Today we will take a little detour from actual translation principles to talk about time management. Because, let’s be honest, you can learn a lot about translation, but if you can’t find or make the time to do translation work, your learning won’t do a whole lot of good! So whether you are a translator, reviser, proofreader or translation team coordinator, this topic will be very helpful for you.
So let’s look at three areas that help you make the most of your time: schedule, space and systems.
FIRST, OPTIMIZE YOUR SCHEDULE:
Start by making a realistic task list: write down everything you must or should do this week, and then organize it by priority. Be realistic about what you can accomplish in the time you have available. Then create a daily planning sheet with your appointments and task priorities. Each time you do a task, write down how long it took, because this will help you immensely in future planning. Now, design a “model week” that schedules time for your regular appointments and your work priorities.
SECOND, OPTIMIZE YOUR SPACE:
It’s so much easier and more efficient to work in a suitable, organized workspace. So choose the best space possible for your work area, rather than just sitting on a couch with your laptop. Be creative based on what you have available: try for as much privacy and quiet as possible. Then, gather the furniture you need, and take some time to organize your desk. Stock up on any supplies you need. Now, you can sit down and really concentrate in your calm and organized workspace!
THIRD, OPTIMIZE YOUR SYSTEMS:
Let’s face it, many of us try to do too much! So think about tasks you do regularly that you could eliminate – would anyone notice if you just stopped doing something… is it really important? Next, there may be tasks you can automate, such as setting up bill payments online, doing grocery shopping online, etc. Then there may be some things you can delegate. You also should revisit your “model week” and make sure that the tasks requiring the most concentration are scheduled for the time of day when you have the most energy. A final step in organizing your systems is to make sure your email, digital and paper files are organized by category so you can quickly find what you need.
Optimizing your schedule, space and systems takes an investment of time up front, but it will save you time every day for the rest of your life! It’s definitely worth doing.
This has been a very brief summary of my “Time Keepers’ Essentials” course… to find out the details, go to: https://grantcentraltraining.teachable.com/p/time-keepers-essentials
Have a great day!
Liane 🙂
