Time Management Articles

Time management is the conscious act of organizing your tasks, learning how to arrive places on time, and fighting against the urge to procrastinate getting work done. Managing one’s time isn’t limited to one area of life, but can impact work, romantic relationships, friendships, and family. People in one’s life appreciate a person’s ability to respect their time, and that comes with the awareness of how time works. An individual can manage time effectively when they gain an accurate understanding of how long things take including tasks, transportation, and meetings.

Here you will find articles about how time management can help you get things done, strengthen your work relationships as well as personal ones. People underestimate the importance of managing time effectively. Read more about techniques to keep on track and maybe even be early for something!

Medically Reviewed By: Aaron Horn, LMFT, MA

Time Management

Time management is the action of consciously planning your time on particular activities to increase your productivity and be able to juggle all of the things that you do in your life. Some people can manage their time effectively. They are punctual and get things done whereas other people struggle with time management. The goal of managing your time is to be able to complete your tasks and have time for leisure as well.

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Productivity

The most important thing when it comes to managing your time is that you’re productive and that you simultaneously allow yourself the time to complete quality work. You don’t want to produce something that's subpar. You could be productive and get things done, but if you don’t manage your time effectively, it’s less likely that you’ll produce something that you’re proud of creating. You want to make sure that you have enough time to complete everything that you need or want to implement into your day. Rather than overcommitting yourself, be realistic and plan your day one step at a time.

Struggles with Time Management

Struggling with time management is common. People that live with ADHD often struggle with time management because they don’t have a realistic concept of time. It can be difficult to determine how long it will take them to do something, and so they often underestimate the amount of time that it will take to complete a task. Another reason that people with ADHD may struggle with time management is difficulty starting a task. Part of the reason this happens is that they want to do multiple things at the same time. They get bored quickly and struggle with sticking to one task as a result.

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Priorities

Sometimes it’s hard to figure out what the most important things you need to do are, but that’s about recognizing your priorities. When engaging in time management, it’s helpful to make a list of the most important things that you need to get done. You want to set goals and make sure that when you’re setting those objectives, you identify what to prioritize first. Once you establish that, you can go from there and implement other activities.

ABCD

There’s a technique that is used in a business setting that helps people manage their time effectively. It goes by the letters of the alphabet - A, B, C, D. “A” is for tasks that are urgent. B is for tasks that important, but not quite as urgent. “C” is for tasks that are unimportant but urgent. “D” is for tasks that are unimportant and not urgent. Each group gets ranked by priority. This makes it so that you can figure out what the most important things to do are.

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List-Making

Making a list can help you establish what you need to get done. Once you make a list of tasks, you can determine how long each will take. You need to figure out a realistic timeframe for each item on your list. You might even time yourself. If you're still having trouble with time management, you can talk to a therapist about your struggles. Whether you live with ADHD or merely have a lot on your hands, they will be able to assist you in developing time management strategies. If you’re overwhelmed by your list of tasks, a mental health professional will be there to listen and aid you in coping with that as well. A large workload can be stressful and talking about it can help.

Online Therapy

Time management is easy for some people, and not for others. If you’re finding that your days are disorganized, you can seek help. There are online therapists who are available to support you in learning to structure your day and figure out how long it takes you to start and complete tasks. Don’t punish yourself if time management is hard for you. An online therapist can help you figure out how to manage your time effectively, and stop feeling guilty when you don’t get everything done. Search the network of online counselors here at BetterHelp and find someone that can help you get more accomplished.