Category: Time Management

Categories
Time Management

5 Tips on How to Have Alone Time (and why it’s good for you)

5 TIPS ON HOW TO HAVE ALONE TIME AND WHY IT’S GOOD FOR YOU

Most of us feel happier whenever we hang out with our friends and family. But doing it often can also drain our energy and can affect our productivity. Introverts experience this the most. When they spend too much time around other people, they end up feeling burned out and that’s why having an alone time is important.

That’s why it’s natural for them to spend time being alone to recharge and to regain their mental and emotional stability. But introverts should not be the only one doing this, every one of us can benefit from having some alone time. Here’s why:

Why Having Alone Time Is Good 

Having An Alone Time

You’ll Have Time to Think. This doesn’t mean to think about the next Netflix series you’re going to waste your time on. This means that you’ll have the time to think about what you want to achieve in life. Like your goals, plans, and aspirations. 

You will only able to truly think about these when you’re alone. Do you randomly think about your goals when eating pizza with your friends? No, right? Only some me-time will allow you to plan for your future. 

You’ll Be More Productive. If you’re working on something, spending time alone gives you the opportunity to lock in your focus. There will be no distractions like noise and comments from other people. All you have is yourself and your willingness to finish the task which will boost your productivity. 

It Helps You De-stress. Constant exposure to friends, co-workers, and social media will slowly drain you. All the information you take from these sources can build up which may result in stress. Having your me-time can help you detoxify and relax by doing your hobby or meditate. 

It Gives Us Time to Reflect and Understand Ourselves. In today’s fast-paced society, most of our time is spent with work, friends, and social media that we don’t even have a moment to think about what’s going on in our lives currently.

Alone time is the perfect opportunity for us to catch up with what’s happening with our lives. This is also the perfect time to understand ourselves better by thinking about our habits or routines and if those are helping us to become a better person. 

Now, spending time alone is quite hard for most of us. Sometimes we prefer spending time with other people or with our gadgets. Here are some tips to counter this. 

Tips on How You Can Have Alone Time

Having A Time Alone

1. Set your “me time”

The easiest way to have alone time is to set a specific time or day for it. It can be 15-20 minutes before you go to bed at night or 1-2 hours during weekends. It will depend on your schedule but setting a specific period will help you to achieve it. 

2. Pick the setting

Choosing a place where you can spend time alone is very important as it can make or break the success of it. You can do it in your room to block outside noise or pick a place you’re most comfortable with.

Other places can be in your nearby park if you want to breathe fresh air or in your local coffee shop if you want to sip your favorite latte while composing your thoughts. 

3. Ditch the gadgets

If you want to focus and utilize every minute of your alone time, you should not use any of your gadgets. Turn them off and place them away from you to avoid distractions. If you need to take down notes, use a pen and paper. Studies also say that you will remember things better when you write them down.

4. Shift your mindset

If you’re still thinking that spending time alone is being lonely, now is the time to change that mindset. Try to avoid going in with negative thoughts and be open to the benefits it will give you. 

5. Do it consistently until it becomes a habit

If you will do your alone time consistently, it will not be hard to find time for it anymore and it will become second nature to you. You will also develop techniques on how to do it better and maximize its full benefits. Try not to skip and let it be part of your routine. 

How to have an alone time

Final Note 

At first, it can be intimidating to spend time alone but understand that it’s going to take some time to feel comfortable. Just let yourself relax and let your thoughts come out. The outcome will be a fresh mind with new ideas and new learnings. Eventually, you will realize that time spent being alone is not time wasted.

Categories
Time Management

One Pomodoro Method At A Time

ONE POMODORO METHOD AT A TIME

Have you heard the POMODORO Method?

Lately, I have been wondering how I can increase my productivity. I tried different techniques and planned everything out but inevitably, I still get distracted. I ended up chasing time to meet the deadline. And it’s stressful.  

Let me guess. We’re on the same boat. You spend most of your time checking your social media accounts, watching episodes on Netflix, finishing the next level of a game, or perhaps, daydreaming, right?

Well, let’s cut the interruptions. Lessen your mistakes. Sharpen your focus. Time management is the best solution for procrastination. It’s time to head on to the real task at hand. I have discovered a helpful and effective method to get away from distractions and improve productivity.

It is called POMODORO Method.

What is POMODORO METHOD?

“Take care of the minutes and the hours will take care of themselves.” –Lord Chesterfield

Developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s, this technique is named after a tomato-shaped kitchen timer that Cirillo used. Pomodoro comes from the Italian word which means ‘tomato’. Makes sense, right? In this method, you simply need to time yourself while accomplishing your task with 25 minutes interval. Of course, you may take a short break in between those intervals. These intervals are known as Pomodoros. 

The main aim of this technique is to work without the impact of internal and external distractions. Like a tomato that gets rotten in a sprint of time, getting distracted from all interruptions around you would lead you to irreversible bad outputs and unmet deadlines. No way! That’s worse than a rotten tomato. 

