6 Proven Strategies to Master Your Time Management

Time is a great equalizer, and no matter who you are, you only have 24 hours in a day. To make the most of your time, here are 6 proven strategies to manage your time effectively and maximize your productivity.

6 Proven Strategies to Master Your Time Management

Time is a great equalizer, and no matter who you are, you only have 24 hours in a day. How you choose to spend it determines what you end up doing with your life. To make the most of your time, it's essential to understand what you really want in life and work to achieve it. To help you do this, here are 6 proven strategies to manage your time effectively and maximize your productivity.

The first step is to evaluate where you're actually spending your time. To set your priorities, use the Eisenhower Matrix. This matrix offers an organizational tool for categorizing tasks based on their importance and urgency. It's one of the simplest time management tips for work, but it can be one of the hardest to follow. Another way to “divide your time” is by using the Pomodoro Technique.

This technique marks your to-do list in periods of 25 minutes, taking short breaks between each period and a longer break after completing four. This technique balances a narrow focus with frequent breaks, which reduces mental tension and maintains motivation. Focus on one thing at a time. Instead of spreading tasks out over the course of a week, you can do them at the same time. Part of creating your schedule should include setting time limits for tasks instead of simply working until they're finished. To stay focused on the task at hand, use apps like Lucidchart, an online alternative to Visio used in more than 180 countries by millions of users. When you set out to achieve something, work backwards.

Start by first thinking about the result you want to achieve. Be specific, define your goal in terms of something concrete that you can measure. As the legendary writer and thinker Peter Drucker said: “What is measured is managed”.To avoid this pitfall, use one of the time management tips for work found in Stephen Covey's book First Things First. When you learn and maintain good time management skills, you'll free yourself from the pressure of deadlines and stress in general. These proven and highly effective time management strategies can help you live a fuller life, because they are more than techniques for managing time: they are tools for transforming the way you think.