Time Management Strategies for IT Professionals

If you work in tech, you know there are never enough hours in the day to complete everything. Or are there? Imagine how much time you could reclaim if you could cut out the constant din of office distractions. Here are some strategies you can use to reduce those distractions and manage your time like a pro.

Optimize Your To-Do List Every Morning

Each morning, look at your daily task list and optimize it for maximum productivity. Consider consolidating and batching similar tasks together in time blocks so you can finish one type of task before shifting gears to another. Also consider your natural energy levels. If you have more energy in the morning, schedule the tasks that require the most brainpower during those hours.

Mute Communication Channels

How many times have you had to stop what you were doing because an email pops up or an IM pings you? When you are settling in to focus on a task, close your email, mute your IMs and put your mobile on Do Not Disturb. Once you’re out of the zone, you can check your apps and phone to make sure you didn’t miss anything important. If someone has an emergency, they will walk to your desk or call your office phone, so don’t worry that you’ll miss anything.

Double-Check for Errors

Rework can be a major time suck, so before sending anything on to the next team member, conduct a close check for errors so it doesn’t get kicked back to you. When someone sends you something, look at it right away, even if you aren’t yet ready to work on it. If you find an error or discover missing information, kick it back immediately to avoid having to scramble when you’re ready to begin the work.

Stay Out of the Gossip Mill

Nothing wastes time like office gossip, so do your best to remove yourself from that loop. It’s perfectly OK to socialize with your teammates, but if the conversation shifts to gossip, excuse yourself graciously and get back to work. Not only will this help you manage your time, it will also help you avoid a reputation as a gossip.

Find a Better Place to Work

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you will continue to feel overwhelmed by too much work, too many distractions and a culture that doesn’t support your efforts to improve time management. If you are a tech pro looking for new IT career opportunities, we invite you to contact PEAK Technical Consulting today. We look forward to helping you achieve your goals.