Get Better Returns on Your Time

Have you ever been told you need to manage your time better? The term "time management" is an oxymoron: time can’t be managed, saved, or conserved — we can only manage how we spend it through our actions and activities. I’m a big fan of Nischa Shah, an investment banker and financial influencer (@Nischa), and recently watched her introduction to?Mastering Wealth: The 15-65-20 Rule for Financial Success. She outlines a simple, effective framework for allocating every dollar we earn:

·?????? 15%?for Savings and Investments

·?????? 65%?for Essentials and Fundamental Expenses

·?????? 20%?for Personal Enjoyment and Guilt-Free Spending

This made me think about how I invest my time each day. Am I just chasing my task list, staying busy all day, and feeling drained when the day ends? Do I intentionally allocate time to work on projects that will yield the highest long-term returns? Have I set aside time for personal enjoyment and relaxation? Or am I letting others decide how I spend my time?

Similar to Nischa’s belief that the ultimate financial goal isn’t to die with a hefty bank account, the goal of time management isn’t to end up with unused hours. Instead, it's about investing time in what matters most while consciously resting, relaxing, and recharging.

Implementing the 15-65-20 Rule for Productivity

1. Assess Your Available Time, Priorities, and Essential Tasks

While we all have 24 hours in a day, we don’t have 24 hours to budget. Sleep is essential; in his bestselling book?Why We Sleep, Dr. Matt Walker highlights that sleep is the most important performance-enhancing action we can take. Budget at least eight hours for it.

We also need time for personal and family responsibilities. After accounting for these essentials, most of us have 8 to 12 hours available each day.

Remember Parkinson’s Law:?"Work expands to fill the time available for its completion."?If you budget four hours, the task will likely take four hours; if you budget eight hours, it will probably stretch accordingly. Be mindful when allocating time.

2. Budget and Prioritize

Determining what to work on — and in what order — is as critical as the work itself. In the context of the 15-65-20 rule:

·?????? 15%?of your time should go to high-impact, long-term projects that aren’t urgent today but will yield significant returns in the future. If you don’t invest in these big ideas daily, when will you? Without prioritizing the important over the urgent, long-term success becomes elusive.

·?????? 65%?of your time should cover essential, day-to-day tasks that keep your work running: responding to clients, partners, and team members; paying bills; handling messages; preparing reports, proposals, and presentations. These activities move your work forward.

·?????? 20%?of your time should be spent on activities that recharge and restore you. This might include meditation, yoga, going to the gym, spending time with family or friends, or simply reading a book alone. This time isn’t a luxury — it’s essential for maintaining balance and productivity.

3. Automate Your Schedule

Establish a consistent rhythm for when you tackle different types of tasks. If you think best in the morning, dedicate that time to your 15% tasks before getting bogged down in daily essentials. If you feel more energized after exercising, schedule some of your 20% time for a morning workout to set the tone for your day.

Whether you prefer time-blocking or another scheduling method is less important than committing to an intentional plan. Don’t roll out of bed and start reacting to emails and texts. When you do, you’re letting others control how you invest your time.

4. Regularly Review and Adjust

Take time each week to reflect on the past week's performance, adjust your schedule, and plan your 15% and 20% blocks for the upcoming week. Plans will inevitably shift, but failing to plan almost guarantees failure.

Conclusion

Living a productive, secure and fulfilled life doesn’t require complex strategies or significant sacrifices.? The 15-65-20 framework offers a straightforward yet powerful approach to managing your time and productivity.? By investing 15% of your time in your big ideas, ensuring essential work does not exceed the 65% allocated to your schedule (Parkinson’s Law) and allowing 20% for personal enjoyment you are managing your time like your money and creating a more stable, fulfilled and enjoyable life.