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Time management is always my number one focus. It's important to prioritize learning and setting aside time to get your work done. You do not want to always wait until the last minute to doing things. They never show your full potential and can lead to anxiety thinking about assignments.

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Finding a way to cope when things gets stressful can be the best thing. Learning how to relax and handling the pressure can help you keep pushing at times you just want to give up.

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Study tips can be great in teaching you different techniques to remember important information. Every one is different and will retain information differently, tips on studying could help reengage the student in the learning process.

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Getting in to a steady flow can help you stay focused and prepared for anything that comes your way. This can prevent student from feeling overwhelmed

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A Reference Guide to Time Management Skills

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This reference guide will link you to dozens of articles about time management skills. Improve your own skills now!

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There are only 1,440 minutes in a day. Regardless of what fills those minutes, everyone only has a set amount of time in which to get things done. Managing time is not about finding or creating more time during your day. It's about accomplishing the most important tasks in the most efficient amount of time, so you can spend more time doing the things you enjoy.

How to Become More Productive: The Problem of Time Management

When it comes to problems in managing time, most fall into one of two equally fallacious trains of thought: "I have so much to do, but I have so little time in which to do it," or "I have so much time, I can do it later." No matter which of these traps applies to you, you face the same ultimate problem: the idea that time can change. The first chapter will focus on helpful theories on time management and how to become more productive; these theories will provide a solid foundation upon which later chapters can build.

The problems associated with poor time management skills can't all be solved with simple tips. The challenge for most people is developing a clear understanding of what time is and how it gets used. The things you believe about time will guide your understanding of how to use it, and in turn, how you ultimately spend time each day.

Thankfully, some modern theories will help you gain a better understanding of time and how to effectively manage it. There are three theories about time and time management that stand out from all of the rest, helping people develop stronger skills and prioritize more effectively. The three theories covered here are Pickle Jar Theory, the Pareto principle, and Parkinson's Law. These theories each encourage thinking about the time you spend in a different way, rather than as a generic resource that counts down.

Pickle Jar Theory - The Cost of Small Time Consuming Tasks

The Pickle Jar Theory illustrates how relatively unimportant tasks or commitments can easily take up much of a person's time. Filling one's day with small trivial tasks that are not important prevents one from using that time to complete larger or more important tasks and projects.

The theory uses a pickle jar and its contents to represent time management. The inside of the pickle jar represents a person's time, and all the different tasks and commitments that take up that time are represented by rocks, pebbles, sand and water that are placed into the jar.

Rocks are the important things that require immediate, significant attention, and produce a huge benefit when they are accomplished.

Pebbles produce a benefit, but they are not as important as the tasks represented by the larger rocks.

Grains of sand signify small, time-consuming tasks that are relatively easy to do but are of little importance, filling in the leftover space. Things like text messages, constant email checking, and idle chit-chat all take time, but generate little benefit.

The final component, water, fills in what little space remains, and represents the tasks and idle moments that fill all the remaining space.

The key to using the Pickle Jar Theory is to be aware of which tasks are "rocks," providing large benefits and requiring immediate attention. Once you know which tasks are "rocks," you can turn your attention to the "sand," paring it away to make room for more rocks. Various techniques can be used to diminish the number of grains of sand in the jar.

This resource discusses a technique known as batching. Batching is a way to combine many small tasks into one block of time, such as reviewing one's email inbox only once or twice each day instead of four times an hour, leading to less time wasted on "sand." Techniques like batching, however, rely on an understanding of the Pickle Jar Theory. Being able to determine which tasks are unnecessary "sand" will allow you to focus your attention on the "rocks" and "pebbles."

Pareto's Principle: The 80/20 Rule - Focus on the Tasks with the Greatest Benefit

The 80/20 Rule is similar to the Pickle Jar Theory, in that it suggests people can work smarter by concentrating on the important things from which they derive the most benefit. Activities that reap the greatest benefit, represented by the rocks in the pickle jar, are the 20% of the activities that should consume 80% of your time in the 80/20 rule.

Economist Vilfredo Pareto observed that 80 percent of the wealth in his native Italy was held by 20 percent of the population. You might conclude that a theory regarding wealth distribution in a single country has nothing to do with time management, but the relationship between 80% and 20% holds true in several other areas as well, including time management.

The 80/20 rule, in its broader form, says that a small number of causes is responsible for a large percentage of the effect, in a ratio of about 20:80. In time management, you will often find that 20% of your tasks generate 80% of the results, or that 20% of tasks absorb 80% of available time. By finding the ideal 20% of your tasks to spend 80% of your energy on, you can avoid wasting time or effort.

