What do you do if you're struggling to manage your time effectively?

To conduct a proper time audit, track your activities for every hour of an average week using apps like aTimeLogger. Alternatively, you can write down your daily activities, including sleep hours, to identify where your time is being spent. This will help you understand exactly where your time goes and allow you to make changes.

When struggling to manage time effectively, I prioritize tasks, use time blocking, and set realistic goals. I minimize distractions, delegate when possible, and take regular breaks to maintain productivity and balance.

Doing a time audit is a great place to start when trying to identify where you are 'wasting' minutes and where you could become more productive. Go through your calendar from the past week and see where there were zones of high productivity and low. Be honest. Next, audit your days down to every 30 minutes over the course of a week. How many times did your reach for your phone when it was not for something of business or personal (the scroll vortex). Where are you able to buy back your time and implement new habits that can lead to aligning yourself with healthy results and goal achievements.

The best example for me is to get started EARLY. Make a list of the most important tasks of the day and tackle the hardest ones earliest. Make the hard calls early in the morning and don't try to play two minute drill at the end of the day or the week.

Take a step back and conduct an honest audit of how you spend your time. Identifying time-draining activities is the first step towards reclaiming control. This self-awareness is foundational in the journey to effective time management.

Set Goals that are realistic and achievable. Always make sure they are Measurable and make sure those working with you are in agreement of that goals that are set. Correct behavior when goals are missed and give credit when goals are achieved.

Goals should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. SMART goals give you clarity and a deadline, turning the abstract into actionable steps. This framework helps to direct your efforts efficiently.

Prioritize tasks and put them in order. Take on the hardest tasks EARLY in the morning and don't put them off. Same thing early in the week. Make sure to stress the emphasis of important tasks and make sure you are distributing tasks to get everyone involved.

My method has always been to evaluating what I am currently working on and what should be prioritized. What have I left too long? Move that up the list. Build out a schedule and timeline to hold myself accountable to ensure I am on task and on time!

Not all tasks are created equal. Use tools like the Eisenhower Box to differentiate between what's urgent and what's important. Focusing on high-impact activities ensures that your energy is spent on tasks that align with your goals.

Block out time for everything. If you take a 30 minute lunch everyday at the same time, put that in as a repeater. Block tasks that can easily consume too much time like checking emails - schedule that for 45minutes once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Block the events in your calendar and live by that. You'll find managing your time in this way brings a sense of ease to your day and your productivity will soar!

Schedule your time and stick to the schedule. Do not tolerate missing meetings or people that are late. Make sure to schedule meetings early in the day and do not commit to overly long meetings that are not time effective.

Allocate specific blocks of time for tasks, including breaks. This method, often referred to as time blocking, can enhance focus and productivity by creating a structure that helps to minimize procrastination.

Avoid distractions and on iPhone put your phone in Work/Personal mode to limit push notifications. Put your phone in a set position on your desk and don't keep it in front of you the entire day.

Technology is amazing - we're always available! But this can quickly derail the best of intentions when those cellular notifications keep distracting you from what's going on in your day. Silence the 'bell'. Multitasking does not result in higher productivity. Juggling things in your mind ends in diluted results and can pave the way for feelings of overwhelm. Place your phone on mute or toggle it into a 'do not disturb' status. Create space away from social and messaging for clarity, productivity and creativity to take over.

Identify your main distractions and develop strategies to mitigate them. This might involve setting boundaries, using technology mindfully, or designing a workspace that encourages concentration.

Periodically review what works and what doesn’t. Be open to adjusting your strategies based on outcomes. This continuous loop of evaluation and improvement is vital for sustainable time management.

Embrace the power of saying no. Overcommitment is a common time management pitfall. Learning to say no to less important tasks frees up your time for those things that truly matter, aligning your work and life more closely with your priorities.