Are you looking for time management techniques to help you manage your schedule and tasks?
Do you want to learn how to better manage your time at work and home?
Time management techniques are methods of structuring, tracking, measuring, and evaluating time within a schedule. These techniques can be simple or complex and can be used by themselves or in combination with others.
Time management techniques that may have worked well for you in past, may not be as effective or as efficient in the present. The good news is that you can always refresh or update techniques to your needs and desires whenever you like.
In this article, you’ll find a collection of seven time management techniques: (1) tracking your time, (2) saying no to non-essential items, (3) adding time buffers, (4) sitting on decisions, (5) time boxing, (6) setting a timer, and (7) starting early.
Each technique can be used independently or together to build a calmer, more structured workday.
Before we get started, if you want a simple daily structure to help you prioritize your work, my free Productivity Mindset Planner™ is a good place to start.
Key Takeaways
- Time tracking reveals where your hours actually go and is the foundation for real time management improvement.
- Saying no is a time management strategy that protects both your schedule and your productivity levels.
- Time buffers reduce stress from unexpected circumstances by building breathing room directly into your day.
- Time boxing and timers create accountability by turning open-ended tasks into focused work sessions.
- Starting work early (even taking one small step counts) helps to build momentum and makes deadlines far less stressful.
Table of Contents
What are time management techniques?
Time management techniques are methods of structuring, tracking, measuring, and evaluating time within a schedule. There are there are countless techniques from which to choose in your professional and personal life.
These techniques can be simple or complex, analog or digital, structured or formless. You can use time management techniques by themselves or in combination with others throughout your day or week.
Above all, your productivity mindset will help guide what you think and believe about time. The key is finding and using time management techniques that appropriately match your needs and preferences.
7 practical time management techniques to try today
Below you’ll find seven time management techniques to try today: (1) tracking your time, (2) saying no to non-essential items, (3) adding time buffers, (4) sitting on decisions, (5) time boxing, (6) setting a timer, and (7) starting early.
Read through the list and make a note as to which technique or techniques you’d like to experiment with. Then, give the technique a try to see how it goes!
Track your time
Time tracking is a method of noting how you spend your minutes and hours throughout the day, whether you’re at work or at play. It allows you to accurately capture or at least make an approximation as to how you’re utilizing your time on a regular basis.
To track your time, you can make hourly notes in a notebook or use any time-tracking software or app that’s available on the market today. All you have to do is make a notation as to which tasks you performed during the day, and for how long.
Yes, that’s it. I know, tracking your time sounds ridiculously simple, but you may be quite surprised by your results!
For instance, how much time do you spend checking email each day? How long does it take you to get dressed and eat breakfast in the morning? And how much time do you spend on social media every afternoon?
If you have no reference point when it comes to these and other tasks, you’ll definitely want to track your time for a day.
You’ll be able to get some solid data about where your time is going, and exactly how your time is being spent.
Just say “no”
Saying “no” can improve your time management because it protects your carefully-created schedule and plans. You’ve already decided how you want to spend your time and how you’ll live your life; saying “no” helps you to maintain those boundaries.
Your schedule is both valuable and important because it is your schedule. That’s why it’s crucial to protect your schedule at all costs whenever you receive solicited or unsolicited requests from others.
Don’t be afraid to freely use the word “No,” throughout your daily routines. Don’t have time this week to meet a friend for drinks after work? Say “No, thank you,” and schedule something on the weekend instead.
Can’t squeeze in that extra, voluntary project at work? Let others know you’ve got a full workload and are currently unavailable.
Find yourself crunched for time this weekend and can’t spare extra hours volunteering at the library? Say, “No, I’m busy then, but I’d be happy to help organize the gala later this season.”
If you’ve been struggling with time management for longer than you’d like to admit, The Order Expert’s Guide to Time Management™ eBook helps you manage your calendar, overcome procrastination, and develop a healthier relationship with time from the inside out.
Add time buffers to your day
Adding time buffers to your day gives you sufficient wiggle-room to deal with unexpected news, traffic delays, late deliveries, and other issues that tend to pop up throughout the day. You can think of time buffers as helpful planning cushions for your schedule.
Try adding in two fifteen-minute time buffers to any upcoming appointment. Add one buffer before, and after, your engagement. You might also schedule in travel time buffers to your schedule, whether you’re traveling by car, train, bus, boat, or plane.
Does it seem as if you have no time between meetings to catch your breath? Do you always rush from appointment to appointment? Are you looking for a break between planning sessions? Want space to gather personal items before you leave?
If so, you may want to consider adding time buffers to your day. In my work with entrepreneurs and executives, I’ve found that time buffers are one of the most underused, and most transformative scheduling tools available.
Once you implement the magic of time buffers in your schedule, you may never go back!