Parkinson's Law - Reduce the Time Assigned to Each Task

Parkinson's Law is simple and straightforward: the time required to complete a particular task will expand according to the amount of time it is allotted. Giving yourself less time to do something will lead to faster completion. Slowly reduce the time allotted for any given task, and eventually you'll find the sweet spot in which it gets completed without feeling rushed. Like the other theories, this changes the way you approach using your time, illustrating that less time can lead to better, more effective work.

Cyril Northcote Parkinson was a British author who once observed this phenomenon firsthand. Assigning two hours to complete a task that could be completed in less than one hour will result the two hours being consumed anyway, but with the excess hour spent on planning, worrying, and agonizing. People will almost always fill all assigned time, but what they fill it with changes if they have too much excess.

Interested in testing the theory? Try allocating half as much time each morning to a mundane task like checking your email. If necessary, set a timer. You will likely find yourself dealing with each item in your email account's inbox a little faster. At the end of the time, look at how much you accomplished in the time you set. The odds are good that you'll exceed your own expectations.

Before you go too far congratulating yourself for a job well done, try cutting the time again the following day. As you continue to allow yourself less time, you will likely begin prioritizing only those emails that actually matter, skimming subject lines and dumping spam, advertisements, or other meaningless messages. Your attention will zero in on the most important emails that must be addressed immediately.

This exercise helps people pare away unnecessary worrying, planning, and frivolousness, finding the tasks that truly need to be completed. Parkinson's Law should help you maintain awareness of the truly necessary time to complete any task or project. Try allowing yourself a little less time than you think you need; the odds are good that you'll only need the time you set aside.

Productive Techniques to Transform the Way You Work

A Google search will yield more than 42 million results for time management tips, so simply finding a system or a helpful tool is easy. Before you download the latest program or application that promises to turn your computer, smartphone, or tablet into an instant time management tool, though, look at the way in which you work and make time management decisions. Consider what changes really need to be made to become more productive.

Ultimately, your goal is to make better decisions about the way in which you use your time. Transforming the way in which you work takes a commitment from you, but the biggest impact you'll make comes not from the system you choose, but from a few simple steps you take that don't involve any system at all. These techniques are the 20% of your adjustments that will get you 80% of the results you want to be more productive.

Clear Your Head - Getting Rid of Those Annoying Reminders

Clearing your head provides some structure for all the tasks you need to do, and makes everything else that much easier. The first step in the head-clearing process is to create an "inbox," allowing you to collect and sort all the things bouncing around in your mind. Sorting tasks does not require the task to be completed; rather, you start by putting the items currently locked in your psyche into an inbox to unclutter your mind. Once freed of the clutter, your mind is clear when you start completing important tasks.

Most people have many tasks bouncing around in their head all at once, with no sense of priority or gravity. These tasks range from getting the car washed to sending out multi-million dollar contracts to take your company to the next level. If you do not have a system in place that you trust to remind you when things need to be done, your mind will essentially create one on its own, reminding you of the importance of varying tasks from moment to moment.

Unfortunately, the system your mind creates on its own is completely arbitrary. These reminders do not always come at appropriate times, leading to increased stress and feelings of helplessness. Your mind may helpfully remind you of your need for a car wash, in the above example, while you sit at your desk at work making important phone calls regarding those contracts. The car wash, of course, is an impossibility at that moment, and thinking about the car wash doesn't get your car any more washed. Instead, these thoughts divert your attention from the phone call, leaving you without important details or repeatedly asking for clarification.

Clearing your head of the "stuff," as author David Allen refers to anything that requires your attention, is the first step in an effective time management method called "Getting Things Done." According to Allen, the stuff taking up space in your mind is just like the data that piles up in the RAM of your computer. Eventually, the RAM can't cope and it starts slowing down; your mind, without a system for organizing the "stuff," will do the same.

Getting rid of the clutter starts by creating an inbox into which you may transfer it. An inbox can be an expandable folder, a loose leaf notebook, a program on your computer, or an application on your smartphone or tablet. Any format you choose for your inbox will work as long as it is one that you will use and which you are confident will remind you of tasks that need to be done when they need to be done. Your mind no longer needs to keep the car wash in "active memory," as you are certain you'll be reminded of anything important the next time you open your notebook.

Remember that the purpose of the inbox is to get the clutter out of your mind. It has to be a place you know you will use on a daily basis for it to be effective in changing how you store tasks.

Batching the Inbox - Systematically Handling and Organizing the Inbox

The key to David Allen's GTD approach to time management and productivity at work is to transfer the stuff in your mind to a safe place. A safe place is nothing more than a spot in an organized system in which you have confidence that you will be reminded when a task or commitment requires your attention.

