Time management boils down to this: what you spend your time on, and how you spend your time (including who you spend your time with).
The keys to time management are managing your energy, scheduling time for what’s important, leveraging your power hours and creative hours, and treating time as a first-class citizen.
When you treat time as a first-class citizen, you can hit more windows of opportunity.
Sometimes the best thing you can do is get lost in the moment and stop watching the scoreboard. If it feels like you keep missing the train, then stop focusing on how you missed the train and focus on catching the next train.
The following are solutions at a glance for time management:
How to improve time management
It’s not how much time you spend; it’s the results you produce.
Work at reducing the time you spend, so you can improve your efficiency.
Carve out time for what’s important.
If you’re a morning person, spend your productive hours in the morning, including your power hours.
If you’re a night owl, make those your productive hours.
Set time limits and use timeboxes.
How to wake up earlier
As simple as it sounds, one of the most effective ways to wake up earlier is to go to bed earlier.
This means shifting from trying to add more to your day, and instead, trying to get a fresh start and a jump on tomorrow.
How to create buffers
Rather than jam your schedule full, create time in your schedule for the unexpected.
This will both help you deal with things that go wrong, as well as jump on opportunities that come up.
How to make time for what’s important
Start with what’s most important and work around that.
Make the most important things, the first part of your day.
How to improve work-life balance
Find balance by investing in your Hot Spots: mind, body, emotions, career, financial, relationships, and fun.
These categories support you, and the categories support each other.
How to design your day
Identify three results you want for your day.
These are your tests for success each day.
Create a startup routine, such as exercise, breakfast, and taking the back way to work.
Create a shutdown routine for the end of the day, such as reading before bed.
Carve out a chunk of time, such as a 30-minute timebox, where you can think about all your problems or stress; when you get distracted by your problems throughout the day, defer them to your timebox.
How to design your week
Identify three results you want for your week. Set maximum limits on how much time you spend on work.
Set minimum limits on how much time you spend on your relationships.
Establish a rhythm for eating, sleeping, and exercise.
Carve out time for your fun and renewal.
Design your week to spend more time in your strengths and less time in your weaknesses.
This will help you renew your energy each day.
Leave a Reply