When we make new home habits, we often realise that everyday tasks aren't as simple as we thought. To keep on track, they involve planning and time management.
For example, the shopping. Many of us troll round the supermarket on Saturday morning, throwing random items in the trolley. We usually end up over budget, over time, and forget what we came in for!
In our heads, shopping means turning up at the supermarket. But like any successful project, it requires time for planning.
Start by breaking it down into actions.
· Meal planning.
· Budget.
· Shopping list.
· List of shops/ List of items from each shop.
· Items to take with you ie. Bags.
· Time to travel there and back.
· Time to put the shopping away.
Make a time each week to plan your tasks. Put it in your diary to ensure that it happens.
Timing.
Having divided a task into smaller actions, you can estimate the time for each one.
Use this method to gain accurate information.
· Estimate the time to complete a task.
· Time yourself doing the task and record the information.
· Schedule the accurate time in future.
It's simple but effective. Taking the time to do it is the challenging part!
Most of us underestimate how long tasks take. We often feel rushed or stressed when we don’t finish our To do list.
This exercise will increase your ability to make accurate estimates.
· Estimate the time to complete several tasks.
· Time yourself doing the tasks and record the information.
· Calculate roughly how much you underestimated for each task.
· Use that guideline to add a buffer to future estimates.
For example, you think a task takes 1 hr.
Your data says you routinely underestimate by about 25%.
You add that percentage on to ensure an accurate estimate: 1hr 25 mins
Completing these exercises can be boring and you may want to get on with the task.
However, when you schedule your time well and give accurate estimates, you become more reliable and in control of your life.
If you can't face doing this alone, get in touch and we can do it together!
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