Processing the items that you place into your inbox begins with identifying an item as being actionable. If an item is actionable, there are three things you can do with it:

The two-minute rule: If it will take less than two minutes to complete, then it should be done right away while you are processing the inbox. Handling these small, quick tasks gets them out of the way and prevents them from getting in the way of more important things.

Delegate the action: Some tasks can be delegated to other people for completion. Actions that are delegated make their way to a list composed of items waiting for something in in order for them to be completed. For example, if you have delegated the writing of a report to another employee who needs additional information in order to complete it, the item goes on your waiting list.

Defer the action: Tasks that cannot be completed within two minutes go to your calendar or to a tickler file while you finish emptying your inbox. This allows them to be tracked in a reliable manner. If the item is one that you will be getting to in the near future, then it can go on an action items list.

Emptying your inbox at regular intervals means tasks and commitments are stored in places within your system that will keep track of them and alert you when they require attention. Freed of the stuff that had overtaken your mind, you are free to relax and focus on the tasks at hand.

Bite Size - Break Projects Down to Improve Completion

A frequently encountered challenge that can make time management for students and business professionals difficult is the big project. Assume that your professor just gave the class an assignment to write a 15-page report on five battles of the American Civil War. The thought of writing 15 pages about anything might be enough to convince you to put the report aside in favor of updating your Facebook page, but let's take a closer look at the assignment.

Projects should be broken down into smaller, manageable pieces. Instead of thinking about the task as one requiring you to write 15 pages, break it down into five reports of three pages on each of the five battles. Set up a schedule for completion of each section of the report, and before long you will have 15 pages to submit to your professor.

The problem with most tasks is that they are intimidating and drive people toward smaller, less intimidating ones. Those distracting, but easily completed tasks usually are less important than the task that is being avoided. Dissecting the big task into smaller pieces makes it more likely to get done. One of the more effective time management techniques is to reduce the task into segments that can each be completed in about the same amount of time as the distraction.

Size, when it comes to tasks, is relative, so this approach applies to tasks of any size. You might decide to push aside a task that will take 15 minutes in favor of one that you can complete in two minutes, but a 15-minute task might be a tempting diversion if you have a project to complete that you know will take at least a couple of hours.

Review and Planning

Setting time aside each day to review what you have accomplished and what remains to be done is one of the most important time management skills that you can implement into your routine. Review time allows you to reflect on how well your time management system is working for you. You can then develop and implement changes to make the system work better for you.

Developing time management skills begins with a review of the tasks that require your attention and proceed to planning the most efficient way to accomplish them. The large project that you broke down into smaller, more manageable chunks must be looked at to determine the best way to take on each segment of the project in order to meet the larger goal of completing the entire project.

Reviewing the best order in which to address each segment so each completed task transitions smoothly into the next one allows you to prepare for each stage. It also helps you to avoid beginning one stage of a project only to discover that its completion depends upon completion of another stage that is not scheduled to begin until later.

Weekly Tracking of Tasks

Placing all of the segments of a project onto a weekly tracking sheet or a weekly calendar allows you to view your project's progress. Monthly planning probably works better for projects or tasks that involve multiple steps performed over more than a seven-day period. Monthly planning gives you the big picture, but weekly planning gives you more control over the segments of time allotted for each portion of the project.

Through weekly planning, you learn an important lesson in time management strategies: Things do not always work out the way in which they were planned. If you find that the time you allocated for a given task is far less than the amount of time actually needed to complete it, you can correct the time allotted to similar tasks in the future. One reason for such a time discrepancy is a natural tendency on the part of most people to overestimate the amount of future time available to them and underestimate the amount of time needed to complete a given task.

Daily Review

One of the many tips on time management is the recommendation that you get into a daily routine of reviewing your time management plan. Daily review of your plan allows you to make corrections before minor issues become major problems and will help you be more productive.

Begin each morning with a review of the tasks from your weekly or monthly schedule that you want to accomplish during the day. Schedule each task in 15 minute segments with the most important tasks slotted for completion early in the day when you are most alert. During the course of the day, take a break each hour to take a minute to review what you have accomplished up to that point in the day. If you do not believe that you have been productive, then review the balance of the day's schedule and make adjustments as needed to improve upon your productivity.

Before quitting for the day, take a few minutes to review all that you have accomplished during the day. Determine what adjustments, if any, to your weekly plan will allow you to be as or more productive tomorrow.