Sit on something
Sitting on something refers to the act of being patient and waiting for circumstances to unfold or things to happen on their own accord. It’s being thoughtful and intentional in not taking action or pushing a situation forward from your end.
What’s more, this is a time management strategy that’s often overlooked. You need not work at break-neck speeds in order to manage your time well.
What’s an example of sitting on something? Perhaps you don’t have yet enough information yet to make a decision on an important project at work. Maybe you’re waiting to hear back from a friend or relative about a decision.
Maybe it just doesn’t feel “right” to take action at this point in time in your work. You’re hesitant about doing anything.
If this is the case for you, slow things down. Take your time to sit on an idea, decision, thought, or course of action. It will be time soon enough for you to make your next move.
Try some time boxing
Time boxing refers to the act of setting aside or scheduling time for yourself to work on a particular task. You’re basically “boxing” in a task within a certain timeframe or scheduling parameter. This gives you both a time and a place in which to do your appointed tasks.
Time boxing can be quite helpful if you have difficulty preparing or setting a schedule for yourself. Instead of simply scheduling time to work, you’re identifying what you’ll work on during that specific period of time.
How can you get started with time boxing? Here’s a simple three-step method to get you started with time boxing:
- Jot down three brief tasks to complete. Each should take less than fifteen minutes to finish.
- Pull out your calendar for the day, find an empty hour, and schedule in those three tasks in fifteen minute increments.
- When the appointed hour rolls around, roll up your sleeves and get to work!
You can use time boxing in a variety of ways. Try time boxing tasks related to specific projects or assignments. You can also time box tasks to help you complete administrative tasks, run errands, or schedule meetings.
Set a timer
Setting a timer throughout the day allows you to set a series of mini-deadlines for yourself at work or at home. Basically, it forces you to focus and pay attention to how you’re working (or not working) during any given period of time.
What’s more, you may find you work better when you have a set deadline to meet or a specific ending time to your work. You can think of it as an added boost of motivation! Here’s how to set a timer for yourself in your work:
First, choose a task to complete. Second, select a period of time in which to work, be it fifteen, thirty, sixty minutes or more. Third, set a timer on your computer, watch, or cell phone. Fourth, start working. And fifth, when the timer goes off, stop working.
Setting a timer is an easy way to stay focused on a task or assignment at hand. Why not give it a try today?
Start early
Starting your work early allows you to complete your work at a relaxed and comfortable pace. Instead of frantically working on a project at the last minute right before the due date, you can leisurely take your time and avoid stressing yourself out.
Doing so affords you ample time to plan, work, and review, in one or more stages. It also allows you to better manage the rest of your workload when it comes to scheduling and prioritizing tasks within your daily and weekly routine.
So, the next time you find yourself working on something that has a deadline, start working on it that very same day. And you don’t need to take a big step to get started. A small task counts, too.
For instance, you could do some research, brainstorm ideas, make a list, create a file, start a document, have a conversation, make a phone call, read information, visit a location, borrow a book, read the requirements…you get the idea.
The most important thing is that you create momentum for your project. The sooner you start, the better off you’ll be.
FAQ: Time management techniques
What is the most effective time management technique?
The most effective technique is the one that fits your natural working style. Time tracking is a good place to start point because it shows you exactly where your time is going and gives you the data you need to make meaningful changes.
How do I stop feeling overwhelmed by my to-do list?
Start by saying no to non-essential commitments and adding time buffers to your schedule. Overwhelm often comes from overcommitting and underestimating how long tasks actually take. I cover improving your relationship with time in my eBook, The Order Expert’s Guide to Time Management™.
What is time boxing?
Time boxing is a technique where you assign a specific block of time to a task and work only within that block of time. It’s especially useful for people who struggle with getting started or tend to let tasks go beyond their scheduled time.
How long is a good time buffer?
A 15-minute buffer before and after appointments is a good starting point. For longer meetings or travel, consider 30-minute buffers to account for delays and transition time.
Can these time management techniques work for entrepreneurs?
Yes. These techniques are particularly well-suited for entrepreneurs and small business owners who manage multiple responsibilities without a rigid schedule. The key is selecting the techniques that align with how you naturally work.
Conclusion
Time management isn’t about cramming more into your day, rather, it’s about making thoughtful, intentional choices about how you spend your time.
The seven techniques in this article are tools, but their real power comes from the mindset behind them: the belief that your time is valuable, that structure creates freedom, and that small, consistent steps lead to lasting results.
Whether you start by tracking your time for a single day or simply add a 15-minute buffer to tomorrow’s schedule, you’re already moving in the right direction. Progress doesn’t require perfection, it just requires a starting point.
If you want a simple daily structure, grab my free Productivity Mindset Planner™. If you’re ready to go deeper on time management techniques, my eBook, The Order Expert’s Guide to Time Management™ is a good place to start.
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