5 Hacks to Own Your Time, Not Let It Own You

Let's talk about something we’ve all struggled with time management. As we climb the career ladder and life’s responsibilities increase, the demands on our time seem to multiply, leaving us feeling like we're constantly playing catch-up.

What if I told you that by mastering a few simple time management techniques, you could reclaim your schedule, boost your productivity, and finally achieve that elusive work-life balance?

The High Cost of Poor Time Management ❌

Let's be real, when we don't manage our time effectively, chaos ensues.

Missed deadlines, forgotten appointments, and that nagging feeling that we're always a step behind and forgetting something. It's not just about work either. Poor time management can spill over into our personal lives, leaving us with even less time for family, friends, and those hobbies we used to love and have time for.

But here's the good news: You can change!

Five Time-Management Strategies to Transform Your Day ⏰

1️⃣ Prioritize Ruthlessly

 Not all tasks are created equal. Identify your most important tasks and tackle those first. One way to do this is by using the Eisenhower Matrix, a simple tool that helps you categorize tasks based on their urgency and importance.

For instance, responding to the email of your boss might be urgent and important, while researching industry trends might be important but not urgent. Watch this YouTube video for further explanation of the Eisenhower Matrix concept.

2️⃣ Set SMART Goals

Vague goals like "improve client relationships" are hard to achieve. Instead, set a SMART goal like "schedule weekly check-in calls with top 5 clients by Friday." This is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant to your role, and time-bound.

You can track your progress and adjust your approach as needed.

Here are a few more examples of how to transform vague goals into SMART goals:

➡️ Instead of: "Get better at public speaking"
Try: "Deliver a 10-minute presentation to my team on [topic] with no more than 2 filler words by [date]."

➡️ Instead of: "Learn more about my industry"
Try: "Attend 3 industry conferences or webinars in the next 6 months."

➡️ Instead of: "Get in better shape"
Try: "Work out for 30 minutes, 4 times a week for the next 3 months."

➡️ Instead of: "Improve work-life balance"
Try: "Leave the office by 5:30 pm three days a week to spend time with family."

3️⃣ Time Blocking or Time Boxing
 

 Think of your workday like a series of appointments, but instead of meeting with other people, you're meeting with your tasks. You literally block out chunks of time on your calendar for specific activities. 

For instance, you might have a 90-minute block for "Project X deep work," a 30-minute block for "Email catch-up," a 60-minute block for "Team brainstorming," and so on.

Time blocking can help you focus on one task at a time, avoid distractions, and make significant progress on your most important projects. Experiment with different time block durations to find what works best for your workflow. For more organization, I would suggest categorizing the time blocks by applying color coding.

Here is an example of time blocking done on Google Calendar:

4️⃣ Learn to Say No

Remember, you're not a superhero (even if you sometimes feel like one!).

It's perfectly okay to decline a last-minute request to join a committee if you're already overloaded. Politely explain your current workload and suggest an alternative solution or timeframe.

Try this script:

"Thank you so much for thinking of me for this project. Unfortunately, my plate is pretty full right now, and I wouldn't be able to give it the attention it deserves. I'd be happy to revisit this when my workload lightens up a bit."

Bonus tip: Suggest someone else who would love the opportunity. They’ll remember your kindness and you’ll get out of doing something that you don’t want to do. 

5️⃣ Take Breaks

Schedule short breaks throughout your day to recharge.

Try setting a timer for 50 minutes of focused work followed by a 10-minute break to grab a snack, stand up or stretch your legs, or simply step outside for some fresh air.

Pro Tip 💡

Start your day by tackling your most challenging or hardest task. This "eat the frog" approach (as productivity guru Brian Tracy calls it) gets it out of the way early, freeing up mental space and energy for the rest of your day.

Your Time, Your Success ⏳

These time management strategies aren't about squeezing more into your day. They're about taking back control of your time so you can focus on what truly matters, both in your career and your life. Think of it as an investment in yourself. The more you master your time, the more you'll see your professional and personal life thrive.

You've got this!

P.S.

Would you like to explore how I can support your career goals? I offer a free 20-minute consultation to answer your questions and discuss how my services can help you achieve your objectives. To get a better idea of the topics we might cover, you can check out common questions, view my career packages, and book a session through this link.