ll be more likely to spend your time doing the things that you enjoy.

Here are some ways to find joy in the little things:

• Look at photos or watch videos of your favorite things before you fall asleep.
• Make a list of 5 things that you’re grateful for and carry it around with you.
• Read something that makes you laugh out loud.
• Take a short break and do something you enjoy.

Bottom line

Managing your time and stress isn’t about how much time you have; it’s about making the most of the time that you have. Prioritizing what you do and how you do it will make you feel more productive and free from stress.

Don’t forget to find time for the things that are important to you and make sure you say yes to the things that matter.