Have you ever wondered how that one person you know is able to wake up at 4am and get so much done before they sleep at 9 pm? You’re not alone in wondering this because I do too.
At first, I found it appalling – but now I understand.
Now I’m not saying that that’s how everyone should aim to utilize their time because everyone has different needs and responsibilities. However, I am saying that they may be using specific time management tips to get the most out of their day.
As mentioned in an article from The Journal of the American College of Radiology, “The development of goals is critical for personal success” – meaning that at the end of the day, creating goals should benefit our own selves, not the people around us.
We all have the same 24 hours in a day, but how we use that time can make a world of difference in productivity and enjoyment. I’ve found that when I used certain tips, I was able to get more done and still have time to relax.
If all of this interests you, you’re in for a life changing surprise. Here are 9 of my best tricks for time management tips.
9 Time Management Tips
1. I make a clear schedule every night
Out of all of my time management tips, by far – this is my favorite one. Let me tell you how I do it and why I do it.
Before bed, I always take a moment to create a “to-do list” for the next day. This helps me keep track of what I need to accomplish and figure out how much time I should dedicate to each task. Crossing things off one by one is easily satisfying, and it brings me closer to both my short-term and long-term goals.
By breaking plans down into digestible tasks, that feeling of being overwhelmed and tasks becoming too hard trickles away.
If you’re concerned about writing notes down and losing your scraps of paper, consider investing in a journal or a little booklet to keep with you wherever you go. This is my favorite thing to do because I can curate it to how I like it with fun colors and patterns.
Next, we’ll discuss how to organize our train of thoughts and goals!
2. I organize my tasks by importance and urgency
Another approach includes learning how to prioritize which tasks I should complete first. For myself, what I’ve found to be the most helpful time management tips of them all was to sort everything into these three categories:
- Most important and urgent – These are top priority, like responding to urgent emails or prepping for an upcoming meeting.
For example, your own personal medical appointments and family time. This block also includes making conscious decisions to block out time for own well-being and events that are non-negotiable, such as your sibling’s wedding or taking your daily medication.
- Important but not urgent – Things like reading a chapter in a book or exercising, which I can push to later in the day.
I would say your hobbies can fall in here. Sometimes, I want to go to the gym all day but that’s not realistic so it’s okay if I miss it one day this week or the next. Don’t feel hopeless if you can’t reach all your goals in one day. We all have those days where other important tasks pop up.
- Not important, not urgent – The fun stuff, like watching a new movie or window shopping for gadgets. I save these for when I truly have free time.
All of us want to spend time with our significant others or have a spontaneous event. I wholeheartedly believe not making plans is sometimes the most delightful parts of your lifetime, however, be cautious and sensitive in ensuring that it doesn’t become the center of your life.
Some of my close friends easily believe that this next tip is their favorite one out of all my time management tips so keep reading to find out what it is and why it’s effective!
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3. I tackle the most important tasks in the morning
I’m usually most energized and clear-headed in the morning, so that’s when I try to get my biggest tasks done. I know that not everyone might be a morning person, but it can be a good habit to pick up if you want ‘more hours’ in your day.
I had a time in my life where I felt that no matter how quickly I tried to finish one task, I seemed like I was running out of hours. That was because I didn’t get to be awake enough during my mornings to utilize those couple of hours to help myself power through the rest of my day.
According to a study done by sleepfoundation.org, if your hours of being awake doesn’t align with your social life, it may make you perform more poorly in most areas instead of performing at your best. What I mean by this is that when you wake up early enough to give yourself time to settle into the groove before your first task of your day, you carry that carefulness and thoughtfulness through every social encounter and obstacle you have for the rest of your day instead of getting burned out quickly.
Making time for yourself in the morning to take care of the most important tasks, is beneficial in this way. I like to fold my bed, tidy up my space and really get ready to feel and look my best.
By handling that tough phone call in the morning first or your first meeting, you don’t have to prolong and feeling of being overwhelmed. Whether it’s brainstorming with colleagues, negotiating with clients, or setting up budgets for projects, I find I get the best results when I handle them first thing.
Now let’s move onto other time management tips that’s helped my friends, family and myself!
4. I’ve found my “golden hour”
Everyone has their peak productivity window, and mine tends to be late morning. But it’s different for everyone. I’ve noticed some people work best in the late afternoon, while others are sharpest at lunchtime. Finding your golden hour can be a game-changer, especially for tasks that need your full concentration and creativity.
I know that you be might be wondering, “Well what should my golden hour feel like?”
The answer is simple: the hour where you feel the most optimistic and super charged, energy-wise and sleep wise.
I tend to like late mornings because by then, I have already had my breakfast well digested and I’m sipping on a nice cup of coffee while my mindset is locking into the task at hand.
