Top 14 Effective Time Management Techniques: Enhance Your Productivity

“Time flies, but you’re the pilot.”

In this world of distractions, deadlines and endless tasks, managing your time has become a priority. Without good management of your time, you’re nowhere. 

Time is everything. It makes you realise what truly matters and demands to create space for it. Wherever you go, you are required to be time-bound. 

Mastering an art of time management tells you about how you can use them in different situations. With the help of different effective time management techniques, blog helps you to plan and perform better. Knowing about the importance of time management for students  will help you ace in your life. 

Time management is not only for your tasks completion. It applies to all spheres of life. Be it a student, teacher, professional, working parents, house person, time management control all.

This blog gives you a technique to manage your time in all situations. Such effective time management eliminates unnecessary troubles and releases you.

14 Proven Time Management Techniques to Boost Productivity

Here are some important time management techniques that will boost students and teachers in attaining goals. 

1. The Pareto Principle (80/20 rule)

Pareto Principle is also known as 80/ 20 rule. The Pareto principle states that 80 % of the results are derived from 20% of efforts. 

This concept is named after an Italian economist, Vifredo Pareto. His observation says that 80% of Italy’s wealth was acquired by 20% of its population. 

He states that-

• 80% of your results are derived from 20% of your efforts. 
• Prioritize your most important tasks to be done. 

2. The Pomodoro technique

The Pomodoro technique is a method of time management under which work tasks are divided into 25 minute time periods. These time periods are broken with 5 minute short breaks. It is called “pomodoro”. 

Learn about the importance of time management in exams .

After four “Pomodoro”, a break of 15-20 minutes is to be taken. 

It helps in- 

• Increasing focus
• Cutting procrastination
• Prevents burnouts
• Breaks down work and gives times to relax

3. The Eisenhower matrix

The Eisenhower matrix is also known as an urgent important matrix. The Eisenhower matrix is the method of time management wherein students prioritise tasks and work as per their importance and urgency. 

The Eisenhower matrix has been broken down into four quadrants. 

• Urgent and important
• Important, but not urgent
• Urgent, but not important 
• Not urgent and not important 

4. The “Eat the Frog” method

The “Eat the Frog” method is an effective time management method. It is the time management technique encouraging you to complete your most important or difficult task first thing in the morning.

The “Eat the Frog” method has been broken down into two divisions–

• Identify the frog
• Eat the biggest frog first

5. The two- minute rule

The two- minute rule is a productive time management technique. It is a method stating if any task takes two- minutes or less to finish, it should be immediately completed at priority. It should be scheduled to later or add in to the to- do list. 

It highlights the following steps to be done.

• List out the tasks to be done. 
• Divide the tasks that will take two- minutes or less to finish.
• Do the important task at priority. 
• For bigger tasks also, do with the two- minute rule concept. 

6. Parkinson’s Law

Parkinson’s Law says that  work expands in order to fill the time available to complete it. This law is used to overcome procrastination and increase productivity. 

When you take longer or finish the task assigned to you, or you procrastinate and finish the task, this law guides. Parkinson’s Law gives you the tips for getting work done in less time. 

Parkinson’s Law is a principle that was given by a British historian Cyril Northcote Parkinson in 1955.

Explore different time management skills  for students. 

7. Getting Things Done (GTD) Method

Getting Things Done (GTD) Methods is a system wherein you are productive and organise everything, to reduce stress and focus. 

Gettings Things Done (GTD) Method is a time management system that includes capturing,clarifying, organising, reflecting and elevating with your tasks. 

8. Rapid Planning Method (RPM)

Rapid Planning Method (RPM) is a time management system that is meant to increase productivity and goal- setting. This management system is developed by Tony Robbins. 

It means not only to make things done but do with purpose and outcomes. It is purpose- oriented, result- driven and with a course of action plan. 

Such a time management system increases productivity with focus and motivation. There is strategic thinking involved with the course of action. 

9. Pickle Jar Theory

Pickle Jar Theory is a time management concept that involves an analogy of a jar that is filled with rocks, pebbles and sands. It suggests how to do your tasks on priority and with effective time management techniques. 

It says that by prioritising your important tasks (rocks), you can do less important ones (pebbles) and make room for minor tasks (sand). It asks you to do your tasks in a system such as, on priority, medium and minor tasks with limited distractions. 

10. Kanban

Kanban originated from Toyota’ lean manufacturing system. It refers to a time management system which is based on visual workflow. This system is used to visualise work and limit work- in- progress. It improves your flow and efficiency.

Such a management system has been broken down into parts like, visual workflow, limit work- in- progress (WIP) and flow. It increases visibility of your tasks, efficiency and flow. 

11. Inbox-Zero

Inbox- Zero is a productivity strategy meant to empty your mail inbox through effective mail management. Inbox- Zero time management system was developed by Merlin Mann. 

Inbox- Zero is meant to reduce your stress and increase your productivity. It helps in management of mail overload for spending zero time or less time to check your mail inbox. 

Explore different ways for stress management for students .

For effective time management of mail, check your mail at regular intervals through strategizing it. This will end up in having zero mail by the end of day. 

12. Timeboxing

Timeboxing is a time management method wherein you spend a fixed amount of time on a specific task. It says work is done only in a fixed time period, whether it is completed or not. 

Here you can assume your calendar as- Boxes- where each box has a time target for specific work. This system is about working in a time period allotted, regardless of your work completed or not. 

13. Who’s Got the Monkey

Who’s Got the Monkey is a metaphor time management system wherein tasks are delegated within the work space. 

In this method, when an employee takes a task to his manager, the manager says, “Leave it here”. And that employee’ s work tasks jumped on the manager’s back. 

This concept is taken from Harvard Business Review, William Oncken and Donald Wass. 

14. The Seinfeld Method

The Seinfeld Method is also known as “Don’t break the chain”. It is a time management technique which is productive and demands consistency. The goal is not skip any day and not break the chain. 

Under this time management method, you have to do your daily tasks assigned and colour it with red X on the chart. It is introduced by comedian Jerry Seinfeld. 

Conclusion

Time is a valuable element of life. Once time is gone, it’s gone. It can’t be brought back. It helps you in working with purpose. Apart from work, it boosts your control of your time in the productive form. 

Know how can students improve time management skills .

Through application of the Pomodoro technique, Who’s Got the Monkey, and other methods, you get engaged in your tasks. Such time management techniques develop you to get into a well- planned manner and system.

Goal setting and working for that required task requires time management techniques. You can go through different strategies to manage your time in an effective way that suits you. 

Invest your time wisely because you get results where you put your time. 

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