Time Management can be really difficult whether you are a brand new CF-SLP or 30 years in to your careers a CCC-SLP. It seems like there is always more work to do and less time to get in all done. It can make you feel like the only way to better manage your time as an SLP is to plan out every moment of the day and go into organization overload just to survive the work. But this doesn’t always work.

In order to better manage your time as an SLP, you often have to look beyond the surface approaches, like organizing your paperwork and schedule, multi-tasking all day everyday, prepping and planning every session, filling in all gaps with clients and students, or working longer hours to get more done. In fact, these often cause MORE work and take more energy out of you. Instead, you can shift to some deeper levels of managing your time, so you can be efficient, effective and still have time left for YOU in your day.

Here are a few tips to better manage your time as an SLP:

Batch Your Work:

• Try chunking together similar parts of your work into segments of time. This might look like checking emails all at a certain time of day (this alone is a HUGE timesaver) or planning a set time for your paperwork each day. You could also use this to break your day into times when you are doing therapy vs non-therapy tasks.
• Putting similar work together in this way helps to keep you organized, but it also helps to keep you from experiencing mental fatigue that can come with bouncing from task to task during the day.

Schedule Downtime:

• Breaks and downtime are a must when you are trying to save time. It might sound counter-intuitive, but these breaks will help you to recharge and clear any brain fog, as well as help you switch to a new task more fluidly, which helps improve your efficiency over the long run.
• Aim for taking a break for 5-10 minutes every 90 minutes or so.

Have clear start and end times:

• Having a determined start and end to your day, even if it is a little earlier or later than your actual client time or work hours, can help you to make sure that you are setting some boundaries, but also saving time. If you know when you’ll be starting and when you need to finish, then you will work to get the work done as much as possible in that set amount of time. This is especially good if you tend to procrastinate and need deadlines to get work done.

If you are looking for more resources to help you better manage your time as an SLP (and stress!), make sure to check out the SLP Toolbox, a FREE resource site, updated bi-weekly, full of real-life tools and tips to help you reduce and manage your stress.

You can sign up below.

If you want to dive even deeper, make sure to check out these CEU/CMH courses hosted on you favorite online websites:

• 3 Common SLP Stressors and How to Manage Them on Xceptional ED (1.5 CMH Hours)
• Managing Common SLP Stressors before Burn Out Occurs on Northern Speech Services (2.5 ASHA CEU hours .025 units)
• 3 Biggest Stressors for SLPs and What to do About Them on SpeechPathology.com (1.5 ASHA CEU hours .15 units)
• SLP Stress Management: Using Mindfulness to Reduce and Manage Stress on SHAV Webinars (1 ASHA CEU)

And be sure to check out the SLP Stress Management Podcast for a monthly dose of Stress Management tools, tips and stories for SLPs.

Much Love,