Building a Productive Work Environment

You can follow all of the tips on time management mentioned up to this point in this guide and still not experience an increase in productivity if your work environment is holding you back. A cluttered workspace, noisy coworker, or poor-quality chair can have an effect on your productivity.

Studies have shown that interruptions from phone calls, friends or coworkers stopping by to talk, or even the buzzing of your cell phone alerting you of a call are enough of a distraction to affect your ability to perform tasks. Distracted students were affected enough on tests they took as part of one study to drop from a passing grade to a failing one.

People who are interrupted do not immediately resume the task on which they were working. Instead, most interruptions result in tasks being added to a to-do list, so time is lost not only to the interruption itself, but also to the ensuing tasks. Developing a set of time management tools should include ways to avoid some of the common sources of distractions.

Streamlining Your Workspace

Clutter is the enemy of productivity. The time spent looking through a pile of papers and other miscellaneous items on your desktop for a pen to write down a telephone number cannot be recovered. Clear your workspace by labelling four boxes as "trash," "filing," "return," and "keep." Items you no longer need, use or want go into the trash box to be thrown away or recycled. Papers making their way into the filing box should be filed away where they belong. The return box is for items that you got from someone or someplace else and never returned. Now is the time to return them. This will leave you with only the things that are essential to your work.

A workspace free of clutter offers fewer distractions. It also makes it easier to get access to the items you need to do your work.

The Effects of Ergonomics and Aesthetics

Few people associate the furniture, wall color, or lighting in their workspace with the question, "What is time management?" Studies have shown, though, that your productivity can be affected by the surroundings in which you work.

Artificial light, such as that given off by fluorescent bulbs, has been linked to a disruption in the nighttime sleep patterns of workers. Workers exposed to natural light proved to be more rested and more productive. Similar findings regarding productivity were found in workers exposed to certain colors. Offices painted in yellow proved to generate more productivity than those painted in neutral gray tones.

Some simple adjustments that you can easily make within your workspace can make a big difference in how well you perform. For example, a desk chair that is too high or too low can cause unnecessary strain on your neck, back or wrists if you are working on a computer. A computer monitor set too close to you might promote eyestrain and limit the amount of time you spend working.

If you do not feel comfortable sitting at your workspace, try placing a couple of books under your feet to slightly elevate them. This will cause a slight change in your posture to lessen back and neck pain and fatigue.

Interruptions - How to Stop People from Talking to You

The people in your life can be a distraction, especially if your workspace encourages regular visits. Keeping them at bay can be difficult, but there are a few steps you can take to gently let them know that you are busy.

Wearing Headphones - Listening to music through headphones or earbuds can serve two purposes: Music helps some people to focus on their work, and co-workers, relatives or friends tend to avoid striking up a conversation with someone who they think is engrossed in listening to music. If music is a distraction for you, put on the headphones anyway. Even without music, a good pair of headphones can block at least some of the ambient noise, and will discourage people from lingering in your workspace.

Turning Off Notifications - Notifications are a distraction even if you do not stop to check your email, text message, Twitter, or instant messages. Putting your cell phone on vibrate might not avoid the distraction of a vibrating phone rattling on your desk. If your phone has a do not disturb feature that allows the phone to remain on, but it eliminates sounds or vibration notifications until you turn the feature off, consider using that instead. Messages will still be there when your task is completed.

Handling Friends and Co-Workers - If you must work in close proximity to other people, interruptions are inevitable, but there are ways to minimize them. When someone approaches your desk or workspace to talk to you, rise from your chair and remain standing to discourage the other person from sitting down. Telling the person that you are in the middle of working on a task that must be completed is not being rude if done in a polite manner, especially if it is accompanied with the assurance that you will get back to the person as soon as you are done.

Technology and Time Management

Whether technology allows users to save time or waste time is hotly debated, and as new technologies emerge, the debate always returns. It was not that long ago that people waited days or weeks for a written response to a letter to arrive by mail. Today, people get upset if they have to wait more than a couple of minutes for a response to a text message or an email.

New technology often adds new tasks or commitments to your already busy daily routine. You can take steps to make technology a part of your time management strategies, and use it to further develop your productivity skills. Here are a few examples of applications or programs that you and your team can use to manage tasks:

https://www.producteev.com/ - Task Management for Teams: This smartphone application provides a simple way for you to share information about and manage tasks associated with multiple projects.

https://www.getflow.com/ - Team Tasks: Users of this application can manage projects and track, delegate, discuss and store tasks associated with them from a smartphone, tablet, or computer.

http://www.any.do/ An easy to use mobile manager for your to-do lists that syncs between devices and platforms through cloud storage.

http://www.rememberthemilk.com A catchy name for an app that allows you to take your to-do lists with you on your favorite mobile devices. You can manage your lists, get reminders when things are due, and search your lists.

https://www.wunderlist.com This easy to use to-do list application for your smartphone or tablet lets you create, manage, share, and sync lists across different platforms.

https://www.gmail.com/mail/help/tasks/ Create and track task lists from Google Mail and Google Calendar from your computer or mobile device. Add something to your to-do list with a keyboard shortcut in Google Mail, and keep track of it with Google Calendar.

