Time Management Tips

Learn how to make the most of every second at your disposal.

You can't recycle time. You can't make more of it. It's the one resource every founder, owner, and coach faces with the same hard limit. So how do you use it? How do you make every second count, not just for work, but for life?

The common man is not concerned about the passage of time, the man of talent is driven by it. - Schopenhauer

The secret to getting more done in less time isn't a secret at all. It's about prioritizing and setting goals. There's always enough time for what's important. If it matters, you'll make space for it. Setting goals focuses your efforts, pointing them toward what you actually want to achieve.

Here are some ways to make your time work for you:

1. Time is money

   Your time is a finite resource. You invest it to get a return, whether that's satisfaction, profit, or progress. Every second you lose is a second you didn't invest in yourself. Find something you enjoy in whatever you do.

2. Set goals and break them down into small tasks

   Undefined goals mean your work and effort lose their punch. Setting SMART goals helps you rule out actions that won't move you forward. This makes you more effective.
3. Big, global goals can feel overwhelming. Break them into daily tasks. When you commit to specific times for these smaller tasks, you can track progress in shorter bursts. This gives you better data for decisions and helps you avoid putting things off.

4. Prioritize your day in advance

   You can prioritize based on deadlines and the potential return of a task. Think about the 80:20 rule: focus your energy on the tasks that deliver the most impact.
5. Create a master To-Do list for all your duties, no matter the deadline. Then, make a daily To-Do list for what needs doing tomorrow. When you organize your time, schedule tasks needing deep concentration for the morning. Save meetings and less intensive work for the afternoon.
6. Use the last 15 minutes of each day to build your next day's To-Do list and organize your schedule. Recheck that list every morning before you start work.

7. Set deadlines and reminders

   Establishing deadlines forces you to prioritize and focus. It keeps you from wasting precious time. Your memory can fail you, especially when you push tasks off. Set regular reminders. Knowing you'll get an alert well in advance of any emergency brings peace of mind.

8. Do one thing at a time and avoid perfectionism

   Better to do a little well than a lot imperfectly. Multitasking doesn't work. Quality suffers when you chase quantity. Don't waste time obsessively perfecting a task when another task could use that time better.