Working remotely does not mean everything is convenient and easy. You will still encounter instances of rushing to meet deadlines, struggling to compromise with the client’s requirements, and keeping up with the operational standards of your company without trading off work quality.

One of the crucial factors in making sure you are spending your day at work productively and efficiently is managing your schedule properly. It is not all about thinking of what to do and not to do daily. There are ways that could keep your time managed more effectually, such as through calendar management. 

Nonetheless, it is not all about setting appointments. There are different practices that you could do to ensure your calendar is used advantageously, such as the following:

Set appointments with realistic length of time. This is most effective when it comes to setting up meetings. Most would practice scheduling meetings at a certain length of time, such as half an hour. This is regardless of what type of meeting it is. This should not be the case since a phone meeting may only take 15 minutes and an in-person meeting may take longer. 

By doing so, you will be more precise in dividing your time for the day. You may even save more time for other more important appointments.

Try time boxing. If you are finding it difficult to manage your time given you have tons of activities daily, time boxing may work for you. This practice would keep you focused on one activity at a certain time. For instance, you will set an hour for writing an excerpt for your marketing material, then you have to work on the said task within that time frame. After one hour, you will stop and proceed to the next activity.

Time boxing will help you avoid missing deadlines and ensure to concentrate on all tasks effectively.

Do not forget to create gaps in between activities. Never practice setting appointments one after another. For example, you will have a meeting from 8:30 A.M. to 10:00 A.M., then you will have another at 10:00 A.M. exactly. This would result in procrastination and may cause pressure on your end.

It is most effective to set up short breaks in between. These gaps could even help you attend to unanticipated matters, such as sudden calls or urgent messages.

Never forget to set reminders. Your calendar may be overlooked if you do not set notifications for the activities you have scheduled. You need reminders to remember what you have to do at a certain day and time. To make things more efficient, do not simply rely on the calendar app notifications, but set up e-mail reminders, as well. Doubling the notices will keep you in check.

Figure out your most productive hours. If you want to secure priority tasks, make sure they are scheduled to be done in your most productive hours. This will assure that while carrying out these critical activities, your brain’s cognitive abilities are at its peak.

You would be able to determine your most productive hours by checking when you are most proactive and slacking less. Some find themselves more efficient an hour or two after their shift starts, while others find themselves more competent after lunch time. 

Color code your appointments. Make sure to set specific colors for different types of events, such as blue for attending meetings, yellow for accounts handling, and green for answering e-mails. This practice will give you quick insight on how your day would be at a glance.

Plan for personal breaks. Do not simply give attention to work-related appointments. You are also human and require recharge from time to time. Hence, it is imperative that your calendar also includes breaks, exercise times, and even activities with your family and friends.

If you find time to unwind, you will also give yourself time to sustain your well-being. Remember, you would not be able to attend to all your appointments unless you are healthy yourself.

The aforementioned tips can be easily applied as soon as now, if you want to improve how you manage your daily work. Start saving time, avoiding procrastination, reducing stress, and eliminating distractions throughout your day.