Many other applications, such as Evernote and TickTock, can also help you manage your tasks and projects. No matter which application you use, however, it must dovetail with your overall strategies for better time management. A complex task management application or program might have many valuable features, but if you do not feel comfortable working with it, consider using one of the myriad other programs available instead. Remember, the purpose of a task manager is to help make your life less complicated, so find something that reduces the complexity in your life rather than adding to it.

Reduce Interruptions

The distractions and interruptions that you encounter throughout the day can go unnoticed, leaving you wondering where your time went by the end of the day. It can be even worse if you are in charge of a team, as you will need to track the productivity of team members as well as your own. Fortunately, these programs and applications will allow you to track time usage, improving your ability to manage your resources.

http://www.timedoctor.com : This application keeps track of the websites and applications you use and visit each day. It can also be used to keep track of how other members of your team are using their time during the day. Its online and email reporting feature provides managers with information they can use to help members of their team make better use of the time spent working at the computer.

https://www.rescuetime.com: This program runs in the background on your computer or mobile device to track the time you spend on websites and applications throughout the day. It offers you a detailed report of how your time is spent, so you can adjust your work habits to use your time more efficiently.

https://www.toggl.com: This app does a lot, but it is simple to use. You can create a task, break it down into segments, track your time, and much more from a computer or mobile device with the convenience of cloud storage.

http://pomodorotechnique.com: A app that breaks your work sessions into 25-minute segments with built-in breaks. The timer feature alerts you when it is time for a break. A planning feature gives you a place to record tasks in a to-do list.

http://visitsteve.com/made/selfcontrol/: Offered through VisitSteve.com, the website of designer Steve Lambert, SelfControl allows users to block emails, Facebook, or Twitter without interfering with access to other websites. A great way to avoid the temptation to check your Facebook status in the middle of completing an important task.

http://www.getconcentrating.com: This Mac-based program costs $29, but the price brings you a tool with which you can create activities and have the apps you need to complete them launch automatically at a pre-established time. It also allows you to set websites that you want to block while you are working.

http://iamfutureproof.com/tools/awareness/: This program gives you a gentle reminder about how long you have been working at the computer with the sound of a Tibetan singing bowl. It's a subtle hint that break time has arrived.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/dd492018.aspx: Turn off the annoying security alerts that can be a distraction when you are trying to concentrate on a task. Technet explains how to configure Windows to eliminate the alerts and system messages.

http://anti-social.cc: The name says it all. This app lets you target and block distracting websites that might prevent you from concentrating on completing your tasks. Unlike other apps that perform the same function, Anti-Social works on a time that prevents you from turning it off during the programmed work period. By preventing you from accessing the websites, the program forces you to remain focused on the tasks you need to accomplish.

http://www.cnet.com/news/how-to-turn-off-notification-center-in-os-x-mavericks/: This online magazine offers tips for iOS users on how to control security and system alerts on your Apple device. Avoiding even the momentary break in concentration that these alerts create can make you more productive.

Time Wasting Behaviors You Need to Stop

Multitasking - You probably know someone who boasts of having the ability to do multiple tasks at the same time. You might even be one of those people. Researchers have concluded that what you perceive as multitasking is really task switching. Instead of doing two things simultaneously, your brain is actually switching between the tasks, but it does so at such a rapid pace that you do not realize it is happening.

In truth, multitasking is hurting your efforts at managing time. You work more efficiently, and spend less time on tasks, if you focus on a single task at a time rather than splitting your attention.

Working Without Breaks - What is time management? The answer might include forcing yourself to take breaks from working on your tasks. If that sounds odd, there is evidence to support the theory that working nonstop to complete an assignment reduces your concentration and increases fatigue. Breaks allow you to get away from your workspace and the task at hand to replenish your cognitive energies.

Breaks should be a part of your to-do list when planning your day. Don't wait until you feel exhausted. A break that is built into your schedule makes it easier to restore your focus and concentration because you do not start the break with depleted levels of energy.

Do not use breaks as an excuse for avoiding work, though. Too many breaks are as bad, if not worse, than taking no breaks at all.

