What are time wasters?

Time wasters are activities that we do that don’t really benefit us. They can be things that we do because we feel like we have to, or because we think that we should. Sometimes they take up a lot of our time, and we end up neglecting our other responsibilities.

Time wasters can be anything from watching television to surfing the internet. They can be small things, like taking a longer than necessary break, or they can be more serious, like not completing a project. It’s important to be aware of the time wasters in your life and to eliminate them as much as possible.

12 Time Wasters You Need to Avoid in Your Life:

The following are some of the most common distractions and time-wasters that can prevent you from being successful.

1-Procrastination:

Procrastination, or putting off until tomorrow something that you can do today, is a huge time waster. Getting lazy destroys any chance you have of succeeding. The best way to avoid procrastination is to take large tasks and break them down into smaller, more manageable chunks. You can order these tasks by their importance in your professional life. After that, you can start your day by dealing with the biggest and most pressing tasks of work. It is advantageous to complete the most critical tasks when you have the most energy, which is typically in the morning. By breaking up larger projects into small tasks, you can accomplish a lot in a brief amount of time.

Related:12 Tips To Avoid Procrastination

2-Bulky to-do-lists:

Having a to-do list can really help reduce stress levels by taking the burden off of your memory for things like meetings, groceries final exams, etc…
To-do lists can also help you stay focused by drawing attention to the most crucial tasks that need to be completed.
Having a to-do list is a great way to stay organized and on top of your responsibilities. However, if your to-do list is too long, it can actually have the opposite effect. To avoid this, try to limit your to-do list to three of your most important items per day. To have a productive day, you should write down your lists the night before you go to bed.

3-Unorganized:

If you’re not organized, it’s negatively impacting your work in more ways than you might realize. Being disorganized is not only detrimental to your productivity but also makes you look unprofessional and irresponsible. Furthermore, it can add a great deal of unnecessary stress. Having systems in place to stay organized will not only give you more free time but will also reduce your stress levels.

Related:How to Be More Organized at Work ? « 15 Tips »

4-Multitasking :

We often believe that multitasking will help us save time, but most of the time it just prevents us from being able to commit to each project entirely. Jumping from task to task will not help you in the long haul!
Recent studies have found that multitasking is less effective than completing one task at a time. You might think that multitasking will help you save time, but most of the time it makes you slower. Each time you switch from one task to another, your brain takes up to 20 minutes to refocus and figure out the new thought processes required. So, not only is multitasking inefficient, it’s also ineffective.
By focusing all of your energy on one task at a time, you will be able to work more efficiently. Once you have finished the task at hand, you can move on to the next item on your list.

5-Clutter:

Clutter can be incredibly detrimental to productivity as it makes it difficult to find things and can be a general annoyance.
The way a room is decorated can greatly affect the emotions of those who spend time in it. A room with minimal decorations will usually create a feeling of peace, while a room that is cluttered or busy can be emotionally stressful.

6-Meetings:

Many meetings are a waste of time and can be quite draining. Meetings can often be a waste of time and energy if they are not planned appropriately. It is better to not have a meeting at all than to have an ineffective one.

7-Fear:

Having some fear is healthy, but when it becomes excessive, it can hold you back from taking action on things that could help you achieve your goals. Fear holds you back from achieving your dreams, but just think about how much sooner you could achieve them without it.
Fear is a natural emotion that everyone experiences. To overcome it, you must first understand it.

Related:How To Overcome Fear ? ‘ 12 tips ‘

Related:10 Tips to overcome fear and become unstoppable

8-Distractions:

Distractions come in many forms, whether it’s a notification from your phone, a knock on your office door, or a call from a relative. If you’re looking to engage in deep work, be prepared for anything.
Having a plan for your workspace and work session is key to being productive. This means turning off notifications, quitting browsing tabs, closing apps, and hanging a “do not disturb” sign if needed. Always keep in mind that it is your responsibility to guard your time and your work because no one else will.

9-Social Media:

Social media can be very beneficial if you want to network, stay current with the latest trends or reconnect with friends. If your only goal is to gossip, then social media will be a huge time waster. If you have social media sites open on your devices at all times, you’re setting yourself up for distraction and a lack of productivity. If you find that you must look at social media accounts, consider doing so during lunch break, coffee break, or while commuting, or use settings that block certain applications on your phone and computer during designated hours.

Related:8 Tips For Healthy Social Media Habits

10-Working without a plan :

You may risk wasting time if you try to work without a plan, as you’ll have to spend time figuring out what needs to be done and when. If you plan your workflow for the next day at the end of your current shift, you can easily overcome this challenge. Doing this will give you the opportunity to create a schedule that will help you achieve your objectives in the most efficient way possible.

Related:How To Plan Your Day in 15 Steps

Related:How to Maintain a Healthy Work-Life Balance In 19 Tips

11-Doing other people’s work:

A good team manager knows how to delegate tasks. By taking some of the workloads off of your own shoulders, you can get more things done efficiently.
Letting go of tasks can be a difficult endeavor, especially when you have full faith in your own capabilities.
Having a team is not just for show. Set clear goals, communicate openly, give them room to grow, provide feedback that builds them up, and delegate work!

12-Constant checking of emails:

By selecting a specific time to check your email, you can ensure that you will be able to reply in a timely and efficient manner. If you prefer, you can set an auto-reply until you are finished with your task. The same can be done for cell phone messages.