You need to improve your time-management skills. What are some effective ways to do it?

Improving time-management skills requires adopting several effective strategies. Start by prioritizing tasks based on importance and urgency, utilizing techniques like the Eisenhower Matrix. Set specific, achievable goals and break them down into smaller, manageable tasks, employing tools like to-do lists or time-blocking methods. Minimize distractions by allocating specific time slots for email checking and social media usage. Additionally, learn to delegate tasks when possible and say no to non-essential commitments. Regularly review and adjust your schedule as needed to optimize productivity and ensure a healthy work-life balance. Seeking accountability through mentors or productivity apps can also provide valuable support.

ROUTINE! Having a consistent routine or schedule can be very helpful in getting back on track. Start with small changes, and then let it become a regular task. Make reminders. There are a ton of apps that help prioritize your work. Body doubling/co working can also be a good tool for accountability as well.

Next to smart goals, I would also break them down into smaller, actionable tasks to make them more manageable. Also, practice time blocking. Allocate specific blocks of time for different activities throughout the day, such as focused work, meetings, breaks, and personal tasks.

One thing I have found helpful is "time chunking" - that is, blocking time on my calendar for future activities that I know I need to accomplish. The ideal tasks to provide these blocks of time to are things that are not urgent in the moment. Using "reverse planning" method can take the goal or task that you've set, and work backward from a deadline. Insert the steps to achieving the goal or task between today and the future date, and you're well on your way to achieving what's most important!

Procrastination can absolutely be negative. It could also be positive. When it's negative, you're putting off finishing something because you want it to be perfect, or because you don't really want to do it, or because it is overwhelming. Find an accountability buddy for these activities. Sometimes the ideas aren't quite formed to be able to accomplish the task. It's "percolating." In this case, when you sit down to do it, you know that it'll come together quickly because you have been thinking about it. It may feel like procrastination, but it is not negative. Just make sure to have blocked time to accomplish the task on time.

The best way to improve your time management skills is to know yourself better. What works for someone else might not necessarily work for you. Start by tracking the time of the day when you are feeling most focused and energized. If you are not highly alert in the mornings, do low level tasks like admin and replying to emails. If you find that you're at peak energy mid-day or early afternoon, focus that time on high-creativity tasks like project planning, content development, or other deep focus work. Don't attend meetings during your times of high energy, as far as possible. Task management, linked to times of appropriate energy, is what will help you feel in control of your time, your way.