Failing to Stop and Think - Completing tasks and assignments is not all about doing. Planning, preparation and thinking are important parts of accomplishing everything on your to-do list. Getting your thoughts together before you begin to work, and stopping periodically to take a deep breath and reorganize those thoughts, improves the quality of the work and increases productivity.

Demanding Perfection - Managing time does not mean being sloppy or producing a finished product that you know is flawed. It is about completing a task efficiently and in accordance with the standards and goals set for it. A person striving for perfection wastes time. Perfectionists never get to the point where they can step away from a task by declaring it to be completed.
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Additional Resources on Managing Time Better

There are many books and online resources to help you in manage time. No one resource will have all the answers for your time management challenges, so take your time to find the resources and the methods that work best for you.

Time Management Books

1. Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity: in which author and coach, David Allen, offers a method for time management that starts by having you clear your mind of the clutter preventing you from accomplishing tasks and commitments

2. Time Management from the Inside Out: The Foolproof System for Taking Control of Your Schedule-and Your Life" in which author Julie Morganstern leads readers through the development of a time management method customized to their own comfort levels

3. The Now Habit: A Strategic Program for Overcoming Procrastination and Enjoying Guilt-Free Play" is written by psychologist Neil Fiori who offers advice on avoiding procrastination and perfectionism to become more productive and efficient

4. Focus: A Simplicity Manifesto in the Age of Distraction by Leo Baubata is about how a lack of focus prevents us from accomplishing things. He details methods that will teach you how to focus more on essential things.

5. The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less: revisits the Pareto 80/20 Rule, but author Richard Koch applies it to principles of time management. Koch explains how only 20 percent of what you do actually accounts for much. The book demonstrates how focusing your attention on the 20 percent can lead to better productivity.

Online Resources

1. http://www.princeton.edu/mcgraw/library/for-students/effective-time-management/

2. http://lifehacker.com/tag/how-i-work

3. http://www.43folders.com/

4. http://fourhourworkweek.com/category/protecting-personal-time/

5. http://www.entrepreneur.com/topic/time-management

6. http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sk/time.htm

Sources:
http://www.princeton.edu/mcgraw/library/for-students/effective-time-management/
http://blogs.hbr.org/2011/01/the-best-way-to-use-the-last-f/
http://blogs.hbr.org/2009/07/an-18minute-plan-for-managing/
http://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/review-your-goals-weekly.html
http://lifehacker.com/5641578/top-10-ways-to-organize-and-streamline-your-workspace
http://99u.com/articles/17437/the-perfect-workspace-according-to-science
http://www.forbes.com/sites/drewhendricks/2013/11/05/5-small-workspace-changes-that-will-make-you-more-productive/
http://blogs.hbr.org/2012/09/workers-put-those-headphones-on/
http://lifehacker.com/5895509/train-your-brain-for-monk-like-focus
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/05/opinion/sunday/a-focus-on-distraction.html?_r=1&
http://www.yast.com/time_management/science-task-interruption-time-management/
http://lifehacker.com/5869367/how-do-i-stop-my-coworkers-from-distracting-me-while-im-trying-to-work
http://www.krausepm.com/resources/documents/00023210.PDF
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creativity-without-borders/201405/the-myth-multitasking
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/17/jobs/take-breaks-regularly-to-stay-on-schedule-workstation.html?_r=1
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"Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony." ~Thomas Merton
As a Libra, my sign is the scale, which signifies balance. I'm not sure how much my "signage" plays into my desire to live a balanced life, but I do know that the more balanced I feel, the more free I feel.

In my work I am often reminded that what works for some people does not necessarily work for others, and that one person's idea of balance may not constitute anything remotely balanced from another person's perspective.

So I wanted to address the various elements of life that can require balancing and offer some suggestions to find the mix that works best for you.

To start, what does it mean to be balanced?

To me, it means that you have a handle on the the various elements in your life and don't feel that your heart or mind are being pulled too hard in any direction. More often than not, you feel calm, grounded, clear-headed, and motivated.

How do you find your balance?

The elements in life that require the most balancing can be divided into two categories: internal and external. Oftentimes, people focus on one more than the other.

For example, you may find that you focus on external things, like work, relationships, and activities, and that you pay very little attention to what is going on inside your heart and mind.

On the other hand, you may find that you spend so much time being self reflective that you sometimes miss out on the experience of living.

Other people may be fairly balanced between the two but might want to balance out some specific elements within each category, so I created this little outline to help us better understand the beneficial components on both ends of each spectrum.

