Time Can Be on Your Side

Are you struggling to manage your workload?

Do you feel like you are running in circles and never getting ahead?

If so, you are not alone. According to a survey by VoiceNation, one-fifth of American employees feel the stress associated with not having great time-management skills.

Without time management, resources are not used efficiently and tasks become harder to complete. This throws off the work-life balance and increases stress levels.

Missouri has the highest degree of stress, according to this study. Followed by North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Texas, Georgia and Tennessee.

Seventy percent of total respondents in all states reported experiencing workplace burn-out due to stress. Interestingly, the largest age demographic experiencing that level of stress fell between the ages of 18-24 (77%). From a management experience, middle management followed by C-suite level managers have the most reported stress.

One path to lowering stress levels is to stop working when it’s quitting time. That means not checking emails or text messages after work hours or, at the very least, not responding to messages until the following morning. Though it should be noted, even looking at a work-related message can instantly increase your stress level. We all have had that visceral response to a work-related problem that dings in our inbox!

This stress trigger can be seen in the numbers–surveyors admitted to beginning work earlier than their start time (41%) and working past quitting time (40%).

Other considerations to improve time management include:

• One task at a time: Although some of us like to claim being outstanding jugglers, no one can multitask all that well.

• Delegation is key: Giving away tasks and projects shows the strength and trust in your team, not its weakness.

• Set priorities: Everything cannot be finished in one day. Complete the important tasks first, and then move on.  

• Do not disturb: Interruptions have to be minimized—by you.  

• Take five: Breaks are needed to allow the brain a moment of rest and to refocus. Go for a walk, and don’t work through lunch.

According to 31% of respondents, the most stressful month of the year is December. This gives you the rest of the year to focus on ways to minimize stress and improve your time-management skills before annual stress levels peak.