It finally happened! You got that important project developing software and it’s time to get to work. According to the latest research, a software developer works 40 hours a week. But this is rarely the case, isn’t it?
Most often than not, software development requires time to stay updated with the latest technology, use critical thinking, and at the same time do the actual work. This often can bring stress, anxiety, and overwhelm.
Managing your time better is how you can ensure your mental health won’t suffer and you meet the project’s deadline. Read on to learn 5 time management tips you can implement today!
1) Set Clear Goals
Before you even start creating software and working on the first task, you need to set goals. It is best to start by setting daily goals. By setting goals you will clearly see your progress and make sure that you will meet the deadline.
Your goals need to be SMART. SMART is an acronym and stands for specific (S), measurable (M), attainable (A), realistic (R), and timed (T). It simply means that your goals need to be specific enough that you can achieve them in the given time.
You may be tempted to set as many goals as possible, but remember you only have 24 hours in a day, so be realistic with your workload. You want to be productive and see the results of your hard work. You also want to have work-life balance.
2) Prioritize
Now when you have your SMART goals set, it’s time to prioritize them. Traditional time management training will get you to write a to-do list for the day. This is a great starting point, but it is not enough to be productive.
Look at your to-do list and pick the tasks that are urgent, require your immediate attention, or are tasks that will move your software development project forward. If you engage in every possible task, email, conversation, and research, you will soon have no time to do the work.
When you have your priority list, start working on the top tasks first thing in the morning. Or at any other time of the day, when you are the most productive. As the day progresses your creativity levels may drop, so you may work on tasks that don’t require huge brain power.
You may prioritize your tasks in the order of what you are good at. If you enjoy working on a specific task while creating software, you won’t procrastinate. A good idea is to delegate tasks that are not your forte if it is possible for you to do so.
This way you will free up time for the important tasks.
3) Block Time
Setting goals and prioritizing is a great start, but you need to allocate time for the actual tasks too. To get started, look at your calendar and schedule what tasks you will do at what block times.
Some tasks will take longer than others, so remember to make sure that you have enough time available during the day to fit them all in. If you are not sure how long a certain task may take, for example website coding, use time tracking apps.
You will soon have a sound understanding of what tasks take much of your time. You can then look for solutions to reduce the time you spend on them.
If you find that you need to perform certain tasks regularly, prepare ready-to-send or ready-to-implement templates. You will reduce the time in half if you automate any tasks that don’t involve your personal input.
4) Remove Distractions
When you work on a lot of projects at the same time it’s easy to lose focus. After all, you work online all the time, and it is easy to get distracted by researching the latest software development technology.
However, distractions can literally kill your productivity. It not only means you can’t concentrate on the task at hand, but it also means that you need to use a lot of mental energy to get back into the project.
You need to remove any possible distractions such as social media notifications, or the latest news updates. You may still want to keep your work-related platform notifications on, so you don’t miss anything urgent.
Creating clear boundaries around your working space is another way you can stay focused. If you are working from home, have a designated working space. You may even want to inform your family members, or work colleagues (if you work in the office), that for the next hour or so you won’t be available because you are working on something important.
5) Take Breaks
It is not possible to work long hours and stay productive. To maximize your creativity, you need to incorporate breaks into your day. This should be easy if you block time for tasks.
This way you can take a mini-break every time you finish one task and before you start the next. You may want to go outside and get some fresh air or do some stretching. Physical movement will boost your mental capabilities.
If you are stressed out and running out of time you may not take your lunch break. Those mini-breaks may be a great opportunity to stay hydrated and power yourself with some nutritious food.
Time Management Tips for Software Development
To enjoy your software development career, you need to stay engaged and create state-of-the-art products. However, if you are always short on time, and struggling to meet deadlines, your productivity will suffer.
Now with the 5 time management tips, you can manage your time like a pro! Check Check out our productivity blog to learn even more ways how you can stay productive.