5 Simple Time Management Tips For Financial Analysts

The daily schedule of a financial analyst is unpredictable, particularly if you are in investment banking or equity research.

How do you plan ahead when daily urgencies and constant changes are the order of the day? It could be the end of the day before you can make time for your top priority task on your to-do list.

Here are a few time management tips that can be easily incorporated into your busy schedule:

Set aside the first hour of your day for the most important task. I discovered one morning when I had arrived at the office extra early to complete a report for the deadline. I went straight to work as opposed to starting the day with my morning news and email routine. My mind was fresh after a good rest. The phone didn't ring. The office was quiet. This was the golden hour. I managed to do the work in half the time I had expected.

Even though I now work from my home office, I still have the routine to do this important task first.

Have an achievable plan. Allocate a task that can be completed in one hour. Break down a bigger project into bite-sized steps. Prepare the information you need the day before. Set yourself up for success. Making ambitious plans and then often failing to meet your goals will wear down your confidence. It's a great feeling to start off each morning being productive. It gives you a sense of accomplishment and set a positive rhythm for the day.

Let morning news and emails be second and third on your to-do list. Most financial analysts check their emails and read the news first thing in the morning. I was no exception. Resist the urge and establish a new habit. Introducing new ideas will distract your trend of thought from your top priority task of the day. It is critical that you reserve your full focus for that most important task.

Batch the non-urgent phone calls and emails. Given that many phone calls and emails are time sensitive, financial analysts don't have the option to limit these "interruptions" to only two or three specific time slots a day. Still, it is possible to cut the amount of these interruptions by grouping requests that are not time sensitive together.

Use reminder alarms. Before you start a task, set an alarm to remind yourself when your next task is coming up. Have the reminder about 10-15 minutes in advance so you have time to wrap up what you're doing. This way, you can give it your full attention instead of taking constant checks on the time.

Give these time management tips a try. They may just be the productivity boosters you're looking for. Every minute counts for a financial analyst.