Time is a very valuable commodity. But it is up to you to get the most out of the time you have. Managing your time well also has a lot to do with the extra free time left over for the fun things in life. Do your work more efficiently with these tips.

When it comes to managing your time wisely, calendars are a necessity! Many people like to use old fashioned paper calendars to jot down notes. Others like to use electronic calendars offered by computers or smartphones. Whatever you choose, any calendar helps you get your priorities straight for better time management.

Use your time wisely. Estimate the amount of time each task will take, and set a completion time. Then you can relax, knowing that it was a job well done. If you find yourself with some unexpected time on your hands, use it on yourself or to get caught up on other things.

Add a little time into your schedule for unexpected interruptions. If you try to cream too many things into your list without any extra time between tasks, you can easily find that you fall behind quickly. Planning for interruptions can help you stay focused and on track.

If time management proves difficult, take a close look at what you are doing. Time is usually of the essence. Emails should only be dealt with in the allotted times that you set aside for them. Always paying attention to them can be distracting, and ends up diverting your attention away from more important things.

Try saying no. A lot of people stress out because they don’t know how to decline any request for help. If you’ve overextended yourself, it’s time to evaluate your itinerary. Can you give these tasks to other people? When you can, say yes to help!

Plan out your day when you get up. Make a list of the things that you want to accomplish that day. Having a schedule to meet each day helps you manage your time.

If you are working on a task, don’t pick up the phone or reply to email until you’ve finished the task at hand. These interruptions make it much more difficult to return to your task. Finish what you are doing before returning calls, texts and instant messages.

Try to remain focused on the task at hand to improve your time management. Avoid distraction by tasks that come up while working on one already. Sometimes, people try to put priorities into your time for you as you work. Say no. Complete the task at hand before accepting another one.

To help get tasks completed in a more timely manner, create a priority list with the tasks of the highest priority at the top. As you accomplish each task beginning at the top of the list, begin working on the next one down. If you cannot remember all the tasks on your list, make a copy and carry it with you.

Find a class where you can learn time management. This will give you tons of ideas on how to maintain your schedule. There are companies that place a priority on time management skills, and as such, they offer these courses to their employees. If your employer does not offer them, check out your local community college or university.

Use a journal to keep track of how you use your time so that you can manage it more effectively. For a few days, record everything you do and the length of time it takes. At the end, take a hard look at those times. You may see places where you could have been a lot more efficient.

Time is something that everyone values. When you learn how to manage things in your life better when it comes to time, you’ll have more free time for the fun things you want to do. Just follow what you have seen here and get your time in order and your life back on track.