How to Be Realistic About Time

Photo by Brad Neathery on Unsplash

One of the biggest mistakes people make is about time. We tend to overestimate how much we can get done in a certain period of time, and we also underestimate how much time each task is going to take.

Here are a few tips to help you become more realistic about your time.

Time Yourself

When you sit down to do a task, make note of the time you start. When you’re done, make note of the time you finish. Don’t rush to try to beat the clock; you’re trying to become more realistic with your schedule, and understanding how long each task takes before you add it to your schedule is the best way to get there. Once you have the answer and know the amount of time you’ll need for each task, add in a few minutes to account for unexpected delays. Now, when you schedule the task the next time, you’ll be able to finish it in a timely manner.

Automate or Outsource Your Tasks

Investing in technology that can do repetitive tasks and outsourcing your work are great solutions that allow you to use your time more efficiently. For example, there are programs that will automate your email responses or sequences. You can also outsource your social media scheduling and accounting duties. Figure out what you do that is repetitive and takes a lot of your time, and see if there is a way to automate or outsource it.