Do More in Small Time With These Time Management Techniques

Time is one thing that everyone has access to, but how you use it differs to a greater extent.

Some people are happy with the time flow and have no complaints about running out of time.

On the other hand, some people always complain about not getting enough time to complete their tasks.

What is the difference? Does the first group have more time than the other group? No! All adore 24 hours in a day. No one gets extra hours to complete their task. The only secret to stressing less, achieving more and living a balanced life lies in time management.

Time is important in everyone’s life, so some PROS work on it and invent some time management techniques.

Whether you are a student, an employee, a housewife, or a CEO, these techniques can help you to be productive in all aspects of your daily living because we are all Jugal with multiple tasks in our daily routine.

1. The Pomodoro Technique

Perhaps, I mentioned this technique before in my blog posts.

This is just a simple technique many might already be practicing without knowing the technique’s name. At least I was not familiar with the name before, but the little gesture I take for productivity is exactly what this technique tells me.

The Pomodoro Technique was invented by Francesco Cirilli in the late 1980s.

It is just a couple of simple steps.

Choose a specific task you want to work on.

Set a timer for 25 minutes (a “Pomodoro”)

Focus solely on the task until the timer rings.

Take a short break of 5 minutes, and then take another Pomodoro.

After completing four Pomodoros, take a break of 15 to 30 minutes.

This method creates mental agility by creating a sense of urgency and reducing distractions.

2. Time Blocking: Design Your Day

In this technique, you divide your days into different blocks. In each block, you complete a specific task.

This way you can prevent multi-tasking at a time because it leads to decreased productivity.

Here is how this technique works:

List your tasks. Write down everything you need to accomplish.

Create time blocks. Assign a realistic time slot for each task.

Follow the time block as closely as possible.

Example

Block one: 9:00 AM to 11:00 = Deep work.

11:00 AM to 12:00 PM = Meeting.

1:00 PM to 3:00 PM = Project planning.

3. The Eisenhower Matrix

Named after Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States, this method helps you prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance.

The matrix divides tasks into four quadrants:

Urgent and Important: Task you need to do immediately.

Important but Not Urgent: Tasks that require planning and long-term attention.

Urgent but Not Important: Tasks that are not important but you need to do quickly.

Not Urgent and Not Important: Tasks to eliminate or minimize.

This method helps you to avoid getting bogged down by trivial activities by categorizing and prioritising the task. Ultimately, it leads to increased productivity.

4. The Two-Minute Rule

This method helps to beat procrastination. The method is popularized by productivity consultant David Allen. The Two-Minute Rule is a simple yet powerful method.

According to this method, if a task takes two minutes or less, do it immediately. This technique prevents small tasks from piling up and becoming overwhelming.

It’s particularly useful for managing emails, returning quick phone calls, or tidying up your workspace.

5. The 80/20 Rule

The 80/20 rule was introduced by Vilfredo Pareto in 1906 and is also known as the Pareto Principles.

This rule suggests that 80% of results come from 20% efforts. According to the Pareto Principle, or the 80/20 Rule, you need to identify the tasks and activities that yield the most significant results and prioritize them.

This means focusing on high-impact activities that drive your goals forward and minimize time spent on low-value tasks.

6. The ABCDE Method

The ABCDE Method is introduced by Brian Tracy, a Canadian-American public speaker and self-development author.

According to the ABCDE method, you rank tasks in order of priority.

A: Must-do task with serious consequences if not completed.

B: Should-do task with mild consequences if not completed.

C: Nice-to-do task with no real consequences if not completed.

D: Delegate tasks to others.

E: Eliminate unnecessary tasks.

You rank the task in a systematic way, and by doing so, you ensure that your highest priority receives the most attention.

Wrapping Up

Mastering time management is not about squeezing most tasks into your day but about simplifying how you work and focusing on what truly matters. These techniques help to stay focused and to do more without panic, which leads to less frustration and fatigue. By the end of the day, you are satisfied that you performed well and completed your task efficiently.

Time is your most valuable resource — spend it wisely.

Thanks for reading!

©️ Mahnoor Chaudhry 🪻