Internal (Mind, Heart, Health)

Mind: Challenging yourself intellectually vs. creating opportunities for your mind to rest

Heart: Giving love vs. receiving love

Health: Eating, drinking, exercising properly vs. resting. and treating yourself to some extra yummies

External (Work, Social, Family, Fun)

Work: Pushing yourself to achieve goals vs. seeing the bigger picture and enjoying the ride

Social: Satisfying your social desires vs. taking time for yourself

Family: Fulfilling your familial responsibilities vs. creating healthy boundaries

Fun: Allocating time for things you enjoy doing vs. making sure you don't overdo it

As you can see, both ends of each spectrum are actually positive; but if either side is taken to an extreme, something that is intended to be positive can end up being detrimental.

It's helpful to check in with yourself to see if you feel balanced.

If you feel pulled in any one direction and uneasy about it, these steps may help you get your life aligned:

1. Acknowledge.

Take some time to really look at your life, your state of mind, and how you're feeling. Be honest with yourself and notice the areas of your life that you're neglecting.

2. Examine.

Notice if you're leaning more toward an internal or external focus, or if there are areas within each category that you would like to be more balanced.

3. Set Goals.

Look at the outline to help you decide which ways you want to balance your life. Make a list.

4. Plan Tasks.

Make a list of daily, weekly, and monthly tasks that you will need to do to achieve each of these goals. What have you tried in the past? Did it work? If not, what can you do differently?

5. Reflect.

What is the most important thing you've accomplished in the past? How did you stay focused toward this goal? How did you handle your fears, doubts, anxieties, worries, and negative self-talk? How does it feel to know that you accomplished the goal in spite of these parts of yourself?

6. Prepare.

What is your inner "stuff" that will try to keep you from sticking to your plan (fears, worries, doubts, negative self talk)? Can you specify the things you will say to yourself to push you off track? (For example: "Just one more bite, I'll start eating better tomorrow.") Make a list.

7. Empower.

What do you need to remember in those times? What are things you can say to that self-sabotaging part of yourself? Be kind to yourself. Balance won't feel good if you're cruel to yourself in creating it!

8. Connect.

Is there a person or a tactic you can use to keep yourself supported, motivated, and focused in those hard times? I highly recommend connecting and sharing your inner process with someone. Find someone who can help you challenge your inner demons, and celebrate your little accomplishments.

Just like accomplishing any goal in life, it takes time and effort to overcome your habitual patterns and create new ones. If you stay on track with this detailed and intentional process for three whole months, then there is a good chance you will create new habits to enjoy a more balanced life going forward!

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How to Create a Balanced Life: 9 Tips to Feel Calm and Grounded

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When you create a balanced life, you feel calm, grounded & motivated. If you feel pulled in any one direction, these steps may help get your life aligned.

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Although "work-life balance" is hardly a new concept, employees everywhere continue to debate how best to achieve it. For millennials, a generation that's grown up with smartphones and can work remotely even from vacation in the Adirondacks, perhaps the better question is whether work-life balance is even possible.

In the debates around managing personal and professional responsibilities, the only certainty is that no single technique works for everyone. The key is finding out what's most important to you-in your career as well as in your personal life-and making sure you prioritize it in your daily schedule. The tips below are designed to help 20- and 30-somethings (or anyone) navigate the beginning stages of their careers without letting health, relationships, and happiness fall by the wayside.

What's the Deal?

As the American workforce becomes increasingly mobile, the line between our work and our personal lives is often blurred. Nearly half of American workers have jobs suitable for part-time or full-time telecommuting (aka working from somewhere outside the office). That means more people are checking work email at the dinner table and typing up project reports in their pajamas. In fact, the physical separation between our work and our personal lives (aka an office building) may be somewhat outdated. One survey found that as many as 70 percent of college students believe it's unnecessary to be in an office regularly.

For younger workers, these relaxed boundaries may actually be desirable. When they look for a job, many millennials say flexibility (in terms of where and when they work) is especially important. That's possibly because employees in this age bracket want the freedom to develop relationships and pursue personal hobbies: Research suggests millennial workers place a higher value on being able to spend time with friends and family than Boomers (people born between approximately 1946 and 1964) did when they were younger Millennials in the Workplace: A Communication Perspective on Millennials' Organizational Relationships and Performance. Meyers, K.K., Sadaghiani, K. Journal of Business Psychology, 2010 Jun;25(2):225-238.. Likewise, millennials are less likely to define themselves by their careers Millennials in the Workplace: A Communication Perspective on Millennials' Organizational Relationships and Performance. Meyers, K.K., Sadaghiani, K. Journal of Business Psychology, 2010 Jun;25(2):225-238..

