TIME MANAGEMENT: DAY 8 OF 10 CAREER CHALLENGE ACTUALLY WORTH DOING

Time management strategies and tools in your back pocket are essential in this fast-paced world. Growing up my dad would say, “you get the same amount of time every day, it’s what you do with it.” Efficient time management not only enhances personal productivity but also fuels professional success. Welcome to day 8 of 10 Career Challenge Actually Worth Doing, where we’re learning more time management strategies and more tools to keep you on track for a happier work life and home life.

Let’s explore the importance, benefits, and practical steps to master time in the workplace. Learning new time management strategies can be fun.

Importance and Benefits of Time Management

We all want to get things done, but, sometimes we have more to do in an hour than in a day. Effective time management is the cornerstone of a successful career. It reduces stress, enhances focus, and fosters a healthier work-life balance. Personally, it instills a sense of accomplishment, while professionally, it boosts productivity, leading to career advancement.

Let’s look at some time management stats provided by Acuity Training.

• 1 in 8 people (12.5%) never feel under control at work.
• 82% of people don’t have a time management system. They just use a list or their email inbox.
• Less than 1 in 5 people (18%) have a proper time management system.
• The least successful time management technique is ‘dealing with whatever comes up’.

Managing your time whether it be professional or personal, affects your mental health. If you are just handling just whatever come up, you will miss the time needed to prepare for the important stuff you need to get done.

Let’s face it we all are not good at time management. Nevertheless, we can get better with a little knowledge and practice, when we know different time management strategies and methods,

“Where your attention goes, your time goes”
― Idowu Koyenikan,

5 Steps to Start

In my own experience, time management has been a slow burn of learning. Making time management a priority yields you a lifetime of rewards, and time.

Here is just a start to getting you on a better time management path.

• Prioritize Tasks: Identify and categorize tasks based on urgency and importance.
• Set SMART Goals: Define Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals to guide your efforts.
• Create a Schedule: Develop a daily or weekly schedule, allocating specific time blocks for different tasks.
• Minimize Distractions: Identify and eliminate or minimize distractions to maintain focus during work hours.
• Regular Reviews: Periodically assess your time management strategies, adjusting them to suit evolving priorities.

For In-Office and Field Employees:

• In-Office: Utilize tools like time-blocking, calendar apps, and project management software to streamline tasks.
• Field Employees: Leverage mobile apps for task management and prioritize based on client meetings, deadlines, and travel time.

Prioritizing your tasks to immediate need to it can wait awhile is very important, besides, if you think doing more in less time is helpful and beneficial think again.

“According to Cleveland Clinic, studies, show that when our brain is constantly switching gears to bounce back and forth between tasks especially when those tasks are complex and require our active attention, we become less efficient and more likely to make a mistake.”

Time Management: Exercise 1

Pomodoro Technique

Work intensely for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. Repeat this cycle, and after four cycles, take a more extended break. This boost focus and productivity.

Time Management: Exercise 2

Time Logging and Time Audit

Keep a detailed log of daily activities for a week and analyze where time is spent excessively, then adjust your schedule accordingly.

Time Management: Exercise 3 (The best one)

Eisenhower Time Management Matrix

President and General Dwight Eisenhower developed this prioritization method to help deal with the critical issues he faced as general in the US Army in WWII, Visit, Productplan.com to learn more on how to effectively use the Eisenhower Matrix in your work life and in your personal life.

Final Thoughts and Words of Encouragement

It doesn’t matter what your chosen career is, mastering time management is not just a skill; it’s a transformative approach to personal and professional success. From prioritizing tasks and setting SMART goals to embracing technology and fostering a positive work environment, effective time management is a journey of continuous improvement. Let me ask you this? If you don’t manage your time, don’t you think your time manages you? Thus, you’re just letting time control you. Time is finite, in everything we do. So, learning to manage it allows you to enjoy more of what you love, and want to do.

Whether you’re in the office or in the field, the principles remain the same—allocate time wisely, delegate tasks, and stay adaptable. Utilize tools and exercises like the Pomodoro Technique, time logging, Eisenhower Matrix and mindfulness to enhance focus and productivity. And don’t forget to meditate to rest your mind.

Celebrate your victories, learn from challenges, and stay resilient, besides your dedication to mastering time will not only enhance your professional career but also contribute to a more fulfilling and balanced life.

Remember, success is a journey, not a destination. Embrace the process, stay committed, and believe in your ability to create positive change. Your pursuit of effective time management is a testament to your commitment to personal and professional growth. Keep going, and may your path be filled with achievements and fulfillment. You’ve got this!

We’ll chat soon,