Without question, the property management industry can be fast-paced and, at times, quite hectic. Whether you’re sitting at your desk responding to emails, driving to meet a client, conducting an inspection or something else, managing a chaotic schedule can be challenging. If you find yourself having a tough time keeping up with the daily demands, here are 5 time management tricks to help make your life a little easier.
Plan Ahead
When you start your day without a clear-cut plan of attack, it can be really easy to get side-tracked and subsequently not get much of anything done. You’ll probably find yourself jumping from task to task and being pulled in a dozen different directions which will hinder your productivity. Take a few extra minutes, either each evening or first thing in the morning, to plan out your day. List all the tasks you need to accomplish, in order of importance, and don’t deviate from that list. You’ll be amazed at how much you can get done when you’re focused and organized.
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Designate Time Slots
For the day-to-day items that don’t need to be included in your formal daily plan, such as answering emails or returning phone calls, block off segments of time which are dedicated solely to each of these tasks. For instance, schedule an hour each morning to tackle your inbox and another hour during the afternoon to handle all the calls you need to make. Avoid temptation to deviate from these time slots.
Block Out Distractions
Distractions and interruptions are part of office life, particularly in the property management field. They also happen to be the biggest deterrents of productivity and efficiency, so eliminating these outside factors as much as possible is key. If you have an office, shut the door for an hour or two during the day so you can concentrate. If you sit at a cubicle, put a pair of headphones on to let others know you’re focusing on work and don’t want to be disturbed.
Delegate
If possible, determine what tasks you have on your schedule that could be handed off to someone else in your office, such as a property management assistant. Juggling dozens of different to-do list items may seem noble, but if you’re taking on too much, you’re not going to be able to maximize your time and be as productive as possible. Which things could you comfortably delegate so you could be free to focus on more important business matters?
Related Post: 10 Signs It’s Time to De-Clutter Your Property Management Office
Take Breaks
It may seem counterintuitive, especially when you’re super busy, but forcing yourself to take short breaks throughout the day can actually improve your productivity. When you feel yourself getting completely overwhelmed and bogged down, step away for 10 minutes to take a breath, walk around and just relax your mind. You’ll be able to return to the task at hand refreshed and with a new perspective.
Being successful in the property management industry takes determination and the ability to manage your time most effectively. These five simple tricks can help you whip your schedule into shape and become more productive and efficient, which will naturally lead to better performance for your business.
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Find out what more you can do to boost the productivity of your property management business. Download a free copy of The Property Manager’s Guide to Maximizing Productivity.
