You're zooming from Zoom meeting to Zoom meeting, taking calls in the car, and haven't checked your email in days. Too busy even for a time management course? Here are 10 practical tips, drawn from bestselling experts like David Allen, to help you accomplish more in less time.
David Allen's Getting Things Done—available in Dutch too—is one of the top time management books. It's a long-time bestseller, and the insights will pay for themselves immediately. Until you read it, start with these proven strategies from experienced productivity coaches and research.
Procrastination wastes more time than you realize. Constantly mulling over small unfinished tasks drains your focus from big priorities. List those nagging to-dos, block out time, and knock them out one by one.
Your body's natural clock influences sleep, blood pressure, heart rate, and focus over 24 hours. Most people peak between 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 3-5 p.m. Tackle deep thinking and tough tasks then—not mundane ones like painting your toenails. Alternate high-effort work with lighter duties to sustain energy. Track your peaks if you're a morning or evening person.
Meetings are classic time sinks. Optimize them:
“There's no time shortage—just poor use of it,” says Richard Koch in The 80/20 Principle. 80% of results come from 20% of efforts. Doubling down on high-impact activities could shrink your workweek. List low- vs. high-value tasks and swap the former for the latter.
Low-value activities:
High-value activities:
Reserve space for surprises—the smartest time management move. Block half a day weekly, a full day monthly, and a week quarterly. Treat it like a banked reserve for crises or overflow. This way, you proactively plan the unplanned.
Colleagues respect boundaries. Practice polite nos, explain if needed, and customers—ordinary people too—often understand delays. Say, “I'll call back end of week,” and follow through. Most agree.
Workers get 50-150 emails daily; 30% is wasted time, per U.S. research. Tame it:
Training others takes upfront time but frees you long-term for higher priorities—or that well-deserved tea break. Structure it for success.
List your top 3 daily priorities; review midday. Keep weekly lists simple too—plan Sunday for Monday ease and stress-free weekends. Skip trivialities like plant-watering.
Office workers waste six weeks yearly searching. A tidy desk and inbox save hours. Keep essentials handy; limit desk to active papers. Process mail once: reply, file, forward, trash, or archive. Follow Marie Kondo's principles—Google her or grab her books for transformative tips.
By Manon Sikkel | Images: Getty Images
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