How to implement this Pomodoro method?

I’ve got this 5-simple core process on how you can implement this method and get everything done. I have also integrated personal concepts on each step based on how I attained them.

1.Pick a task.

First things first, you have to know what you want to accomplish at the end of the day. Think of the tasks you want to achieve. You have to list them down, include all those stuff you have stuck in your mind that you fail to do. Don’t mind whether those are minor or major tasks. 

2. Set a 25-minute reminder

Set a timer for 25 minutes. It is the traditional and ideal time interval of a Pomodoro technique. However, it’s flexible. Scrutinize how much time your task needs. If you need more than 25 minutes, I recommend you to still follow the 25 minutes chunk and make repetition based on how much time you need. In this case, you can check on your progress when it rings each time. 

3. Work on your task until it is done

Nope. It’s not the end yet. When the allotted time is up, it’s the end of your work NOT the process. Put a checkmark on the task you just accomplished. After the completion, take the remaining 25 minutes to REVIEW your work for any mistakes and insights from a learning point of view.

  • Stay focused
    Focus and concentrate. Work on the task and keep away from all distractions. Seal your mindset on finishing the task and ignore all the interruptions. Check emails, texts, and calls after the 25-minute interval. Don’t worry about the timer. Believe that you can finish it before the bell rings. 

4. Take a 5-minute break

Boost your productivity in this technique. You’ve achieved one task. Take a 3-5 minutes break. Breathe. Relax. Do something different than your task. Then, move on to the next task on your list. Once you’re done, review put a checkmark, take a break again, work, and repeat. At the end of the day, you will be amazed by how much work you’ve completed. 

5. Every 4 Pomodoros, take a longer 15-30 minute break and Have Fun 

It’s fun to do. I swear! You will enjoy the challenge of beating your procrastination, and the urgency you build will be helpful. You will find the thrill of learning and improving on each task. Reward yourself with a longer break after 4 Pomodoros. Also, celebrate those little accomplishments and progress you make.

How will Pomodoro Method change you and what makes Pomodoro so effective?

It teaches you to work on a single task at a time rather than doing many things and failing to accomplish any. We are naturally very bad at multitasking, so when we slow down enough to do the Pomodoro method diligently, we do our tasks a lot more diligently. It allows us to work promptly and achieve our target goal. This method makes us realize the clear essence of training ourselves to be distraction-free to get things done. 

Categories
Time Management

Top 3 Calendar Apps To Plan Your Life

TOP 3 CALENDAR APPS TO PLAN YOUR LIFE

The most basic way is to have a full-proof way to ensure that your meetings, appointments, and deadlines are clear and foolproof. Check out my personally selected the top 3 calendar apps that will make life easier.

As we get acquainted with the digital realm nowadays, one significant tool you must have (and actively use) on your phone, tablet, or PC is a Calendar app. Even though I’ve always loved the tactile feel of pen and paper, the digital utility of a digital calendar is so much more practical than the analog, and you should highly consider making the switch if possible.

“Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.”
-Henry Thoreau

I’ve personally selected the top 3 calendar apps based on reviews, features, and device compatibility.

1. Google Calendar

Google Calendar App

Get it from Web, Android, and iOS.

The first one that we will discuss on the Top 3 calendar apps is the Google Calendar.

What can you do with this Calendar app? Well, it has plenty of nifty features that you can use. Above all, it’s so simple to navigate so there’s nothing to fret. You simply need to have your Gmail address to start.

You can almost do everything for your solo schedules and even for you team’s event. Quickly start by scheduling and creating an event. Then you can add guests and location as you like, write descriptions and attachments, and set up notifications. Others may send an invite to you and you can respond to them too. In addition, you may opt to manage events, get an update, check guest attendance, and delete and restore deleted events too. By the way, you can create reminders so you won’t miss them out.

If you are working with a team, then this is definitely perfect for you. Because you can share your calendar and view other’s calendars, as well. Or why not create a shared calendar for your team? You can import and export events and calendars. Be sure to maximize the use of this calendar by customizing its look and integrating other Google apps. You can open your notes in Google Keep and to-do list apps in Google Tasks too.

2. iCloud Calendar

iCloud Calendar

Download it for free on your Apple devices.

Got an iOS, iPadOS device, or Mac computer? You have this default calendar app that syncs your calendar entries in ALL your Apple devices. Or you may also log on to iCloud.com from the web to access your Apple Calendar. iCloud account is all you need. Simple, right?

This calendar is flexible that it allows you to obtain information and details from other calendar apps like Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, and many more.

It offers everything you need from a calendar with stylish and limitless functionalities. With just a tap of your finger, you can create or add an event instantly; consisting of Title, Location, detailed Schedule, Alarm, Reminder, Invitees, and even Notes and URL. More to it is the birthday notification from your contacts, email, and so on. You won’t miss out on greeting and surprising important people in your life.
Never forget Siri, though. It plays a vital role in all apple devices. Siri suggests what you might want to do next, people you previously included, or events on your Calendar. An exclusive intuitive feature that gives an extra level of closeness to users.

