Time management skills don’t come naturally to everyone. Some of us have to put in a little extra effort to plan ahead and stay organised. Want to take control, but not sure where to start? Use these helpful tips and tricks to manage your time better.
Time management skills help us to divide up our time more effectively. They encompass things like prioritisation, planning, boundary setting, and goal setting – all areas that can help us to use our time more intentionally. Without proactive time management, we might give too much energy to less important tasks or fall prey to “time blindness” – a phenomenon which can make it difficult to know how long a task might take.
If you’re naturally a bit disorganised, the idea of becoming great at time management might seem far-fetched, but in reality, many people without strong timekeeping skills successfully find strategies that work for them, and the pursuit is worthwhile. One large-scale study from 2022 found that during the COVID-19 pandemic, being organised was the main factor that helped students feel in control of their time, reducing stress and anxiety. This is no surprise, given that a lack of organisation can quickly lead to overwhelm, especially for people with neurodivergence who may struggle more with time blindness or focus.
As well as offering wellbeing benefits, great time management creates opportunities. When we maximise our time and set ourselves up to be more productive, we not only become more confident, but we also show others that we’re capable of meeting deadlines and achieving results. This can open the door to job promotions and exciting career prospects that we’d have never thought possible.
Want to ditch the “disorganised” label and learn how to manage your time once and for all? Use the following tips and tricks to transform how you tackle tasks and gain a sense of control:
Getting better at managing your time requires effort to form new habits. So, before you dive straight into time management techniques, set some SMART goals. Get really clear about why it is you want to organise your time better and what impact you hope it’ll have. If you have a clear intention of what you want to achieve, you’ll be much more likely to stick with it.
Many of us are told we need to prioritise the most important tasks, but the reality can be much harder than expected. When we’re driven by our emotions, we may find ourselves drawn towards less important tasks or failing to factor in what tasks truly entail. Instead of making a mental list and going on gut feeling alone, have a go at using a prioritisation matrix. This can help to make the process of prioritising more strategic and structured, so you’re more likely to make decisions that truly benefit you.
Found a time management tool you love or a process mapping technique that works particularly well for your projects? Keep it somewhere safe and accessible. Having clear processes in place helps to free up space in your mind and prevent panic from setting in when you have too many decisions to make.
Staying calm might not be a traditional time management technique, but upholding organisational skills requires you to be focused and in control. This can be tricky if planning makes you nervous. Maybe you’re more prone to stress, feel anxious writing to-do lists, or find yourself catastrophising when confronting responsibilities. Instead of immediately switching into fight or flight whenever you think about managing your time, try to remember that your tasks aren’t a threat. By practising healthy breathing exercises, taking breaks when required, and focusing on being present, you can manage time calmly and create positive associations with planning.
When reviewing what you’ve done each day, cross through tasks or use designated check boxes so that you can visibly see what you’ve completed. Marking things as “done” can give you a small dopamine hit and remind you that you’re making progress – especially when completing less satisfying activities that you don’t feel intrinsically motivated to complete. Not achieved as much as you’d hoped? Try not to fret. Instead, set mini goals like ticking an extra task off each day or completing more tasks across the week. This will keep you on track and ensure things stay manageable.
Even with the best intentions and strategies in place, life has a habit of throwing curveballs our way. Here’s how to handle some common time management disruptions:
Hyperfocus or time blindness that’s hard to shake: If you find yourself getting lost in tasks or struggling to gauge how long things take, try using a Pomodoro timer. This technique involves working in focused bursts (usually 25 minutes) followed by short breaks. It can help you stay aware of time passing and prevent hours slipping away unnoticed. Not interested in what you’re doing? Make sure you remove all distractions and have all the tools you need before diving in. You may also find body doubling helpful if having others around helps to motivate you.
Expectations from others busying your schedule: When other people’s demands start eating into your time, it’s worth having a conversation with your manager or team. Suggest keeping a set structure for essential tasks, then building in flexible windows around them. This way, you’re not dealing with total chaos, but you’ve still got room to adapt. Using shared time management software can also help keep everyone on the same page and reduce the back-and-forth.
Other unforeseen events: Illness, family responsibilities, personal emergencies – these things happen, and they’re rarely convenient. When they do, try to avoid catastrophising or slipping into black-and-white thinking. You don’t have to stick perfectly to a schedule or do everything at once. Instead, try to delegate tasks where you can and pick things back up when you’re in a better position to do so. Trying to take too much on when you have other things to think about is a surefire way to burn yourself out.
Absolutely. The beauty of our brains is that they are neuroplastic, meaning that new skills can be picked up and we can enhance our ability to manage time, even with neurodivergence or other brain differences.
Not all brains are wired for time management and organisation – and that’s perfectly normal. Some people struggle to manage time due to executive functioning differences, while others may be more inclined to seek out immediate reward rather than striving for rewards in future. Either way, you can still master time management. It may just take a bit more effort.
There’s no one “set” time management technique that’s significantly more effective than the others. It’s a case of finding what works best for you. With that said, many people benefit from scheduling tasks in calendars, mapping tasks out visually, and using time management software to track hours.
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