Published: Sep 05, 2022 | Updated at: Sep 05, 2022

The pandemic has changed the way America works, possibly forever.

Research published by McKinsey in June 2022 shows that 58% of US workers can now work at least one day per week remotely. 35% have the option of working from home full time. The survey revealed that around 87% of them take that opportunity.

When you're working from home, you're free from workplace distractions. But you're confronted with a whole set of new ones. Would you like to improve your time management skills so you can show your bosses that working remotely is a good fit for you?

Let's explore how to improve your time management.

1. Create a Daily Plan

The eight hours or so in a working day can seem to stretch out in front of you like an eternity. But if you don't make a clear plan you'll never make the best use of it.

Some time management tips are negotiable. But we're going to start with one that isn't.

Every day, preferably at the end of the previous day, you need to make a simple list of all your pending tasks. Don't organize them according to importance yet. Just do a complete mind dump, writing down everything that you can think of.

Typing the list will make the next step easier. Now you're going to prioritize your list. Anything with a deadline needs to come first. 

Next, look at your diary for the day. No doubt you'll have meetings, client calls, etc already scheduled. Use your priority list to allocate time to each task, working around these non-negotiable appointments.

Be realistic and give yourself enough time to complete each task. An unattainably ambitious list of tasks will only get you down and make you feel you've accomplished nothing.

2. Don't Get Bogged Down

One of the best tips for time management is knowing when to stop one task and move on to another, even briefly.

Have you used up your allotted time for a task and still not completed it? If you can, why not leave it for a while and come back to it with fresh eyes? If you can't leave it and come back later, at least take a brief break.

This doesn't mean getting up and settling down to some Netflix for an hour. We mean knocking off a couple of smaller tasks, having a drink, or taking a short walk. Studies have shown that these kinds of breaks can make us more productive, which improves our time management.

3. Remove Distractions

If you work from home, you're surrounded by potential distractions. Laundry, dishes, cleaning, pets - the list goes on and on. It's time to take some decisive action.

Create a Defined Workspace

Even if you don't have the luxury of a home office, you can still create a defined space for work. Simple barriers such as a sheet or curtains can give you a designated place where work happens. This prepares your mind and body and creates a clear divide between home and work.

Put Away Devices

If your phone is sitting on your desk while you're working, it's going to keep calling, "pick me up!" throughout the day. 

If you can't be parted from it, at least put it on do not disturb. You can set it so that if the boss rings, the call still comes through. But it's even better to put it in another room completely if you can.

Also, keep it strictly business online. If you have entertainment or sports tabs open, it will take an iron will not to keep checking them during the day. Instead, eliminate those distractions by keeping them for outside of working hours.

Connect With Your Team

Your fellow team members can help you to stay focused on the job. When you use CRM software that brings the whole team together, communication is simple.

It's OK to admit that you're struggling. In the remote workplace, it's easy to feel a little isolated. Tasks that are not going as you'd hoped could become overwhelming and time could run away.

But that's not the case when you have CRM software that allows you to communicate instantly with your coworkers. They're there to support you and they can help you to stick to your schedule.

4. Stop Procrastinating

It's human nature to procrastinate. Every job has parts that we enjoy more than others. Here's how to overcome procrastination:

• Set priorities 
• Do the highest priority tasks first - even if you don't like them
• Don't wait to be in the right mood or for the perfect time
• Schedule your time

When you know what you should be doing every hour of the working day, it's easier to not procrastinate. The benefits include a greater sense of satisfaction, improved productivity, and better relationships with customers and team members.

5. Use CRM Software

Project management software is a vital tool for any manager with employees who work remote. The best CRM software literally gets all your workers on the same page.

Trello and Clickup are popular choices. Trello offers free CRM that can help to bring your team together. But Halsell takes this a step further.

Halsell CRM software offers:

• Customizable lists
• Clean, intuitive design
• CRM properties including business analytics and inventory management
• Affordable customer communication using VOIP
• A consolidated workspace - no need to use several apps

When your team is all on the same page, your customers benefit. You can offer a higher level of customer service even though your team is not physically in the same building. 

How does this impact time management for team members? Employees don't have to waste time searching for information in multiple places. Effective yet simple CRM systems bring all the information they need together.

It also allows management to communicate with team members and set priorities. There's no need to wonder about what you should be doing next. With clear tasks set up for you, all you have to do is provide the focus.

Improve Time Management with Halsell

These tips for time management take a little self-discipline. But once you get used to them, you'll notice your productivity skyrocket. You'll improve your time management skills, be even more of an asset to your company, and enjoy all the perks of remote work.

Give yourself and your team a helping hand by getting the best CRM software out there. Halsell can help you keep your team on track and boost customer satisfaction and retention.

Click here to start for free today!