3. Microsoft Outlook Calendar

Microsoft Outlook Calendar


It is available for Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Web.

Make the most out of Microsoft’s Outlook with its very own Calendar. In order to keep up on the game of advancements with Google, Yahoo, and Apple, Microsoft Company upgraded its Office Suite with its key product versions. Of course, they did not disappoint us.

Connect. Organize. Microsoft Outlook gives us the powerful feels of having an intelligent management application. From email, notes, tasks, and contacts, you get to check them on your computer in a single view on this app.
Almost a ubiquitous platform to all users, Microsoft basically has this advantage to all employees and students. Work with the team by sharing your calendar with the team with privacy and use built-in Office apps. When I say privacy, you can select which information others can see. Expand your navigation. You may view your day, week, or an entire year in a glance or with multiple calendars side-by-side in one display. It allows you to multitask and be productive all throughout.

Outlook Calendar does more so you can do more every day.

What I presented is the most readily available tool and The Top 3 Calendar Apps that will make your life and career a lot easier to plan. This digital tool is just a support framework to reach your goals. Because the only way to take action is to have it scheduled in your life. Get a good grasp of features and functionalities you want to look for in your digital calendar. See if it is compatible with your device. You can write down everything to keep you organized. (If you feel overwhelmed and lost, you may also seek professional advice and support to keep you streamlined to all your personal and business ventures ahead.[keep this sentence in the sheet because I think I want to add this back on later when I have multiple services available, but not right now])

In conclusion, remember to implement concrete actions on those plans. Stay on track, even with little progress at times. Eventually, you realize that careful scheduling, planning, and organizing your target goals take you to greater heights.

Categories
Time Management

Best Practices For Effective Time Management

BEST PRACTICES FOR EFFECTIVE TIME MANAGEMENT

Here’s the harsh reality: you need to fight for your time, you need best practices for effective time management. People will always think their time is more valuable than yours if you don’t correctly outline your waking hours.

Time is something really important when you are taking on multiple projects at a time. And the lack thereof will leave you feeling inadequate and unproductive.

Making sure that your days are outlined with target tasks is what ensures that you are in control of how your days pan out. Nothing is worse than having a frantic client reach out 5 minutes before you are about to sign off for the day with an hour worth of questions. With that being said,

Here are some of my tips to ensure you have an Effective Time Management routine:

1. Set expectations upfront.

One of the best practices of time management. When you work with clients, you’re essentially playing tug-o-war with others at all times.

And when my clients come to me saying that they feel overworked and have a lack of time for their passion projects, I ask them if they’ve set any boundaries with their clients in writing. If you want people to respect your time, you need to be clear about when you are available and when you won’t be.

Your job should not be 24/7 — you need time to yourself and family.

This is not really relevant for people with day jobs (myself included). New blog coming soon about time management around your 9-to-5.

2. Set an ideal schedule to fit with your strengths.


In a perfect world, would your work day end at 3 PM? Or even 12 PM? Maybe you know you are your most creative in the AM. Or in the deep hours of the night when everyone is sleeping.

Maybe you want to spend Sundays unplugged from your computer without a worry. Whatever it is, write it down so we have a place to start strategizing.

3. Start to set systems to work with your ideals.

This is an effective way of time management. If your job is meeting-heavy but you want to only take meetings in the afternoons, then set your schedule to only allow PM meetings.

Do you need to hold consultations for potential clients and you know you are most eloquent pre-lunch slump, then only set your schedule to allow them in the mornings.

If you know you burn out if you do too many in one day, then only allow that number in a day. No one knows you as well as you know yourself. Acknowledge your limits so you avoid burn out. And the easiest way to go about it is to make your systems work in your favor.

4. Have buffers.

On paper it makes so much sense to take 4 meetings back-to-back-to-back-to-back, but we all know in practice we just want to take a nap afterward.

Allow yourself small breaks to ensure that you can recharge before jumping back in.

5. Allow time for deep work. 

Death by meeting is very possible, and I’m glad that we’re shifting toward a more concise age of information where tools like email can be used to summarize these hours of back and forth.

Set time for yourself to be able to do uninterrupted work.

For me, that is every morning between 7 AM and 9 AM. Although it is merely 2 hours, I find that I am infinitely more productive when I set that distraction-free time frame for myself to do creative work (such as writing this blog!).

6. Commit to it.

After you do all the prep work, you want to make sure that you actually do it. And the first few times will be the most difficult — if a client really wants to do something and gives you the “it’s just this one time,” you’ll feel obligated to oblige.

But if you want your schedule to manifest, you need to be very direct about committing to your new routine, and not straying outside of it within your control.