Getting work done, meeting deadlines, and being productive 100% of the time is difficult for everyone. It’s even harder if you struggle with time management. Luckily, there are several ways you can improve your time management skills. These range from simple changes in your day-to-day to complete overhauls in how you schedule your life! This article explores the many time management techniques you can use to get things done more efficiently, including making a daily schedule, getting rid of distractions, and organizing the perfect workspace.

1

Set clear and measurable weekly goals.

  1. Write down everything you would like to accomplish. Review your list and prioritize what absolutely has to get done that week, such as a task with a looming deadline. Setting specific goals helps keep you motivated and will make you feel extra accomplished when you’ve achieved everything you set out to do.
    • Challenge yourself to complete more than you think you can, but don’t go overboard. If you have a massive research paper due on Friday, it’s probably not the time to add organizing your entire home and writing a novel to your list.
    • Instead, try setting the goals of finishing your research paper, organizing your closet, and writing ten pages of your novel.
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2

Create a daily schedule to organize tasks.

  1. Use a calendar or a piece of paper for scheduling. Map out exactly how you want to use your time each day, leaving nothing out of your schedule. Include how much time you would like to spend on each task. For example, start your schedule with something like, “7:30 AM - 8:00 AM: Wake up and eat breakfast.” Follow that with the first major task of your day, such as “8:00 AM - 8:30 AM: Answer emails.”[1]
    • You may not follow your schedule exactly, as life can sometimes surprise you with how long a task will take. Regardless, a schedule is a great guideline for keeping you on track to reach your weekly goals.
3

Prioritize daily tasks by importance.

  1. Pick the hardest or most pressing task of the day to do first. Let’s say you’ve got a colossal amount of homework to do, and you don’t know where to start. Review the due dates of your assignments as well as the difficulty level of each one, and prioritize accordingly. Getting a difficult, time consuming assignment out of the way first will make you feel accomplished and ready to tackle the rest of your to-do list![2]
    • For example, if you have a massive math assignment due tomorrow and some quick vocabulary worksheets due at the end of the week, start with the math homework.
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4

Concentrate on one task at a time.

  1. It’s hard to get things done when you’re doing too many things at once. As you cross things off your to-do list, keep your mind focused on the task at hand. Shut out thoughts about your other responsibilities, and avoid going back and forth between unrelated duties. It’s much more efficient to tackle one responsibility at a time. [3]
    • For example, instead of answering emails and returning phone calls at the same time, answer all of your emails before you make your phone calls.
    • Switching back and forth between tasks is more work for your brain and slows down the process.
5

Minimize distractions and interruptions.

  1. Give each task your full attention. Turn off any distractions such as email, phone, and social media notifications. You should also eliminate noise, such as a nearby TV or radio. Set aside time when you don’t want to be disturbed and don’t address any interruptions unless it's absolutely necessary.[4]
    • For example, if you plan to write for 45 minutes, don’t answer your phone or respond to any emails during this time. Once the 45 minutes are up, you can check your email.
    • Social media is a big distraction. Schedule social media time throughout the day and stay away from it unless it is during a scheduled time block.
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8

Track your time with a journal or app.

  1. Carry a notebook and write down everything you do and for how long. Alternatively, download a free time tracking app like Due Time Tracking, Calendar, or TopTracker to keep tabs on how you spend each minute.[6] Make sure you are honest. At the end of the day, review how you spent your time. Do this every day for a week to get a good picture of how you typically spend your day. At the end of the week, consider making changes if you find you spent way too many minutes (or even hours) checking social media or surfing the web.[7]
    • It’s best to track your time for a few days in a row to get an honest look at your schedule. Some days you may attend a birthday dinner or a doctor’s appointment, which aren’t everyday tasks and could throw off your schedule.
9

Review your task list at the end of each day.

  1. Take note of what you completed as well as what still needs to get done. Cross off the tasks you finished and make a new to-do list for the next day, starting with what you didn’t accomplish. Making time for this extra step each night helps you celebrate what you achieved while keeping your goals for the next day in mind. It can also help you get a better idea of what tasks take the most time. Use that information to reassess how much time you should give yourself to complete certain tasks.[8]
    • It’s completely okay to find that you didn’t get all of your tasks done! Remember that tomorrow is a new day. Keep pushing yourself to meet your goals!
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11

Say no to extra projects if your plate is full.

