Tips for improving time management skills at work

Effectively managing your time is typically an important aspect of being productive at work. While productivity isn’t everything, it can be important for things like job security and mental health. If the typical advice for time management hasn’t worked well for you in the past, it could be that you’ve been missing out on some of the finer details of this skill set. Below, we’ll take a look at scientific evidence that suggests the existence of three underlying components of time management skills and how you can improve in each of these areas.

The potential benefits of managing time well at work

Of course, the ability to adequately manage your time at work can help you be a better, more dependable employee because it can help you complete projects on time. In turn, this may help you achieve your career goals, build strong working relationships, and maintain job security. Or, if you’re on the hunt for a new job, it’s worth noting that non-academic soft skills like time management are in high demand in today's workforce, so this ability could help you land a position.

In addition, time management can help you maintain your mental health. For one, getting behind on tasks or forgetting about deadlines can increase stress levels, which can cause emotional distress and a variety of mental and physical health challenges. It can also encroach on your personal time, leading to work-life imbalance and insufficient rest. Over time, you may be at risk for burnout. 

In other words, building strong time management skills can be in the best interest of both you and your employer.

The three key components of time management

Many people believe that time management skills consist of nothing more than the ability to use a planner and make to-do lists, and that if these strategies haven't worked for them, there’s no way to improve. However, this view may be fundamentally flawed, because it seems that time management skills are likely more complex than we think. 

In fact, research from 2017 suggests that there are actually three broader, more foundational skill sets that contribute to the ability to manage time well. They are arrangement, awareness, and adaptation. The study notes that most people and tips are over-focused on arrangement skills, so paying more attention to awareness and adaptation could be key to success.

Improving the skill of arrangement

Arrangement refers to organization, planning, goal setting, maintaining a schedule, and other commonly referenced ways to manage time more effectively. Again, this skill set is the one most people think of when the topic of time management comes up. Using organizational tools like calendars, planners, and to-do lists is one of the most well-known ways to support arrangement skills. Tools like these can help reduce cognitive strain, which may help increase productivity and well-being.

Improving the skill of awareness

In this context, awareness refers to thinking realistically about time and recognizing it as a limited resource. Developing this type of awareness can be difficult since it requires combining several other skills, such as self-reflection, cognitive flexibility, and thinking about the big picture. That said, there are several different tactics you can try to improve your skills in this area:

• Use visual time-tracking methods, like an analog clock or stopwatch at your workspace. Being able to visually perceive how time is passing may help you be more aware of its pace and remind you to check in on your progress frequently.
• Test your time estimation skills by guessing beforehand how long you think a certain task will take and then timing yourself to get the true answer. This practice can help train your brain to become more accustomed to the speed at which time actually passes.
• Ask for feedback from peers or supervisors. In many cases, those around us notice tendencies that we have trouble seeing in ourselves. The people you work with may have observations to share about your habits in this area or advice on how they manage similar tasks.
• Practice and be patient, because building a complex skill like time awareness is usually an incremental process.

It’s also worth noting that some forms of neurodivergence like attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism can also affect time awareness, so getting treatment and support for any symptoms of these may also help.

Improving the skill of adaptation

Adaptation refers to the ability to be flexible and adjust as new situations and factors arise. Both adaptability and time management are on the list of the top 10 most in-demand soft skills in the workforce for 2023 according to Forbes, so this component can be particularly valuable for getting or succeeding in a given job. 

Adaptation in time management means being able to analyze how you’re currently using your time and making tweaks to improve efficiency. It can also look like being able to move around your schedule to accommodate new priorities or obstacles in order to stay on track. 

A few tips for adaptation in the context of time management include:

• Learn to prioritize, which involves considering your task list from a practical and realistic perspective, deciding which tasks need your attention the most, and being able to adjust as needed.
• Set your schedule at the start of each week, making sure to prioritize tasks based on deadlines and any resources you may need. An example could be focusing on a task that’s not due till next week right away on Monday because you need a coworker’s expertise to complete it and they’re leaving for vacation on Wednesday.
• Stay open-minded. Being willing to try new techniques and learn about time management from other people can help you engage in the continuous improvement of your skill set over time, which can make you an even more valuable employee.
• Carve out time for rest. Research suggests that getting enough rest can be an important component of productivity because it can help rejuvenate your body and mind for increased cognitive performance and stress resilience. Avoid overbooking yourself so you have enough time to relax regularly. 

Getting support with time management skills

There’s often a lot on the line when it comes to time management at work. Without it, deadlines may get missed and projects may fall through the cracks—which can lead to increased stress, poor work-life balance, and even job insecurity. However, improving time-management skills isn’t always as easy as just trying a new technique. In some cases, mental health challenges or conditions may impact a person’s ability to manage their tasks in this way, from low self-esteem to perfectionism and anxiety to ADHD. Seeking therapy can be an effective way to address such challenges. A qualified therapist can teach you healthy coping techniques for any mental health symptoms or challenges and help you address any distorted thoughts that may be holding you back.

For someone who has trouble with time management, fitting in a regular commute to and from in-office appointments with a therapist can seem daunting. Those who would find it more convenient to meet with a therapist from the comfort of home might consider online therapy instead. With an online therapy platform like BetterHelp, you can get matched with a licensed therapist who you can meet with virtually. Since research suggests that online therapy can offer similar benefits to in-person care, you can typically feel confident in choosing whichever format works best for you.

Takeaway

Time management skills can be crucial for workplace performance and mental well-being, but there’s more to this skill set than many people realize. The three key components of time management are arrangement, awareness, and adaptation, and there are various strategies you can try to improve in each area. If you’re looking for additional support, meeting with a therapist is generally recommended.