Time Management: Strategies and Tips

Peoples lives are growing more and more hectic every day, with a study showing around a third of Australians reporting feeling high levels of stress.

And it’s no wonder really, the world we live in seems to be intent on filling our to-do lists with more and more work every day. As a consequence, time management has grown to be a necessary skill to maintain a work/life balance and to use your energy the right way.

Here are a few of the best time management techniques to help you get rid of your bad habits, and start to unlock the secret to really getting things done.

Though simple, to do lists are an easy, fast time management system. They are easy to make by just using a note book, or if you prefer to use technology, most digital devices offer a ‘sticky pad’ option. It is easier to seperate important tasks from less important tasks, or even things that once writing down, you may identify as time wasters.

Good For:

• Individual tasks
• Small tasks
• Daily tasks

Bad For:

• Larger, more complex tasks
• Long term planning

The Pomodoro technique is used to break up large tasks, or periods of work into smaller, easier done time intervals named ‘Pomodoro. It has been shown to increase focus drastically increase the actual amount of productive time one has whilst working.

It works by choosing a task you would like to work on and then setting a timer for (traditionally) 25 minutes. Once the timer is done, you have a break from your work and take a short break of 3-5 minutes. After 4 ‘Pomodoro’s’, take a longer break (15-30 minutes). After your longer break, go back to the shorter breaks. Continue this until you have finished your work.

Good For:

• longer periods of time one has to work
• studying is also effective and compatible with other common study skills

Bad For:

• small tasks
• specific tasks

The Eisenhower method, created by the 34th president of the United States, Dwight D Eisenhower, is a very good way to prioritise important tasks and is a smart way to dissect and organise your life and all the jobs in it, into a priority matrix

It works by separating your tasks into levels of importance and urgency.

Good For:

• Is a good long term effective time management system
• looking at tasks in the big picture
• eliminating unnecessary tasks that take up valuable time

Bad For:

• a life one wants to live relatively leisurely
• if one you are not good at making decisions on the priority of tasks

There are many ways to set goals and keep up the progress in reaching them, especially with the modern era of technology with apps such as ‘Goals on Track’ and ‘Strides’, which are great tools to keep track of long term goals.

However, some people achieve their goals by just writing them down, or more simply, thinking about them. Though it’s recommended you have a solid or digital copy of them to make sure they’re truly solid.

Good For:

• A fun easy way to establish what you’re going to spend your time on in the long run
• A sense of fulfilment upon finishing your goals

Bad For:

• People who need effective time management strategies for busy everyday life