  1. It’s easy to take on more than you can handle. Be realistic when agreeing to new responsibilities, keeping what you have to get done already in mind. For example, if your schedule is fully booked with classes and soccer practice during the school week, it may not be the best time to join another club.[9]
    • Learn to say “no." If you cannot say no, be honest about your time constraints. For example, if someone asks you to get something done by the end of the day, you may say, “I'm a little overloaded right now, but I can have it to you by the end of tomorrow.”
    • Over-scheduling can also lead to stress. When you are stressed, you become less productive.
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13

Organize your workspace to improve productivity.

  1. Declutter your desk or find a quiet, calm space in your home. If your desk is brimming with papers, envelopes, pens, and garbage, anyone would be a little stressed or distracted! Tidy up your workspace so that you eliminate any potential distractions. Throw away any garbage, dust off your laptop and desk, and try organizing your papers in a folder or binder.[11]
    • You don’t have to eliminate all your personal touches, though! Add a few pictures to look at when you’re looking for a jolt of happiness, or consider a cute pen holder or desk plant to give your space some pizzazz.
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Expert Q&A
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  • Question
    What are some good time management skills?
    Klare Heston, LCSW
    Klare Heston, LCSW
    Licensed Social Worker
    Klare Heston is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker based in Cleveland, Ohio. With experience in academic counseling and clinical supervision, Klare received her Master of Social Work from the Virginia Commonwealth University in 1983. She also holds a 2-Year Post-Graduate Certificate from the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland, as well as certification in Family Therapy, Supervision, Mediation, and Trauma Recovery and Treatment (EMDR).
    Klare Heston, LCSW
    Licensed Social Worker
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    Using a calendar, setting reminders on electronic devices, structuring your day, and setting priorities so that your time does not get away from you.
  • Question
    How can students improve time management skills?
    Klare Heston, LCSW
    Klare Heston, LCSW
    Licensed Social Worker
    Klare Heston is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker based in Cleveland, Ohio. With experience in academic counseling and clinical supervision, Klare received her Master of Social Work from the Virginia Commonwealth University in 1983. She also holds a 2-Year Post-Graduate Certificate from the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland, as well as certification in Family Therapy, Supervision, Mediation, and Trauma Recovery and Treatment (EMDR).
    Klare Heston, LCSW
    Licensed Social Worker
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    They can improve their skills by using various organizational devices, whether those are electronic or paper and pencil. Everyone responds better to one or the other.
  • Question
    How can I improve my time management skills at work?
    Klare Heston, LCSW
    Klare Heston, LCSW
    Licensed Social Worker
    Klare Heston is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker based in Cleveland, Ohio. With experience in academic counseling and clinical supervision, Klare received her Master of Social Work from the Virginia Commonwealth University in 1983. She also holds a 2-Year Post-Graduate Certificate from the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland, as well as certification in Family Therapy, Supervision, Mediation, and Trauma Recovery and Treatment (EMDR).
    Klare Heston, LCSW
    Licensed Social Worker
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    Set up and keep to a schedule. Establish priorities. Use the early hour to look over what you need to accomplish that day. Use electronic reminders. Set goals.
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About This Article

Sydney Axelrod
Co-authored by:
Certified Life Coach
This article was co-authored by Sydney Axelrod and by wikiHow staff writer, Madeleine Criglow. Sydney Axelrod is a certified life coach and the owner of Sydney Axelrod LLC, a life coaching business focused on professional and personal development. Through one-on-one coaching, digital courses, and group workshops, Sydney works with clients to discover their purpose, navigate life transitions, and set and accomplish goals. Sydney has over 1,000 hours of relevant coaching certifications and holds a BBA in Marketing and Finance from Emory University. This article has been viewed 83,735 times.
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Co-authors: 19
Updated: December 4, 2022
Views: 83,735
Article SummaryX

To improve your time management skills, make a to-do list at the beginning of every day and week, which will help you allocate your time better. Try to prioritize your most important tasks first so you're not using up valuable time on tasks that could wait until another day. Also, work on one thing at a time until it's finished since multitasking can actually slow you down and make you less productive. If you're working on a long-term project, write down important milestones on a calendar and set reminders on your phone so you don't lose track of time. To learn how to stay motivated when you're juggling a lot of tasks, scroll down!

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