The Impact of Time Management on Career Advancement
You've just graduated, and like most recent graduates, you're eager to jump into the workforce. That's great news for you, but unfortunately it means less time for creative hobbies that may have helped bolster your skill set in college. This is a difficult reality to swallow if you are someone who loves writing and art as much as I do — not to mention how many studies over the years have shown that art has been proven to encourage brain development. So what should we do? Should we give up on our dreams and spend all day slogging away at something we hate? It's too easy to get caught in this mindset, especially when the hours fly by faster than ever before (thanks laziness!).
Efficient time management is a must for those of us who want to find the time to pursue our passions. Here are some tips that may help:
Don't Be Afraid of Your Phone
I love my phone. Actually, I love my phone. Before you start thinking I'm crazy, let me explain. I love the fact that it keeps me connected to everyone and gives me access to millions of resources without ever having to leave the couch (and all those Netflix episodes). Learning how to use your phone efficiently can be a great way to save time for creative hobbies.
When you're not on your laptop or desktop computer, your smartphone is probably one of your most used devices for web browsing and entertainment. Unfortunately, it's also one of the least efficient. With so many browser tabs open, you may often find yourself needing to navigate back and forth between apps in order to complete a task. On top of that, you may be having a hard time searching for information because you're distracted by shiny updates from Facebook or Twitter.
If you want to stay on track with your hobbies, it's important to make these apps accessible while also limiting the amount of time spent browsing on your phone. Here are some suggestions:
Use an app locker to keep yourself from being distracted by various apps and games. You can use a free app locker like Folder Lock (Android) or AppLock (Android) to prevent yourself from accessing certain apps. Set a timer to stay focused on your hobby. You can download a timer app for your smartphone like Timer (Android) or Time Timer (iOS). This way, you'll be able to set aside some time dedicated solely to your hobbies. Get rid of any potential distractions. You should never use social media while doing something important, so it's best to uninstall all social media apps before getting started on a project.
And if you really want to get serious about focusing on your creative hobbies, here are a few more tips:
Use noise-canceling headphones while listening to music or podcasts. You'll be able to drown out any sounds of distractions that may otherwise come through. Keep your office clutter-free. Clutter can be a huge distraction when you're focusing on something important. Stay away from the internet while working in your office. If you want to check emails or scroll through Facebook, do it from your laptop or desktop computer at home or at your local coffee shop . Get into the habit of making yourself work in silence whenever possible.
Use These Helpful Apps:
I've taken lots of notes about how I use my smartphone to stay productive while devoting time to creative hobbies. I've also found that some apps are better than others for working efficiently with various tasks. Here are a few of my favorites:
Collections – Collections is a great app to use for saving and organizing your own notes. It has a clean interface, so you can easily add your own pictures, text, or even doodles to summarize ideas.
Free – Google Play | iTunes Todoist – While it's not the best-looking app out there, Todoist allows you to set up tasks for yourself and share them with collaborators. You can also synchronize it with other Todoist apps or extensions that make using it from your browser easier.
Free – Google Play | iTunes Evernote – I use Evernote to download articles and other pieces of information that I find online. I can also use it to take notes in meetings or when I'm out and about.
Free – Google Play | iTunes Dropbox – Since I do most of my writing on my phone, it's important for me to save everything in Dropbox so that it's accessible from every device. Free – Google Play | iTunes
Use These Helpful Websites:
There are plenty of websites out there that can help you with time management, but these are some of the best: Toggl . This is a great website for saving your time estimations while also tracking how productive your day was.