What do you do if you need to improve your time management skills during a career change?

Career change can be overwhelming! To boost time management skills during this change, here are some simple steps you could try; - Set clear goals and priorities - Create a schedule with dedicated blocks for job searching, networking, and skill-building - Use a planner, calendar, or app to stay organized and on track - Break tasks into smaller, manageable chunks - Eliminate distractions and minimize multitasking - Take breaks to recharge and avoid distractions.

Imagine you're a detective investigating your time management habits. Take a step back and observe how you currently allocate your time. Maybe you realize you spend too much time on non-essential tasks or that you frequently procrastinate on important projects. By identifying these patterns, you can develop a plan to address them effectively.

Use a simple yet effective time tracking software. There are lots of them that will give you a clear overview of how you spend your time, and most of them are free for personal use. Analyze (based on your reports) which tasks you could or should delegate. When doing so, always make the consideration of how much value you add by doing it yourself, instead of leaving it to someone else. Then: remember that that someone else is most probably going to do it differently than you would. Accept and welcome that, try to avoid micromanagement. Delegating means telling — what should be done and — by when. Not how. Living by that principle is a substantial time saver.

Think of yourself as a sculptor shaping your career transition with precision. Set Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART) goals to guide your journey. For instance, rather than setting a vague goal like "improve time management," aim for something specific like "reduce time spent on email by 20% within the next month." This clarity empowers you to track your progress and stay focused.

I know, the SMART framework has always been the “normal” way of setting goals. But it is hugely limiting us. Instead, just to inspire you, watch the YouTube video on DUMB goals (Brendon Burchard). If you don't have time to do so, here's a quick overview: - Dream-driven, with a focus on our lives, not tasks. - Uplifting, to be more inspiring than to just meet a deadline - Method-friendly, or allowing to create methods and practices that help you move toward them - Behavior-triggered, so you will be reminded to chase it.

A good old agenda (paper version in my case) is the absolute go-to tool. I like to plan every week on Monday mornings (or Sunday evenings). My tip: put everything in the planner (including time for preparing meals, comuting, grocery shopping, etc.). You might discover you're not that bad at managing your time, you just had too much planned for the week ??

Picture yourself as an architect designing the blueprint for your ideal day. Take time to plan your schedule meticulously, allocating time blocks for specific tasks and activities. Consider using productivity techniques like time blocking or the Pomodoro Technique to maximize focus and efficiency. By having a well-structured schedule, you can ensure that your time is utilized purposefully during your career change.

I recommend the Life Pie approach of: 1) identifying the 3-5 sections of your life (work, family, health, etc.) 2) then identify a time block in your week you spend time on each of those sections 3) plan the time blocks based on how your body naturally operates (ex: more energy to workout after work vs. before work) REMINDER! if it doesn't have a time block, it probably won't happen!

Prioritize ruthlessly: Not all tasks are created equal. Identify what's essential for your career change and focus on those tasks first. For instance, developing core skills in your new field might be more important than attending every social event, even if they're networking opportunities.

Plan your day/week before it starts, review them when they're finished. These daily / weekly (p)reviews should not take too long (i.e. 2×5 min. daily, 2×15 min. weekly). Make sure the initiatives in your projects are actionable. Ensure that each project, task, and so forth is fully streamlined, in a way that you can immediately execute on it. Know how much time these will take. The next step is to view your schedule, in which are already the activities you have committed to (e.g. meetings, etc.). Start by allocating time to the most important blocks (those that contribute the most to achieving your objectives), and only then fill in the other spaces with day-to-day activities.

Imagine you're a gardener tending to a bountiful garden, focusing on nurturing the most fruitful plants. Embrace the 80/20 rule, also known as the Pareto Principle, which suggests that 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. Identify the tasks or activities that yield the most significant impact on your career transition and prioritize them accordingly. This strategic approach allows you to channel your energy into areas that generate the greatest returns.

Think of yourself as a conductor orchestrating a symphony, each task requiring your undivided attention like a musical note in harmony. Resist the temptation to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously, as this often leads to reduced productivity and increased stress. Instead, focus on one task at a time, giving it your full concentration and effort. By adopting a mindful approach to work, you can accomplish tasks more efficiently and with greater quality.

1 forgotten downside to multi-tasking: Lack of trust & presence with the people around you! If you're in a meeting & multi-tasking on your laptop or phone, others in the room may not see you as fully present or listening and may be less likely to trust your input when you speak up

Envision yourself as a scientist conducting experiments, constantly iterating and refining your approach for optimal results. Regularly review your time management strategies to identify what's working well and what can be improved. Experiment with different techniques and tools, such as time-tracking apps or productivity journals, to find what suits you best. By embracing a growth mindset and being open to feedback, you can continuously enhance your time management skills throughout your career change journey.

Base your reviews on how effective you've been, not just how efficient. If, on a Friday night, you have ticked all the boxes on your to-do list, but you don't get the impression of actually achieving something, re-think your list. It may indicate that you're investing a lot of time in doing things very efficiently that shouldn't have been done in the first place. So, re-do your review and now ask yourself time and time again “how much did this contribute to the objective it is linked to?”. And if you find tasks, meetings, events, that aren't linked to one of your objectives … you may want to skip those next week.

Time management skills are always needed (or better said task management or energy management). If it's time to change your career focus on what this new position requires of you and use time management to enhance your skills or create a well-being environment to accommodate the changes.