Make a move on managing your time

Most Wanted Hair Icon finalist, Cos Sakkas, shares his tips on effective time management 

In our industry, there is a lot of plate spinning when juggling projects and running a full column. Add to the mix shoots and training sessions, and ticking off the to do list can feel impossible. Learning to manage your time more effectively can be a huge asset to both your professional advancement and your personal wellbeing. As TONI&GUY global creative director, Cos Sakkas has experienced first-hand the power in taking control of his time management. Here’s some of his top tips on making your workload work for you.  

A daily to-do list  

“It’s impossible to plan for every eventuality; every day will throw you some curve balls, that’s the nature of the job. Compile a daily planner and list the things that you do have control over that day. Whatever the tasks, having them presented as a list, with a time slot, will encourage you to accomplish them. And the sense of achievement when you do cross off a task is wonderful!” 

Realistic goals   

“Goals can be forgotten when it’s busy – who can believe we’re already halfway through the year?! As well as a daily to-do list, it’s a great idea to have a goal planner where you list the goals you want to achieve and the steps you need to take towards achieving them. Setting goals is an important part of progressing in your career in hairdressing, so update them as the year goes on.” 

Prioritise

“Wherever possible, prioritise your tasks. Whether you are looking at your daily to-do list or longer-term goals, put tasks in order of importance, including a time or date when they should be completed.  

For example, you could break tasks down in this way: 

Do immediately: Important tasks that just can’t wait.  

Schedule for later: Tasks with no defined deadlines.  

Delegate: If you are a manager don’t be afraid to pass a task on to a member of the team.  

Delete: If you realise a task isn’t essential, get rid of it! Free up your time for things that really are important.  

Reminders 

“I find the reminders app on my phone invaluable. Set timely reminders so that you receive an alert in advance of a deadline.” 

Say no 

“Hairdressers are by nature people pleasers, but don’t let this desire to please leave you overworked and overwhelmed. It’s okay to say ‘no’ when you need to. Overloading yourself so that you get stressed and perform under par is not good for you or your business.” 

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