An important note to make is during my golden hour, I try to stay off my phone. Let me explain why in this upcoming section!
5. I stay away from social media during work hours
Unless it’s work-related, I make a point to steer clear of Facebook and Instagram while I’m working. I’ve found that even a quick glance at notifications can pull me out of focus, and suddenly an hour is gone. I save social media browsing for my downtime.
We all know that most statistics about technology points us to a common problem: overuse of entertainment. A study from the National Library of Medicine stated that social media platforms produce too much stimuli that leads to disruptive patterns in maintaining undivided attention to whatever task is truly at hand.
I know that in this modern age, technology is unavoidable. For some of us – like myself – who’s works relies on machines and laptops, it may be extremely hard to try to not open a second tab and surf the web. However, I find that taking small time breaks helps me to continue focusing on my work in the long run compared to trying to do everything in one go.
Another way for me to focus is to set my tech to ‘do not disturb’ or ‘personal’. That way, I can filter what I can and can’t see.
While we’re on the topic of limiting what we can receive and not receive, there’s other wonderful time management tips that I’ve been using that pairs beautifully with this technique, such as blocking out excess stimuli – scheduling email responses.
6. I schedule my email responses
One of my biggest distractions used to be constantly checking and replying to emails. Now, I limit myself to about 4-6 times a day. I have specific times for email checks—like 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 3 p.m., and 5 p.m.—and once I’m done with them, I log out to stay focused on other tasks. If someone needs something urgent, they know to call or message me directly.
Much like texting, one of the main forms of connecting with others is through email. Whether it is for personal business or your job, emails live in you as much as they do through the screen.
I’ve noticed the biggest positive effect that came from doing this was that I finally allowed myself to breathe and not stress over when I think a person will email me back or not. That fear melted away and it created more room for me to carve out space for other tasks.
Now that we have made room in our minds and schedule for other tasks, let’s discuss what activities we should try to implement into our schedules to easily give us mind and body some enrichment!
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7. I make time to exercise or meditate
Exercise and meditation have been lifesavers for my focus and overall well-being. I try to work out in the mornings, but if I can’t fit it in, I’ll make sure to get some movement in during the evening or on weekends. Even a quick 30-minute session makes a big difference.
I love to boast about working out to my friends and family because it’s something that I believe everyone can do. There’s many forms of working out and can be great for our cardiovascular health as well as our endurance and other areas of fitness.
If I don’t have the time to squeeze in a light jog, I find a yoga video online and use whatever weights I can find around the house. Sometimes, those weights can end up being two cans of soda I have or even two small bags of sugar laying around.
I know that working out can take some creativity if you’re limited on time, space and equipment. However, thinking outside the box can be a great practice that can be applied to other aspects of your life. Let me explain why in this next section!
8. I look for inspiration when I hit a creative block
As mentioned earlier, it’s not ideal to power through a long section of work without taking a break. It can result in a burnout. Trust me – I’ve been there before and it’s not fun.
What I like to do instead is to take a break and read. Taking short breaks can recharge your mind, and I’ve found that to be true. When I’ve been focusing hard for about an hour, I’ll take a few minutes to relax—listen to music, read a bit, or watch something on YouTube. These small breaks keep my creativity flowing and help me stay productive.
The best way to keep track of this is to set up intervals of when to study and how long each break should stretch for.
Pro tip to maximize your time during your breaks: Use that break to de-clutter your working area! Here’s how I do exactly that to clear my mind and my space below.
We’re almost at the end so prepare yourself for my last secret to this guide for best time management tips that’s helped me!
9. I keep my workspace tidy
A cluttered desk used to throw me off, so I made a habit of keeping my workspace clean. I regularly clear out unnecessary papers and organize my files. This keeps me from getting distracted and helps me stay focused on the task at hand.
I like to keep a bit of paper towels in my drawer and a spray bottle near as well. It helps to clear out the dusk as much as it’s nice to throw out old paper.
A bit of redecorating or adding a small plant onto your desktop to brighten the area can go a long way.
Pro tip: Leave your desk as how you found it.
Now that we’ve gone over all 9 of my best kept tips and tricks, let’s do a quick overview on what we learned from all of my time management tips in this last section. Buckle in because we’re about to do some reflection!
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Experimenting With Time Management Tips
Mastering time in your day isn’t about squeezing more tasks into your schedule—it’s about working smarter, reducing stress, and creating a balanced routine that keeps you productive and energized. By setting clear goals, prioritizing tasks, and eliminating distractions, you can take control of your schedule and accomplish more with less effort.
Ready to supercharge your productivity? Try adding one or two of these time management tips into your routine today and see the difference for yourself! Have a favorite time management hack? Share it in the comments below—we’d love to hear from you!
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