Healthy Minds > Mental wellbeing and everyone > At Work > Killer deadlines?

Killer deadlines?

Find out how to beat the clock with our time management tips.

Too much work, too little time

One major cause of stress at work is not having enough time – you’ve got too much to do, so you skip your coffee break, miss lunch and take work home.  But have you thought about the toll it’s taking on your mind and body?

'I couldn’t get on top of things'

Brenda, 47, knows all about work and time stress.

“I was given a big research project by the boss – on top of all my regular work, and no extra time to work on it.

“It really got to me.  I procrastinated for weeks, thinking about how I’d tackle it.  I worried about it all the time.

“After weeks of dithering, I finally got stuck in two weeks before the deadline – and I had to work twelve-hour days and weekends to get it all finished.  I was a wreck afterwards.”

Manage your time

A few simple time management techniques can help you get on top of work – and if you feel happy and in control, you’ll work better, too.

1. Break up a task into small, manageable chunks, and tick them off as they get done.
2. Make a to-do list for the week, prioritising the most important tasks you have to get done.
3. Clear your desk of clutter, so that you can focus on the task in hand.
4. Work on difficult tasks when you have most energy – so if you’re a morning person, do them first thing.  Save mundane or routine tasks for when you’re feeling less energetic.
5. For a week or two, log how you spend your time in work.  You’ll be amazed at how much time you spend emailing your friends or surfing the web!  Then work out how you can minimise time-wasting activities.

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