As humans going about our daily lives, we find ourselves in a situation. That point where we have to balance our unlimited needs and wants with the limited time we have to pursue them.

There's a lot the average person would like to do in a day, but there's only 24 hours available to work with. One of the most common complaints people seem to have is "I don't have time".

The lack of time is often detrimental, causing people to ignore important things like pursuing their goals, or spending quality time with friends and family.

Time Is Against Us, What Can We Do About It?

While it'd be fun to hit a button and give ourselves extra hours, that's not possible. We can only learn to manage the time we're gifted with more effectively.

That being said, here's a tip or two to help you manage your time and get things done without pushing yourself to the edge.

Have A Clear Idea Of What You Want To Achieve

This is as simple as taking note of your goals and prioritizing what you want done. You can start by making a list of the tasks you want accomplished, and indicating the ones you'll work on for the day.

Create Time And Have A Working Environment

You need to make time to work on your goals.

A conducive environment that encourages productivity is also recommended. You'll work faster and be more focused if you're in an environment free of distractions.

Break Your Work Into Chunks

_{A Pomodoro Timer. Any other timer works fine too.}

Personally, I use the Pomodoro Technique invented by Francesco Cirillio. It's a system that works by breaking your work down in 25 minute chunks with breaks in between.

The Pomodoro Technique is simple and easy to understand. You can use the following steps as a guide.

Choose a task.
Set a timer for 25 minutes.
Perform the task till the time elapses.
Take a 5 minute break.
Reset the timer for another 25 minutes.
Return to the task.
Repeat steps 1-6 three to four times.
Take a longer break for 15-20 minutes.

Using this technique allows you to face your tasks in focused bursts while taking regular breaks to avoid burnout.

It's Okay To Take A Break And Do Something Else

Taking breaks is very important.

Your teachers weren't joking when they told you that "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy". Sometimes the best thing for you to do is to take your mind off work.

Working endlessly without taking time to refresh will only lead to stress, and stress does not equal productivity.

Remember you've got to maintain zen in life otherwise the struggles and frustrations of living will burn you up.

_{Avoid burnout at all costs. You don't want life to set you on fire.}

Closing Thoughts

Those are my tips for you.

Just so you know, this article you're reading was written, edited and published in the space of 2 hours using the steps I just listed above.

I procrastinated all day but when I finally got to it, I was able to get work done by taking focused steps. It works for me and can work for you if you give it a shot.

That's all for now, and about that extra time thing.

If you do find a MacGuffin that actually allows you to extend time by pressing a button, give me a call. I've got a lot on my bucket list and having extra hours doesn't sound so bad.

Until later, stay safe and stay creative.

Image credits Pixabay, DreamsTime @jacksondavies

How To Get Work Done And Avoid Burnout