But flexibility in the form of having constant access to work email and never technically "clocking out" for the day can have some negative repercussions. Research suggests it's important to take breaks from professional demands and to recover from a busy workweek in order to reduce stress Relationships between work-home segmentation and psychological detachment from work: the role of communication technology use at home. Park, Y., Fritz, C., Jex, S.M. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 2011 Oct;16(4):457-67..

Unfortunately, there's no one "right" approach to balancing work-related and personal commitments. For those worried about whether, where, or how to draw the line between work and play, follow the practical steps below to create a life that's all-around fulfilling.

Your Action Plan

Sometimes achieving a better balance between work and the rest of our lives is a matter of tweaking our 'tude, like accepting that we can't do or have everything. Other times the solutions are simple (think keeping better records of how you actually spend your time or relocating the laptop outside the bedroom). Whatever your challenges with work-life balance, these 15 tips are bound to help you enjoy every day to the fullest.

1. Pick and choose.
One of the hardest parts of achieving work-life balance is recognizing that we'll never have it all. That is, we'll never make it to every social event while also working extra hours and making home-cooked meals every night. Once you've decided which responsibilities and relationships you find most important (see number two), it's all about prioritizing. So cut yourself some slack when it comes to other achievements in your personal and professional life, and remind yourself that you're making progress where you believe it really counts.

5. Take it day by day.
One clever tip is to combine your work and personal calendars so you don't necessarily prioritize one set of responsibilities over the other in advance. Each day, you can decide whether the staff meeting is more important than getting lunch with an old high school buddy, or vice versa.

6. Pursue your passions.
Just because you're working a lot doesn't necessarily mean your life isn't awesome. Some of us (ideally, all of us!) love our jobs, so much so that we're willing to spend hours brainstorming, emailing, and sitting in meetings. If it makes you happy to bring your laptop home and continue working after dinner because you feel like you're making a difference in the world or you simply love the work, go for it!

8. Open your options.
A growing number of workplaces allow employees to work remotely or have flexible schedules. If that possibility interests you, and if you think a new work style could make you less stressed, talk to your employer and see what you two can work out. (The worst that could happen is your boss will say no.)

9. Rock to your own rhythm.
Researchers are increasingly paying attention to the topic of chronotypes ( biological schedules that determine when we feel tired and awake), and they've found that people vary widely in terms of when they're most creative, energetic, and productive. Think about how your own abilities evolve throughout the day-if you're most alert in the mornings, try getting to the office early; if you really come alive after 9pm, consider creating a less traditional work schedule (see number eight). That way, you won't feel like you're wasting valuable time at work when you're half-zoned out anyway.

10. Reconsider your commute.
The physical trip to and from the office can be more draining than work itself. If standing like a sardine on a crowded subway is making you sick, consider moving closer to your workplace: You'll have a better attitude toward work and feel less like you're wasting a big chunk of your day. On the other hand, don't be afraid of a long commute if it means going home to a neighborhood you love and feeling happier in general.

12. Don't tear down this wall.
Working from home can be liberating, but it comes with challenges, like potentially getting distracted by the pile of dirty laundry on the floor. To avoid these issues, set up a physical boundary between work life and home life by designating a whole room (or even just a corner) as your office space. Try to keep all work-related paraphernalia and tasks contained to just this area.

14. Find fun anywhere.
These days, lots of workplaces are embracing the idea of organized fun, like bonding activities for staff members. And nearly three quarters of millennial workers say they want their coworkers to be a second family. If you enjoy the workday and the company of your coworkers, this experience in itself can count as socializing. Don't feel like you have to create "balance" by spending your weekends and weeknights doing non-work-related activities unless you really want to do them.

15. Tackle technology.
Smartphones, laptops, tablets, spaceships: All these tools are designed to improve our productivity and our lives overall. But when these gadgets make us feel like we're supposed to be responding to work emails or finishing up projects at home, we can start to get overwhelmed. On the other side of the spectrum, constantly checking our Facebook feed while at work can lead to some serious FOMO. Manage all this technology-induced stress by unplugging for a little while or by setting limits on when and where to use it.

The Takeaway

The most important thing to remember in the quest for work-life balance is that we'll never achieve perfection. There will be nights when we miss dinner with our partner because we stayed late at the office, and days when we skip a staff meeting to bring a pal to an emergency dental appointment. What matters is that we create a personally meaningful life that helps us feel happy and healthy overall.

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A Much Better Way to Think About Work-Life Balance

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Although "work-life balance" is hardly a new concept, employees everywhere continue to debate how best to achieve it. For millennials, a generation that's grown up with smartphones and can work remotely even from vacation in the Adirondacks, perhaps the better question is whether work-life balance is even possible.