12 Lessons I Learned From 90 Days Of Time Management

I’ve been doing time management experiments for the last 3 months and it has been an awesome experience.

I’ve learned a lot about myself and my productivity during this period of time. From these experiments, I write down 12 Lessons I Learned from 90 Days of Time Management.

5 Lessons on Time Management from Bill Gates – YouTube

Takeaways
1. Prioritization is key: Focus on tasks that align with your goals and have the most impact.
2. Time blocking increases productivity: Allocate specific time slots for different activities to stay organized and efficient.
3. Set realistic deadlines: Break down larger tasks into smaller milestones and set achievable deadlines for each.
4. Learn to say no: Be selective with commitments and avoid overloading your schedule.
5. Take breaks and practice self-care: Resting and rejuvenating are crucial for maintaining productivity and overall well-being.
6. Embrace technology: Utilize productivity tools, apps, and automation to streamline tasks and save time.
7. Continuously evaluate and adjust: Regularly assess your time management strategies and make necessary adjustments for improvement.
8. Delegate when possible: Assign tasks to others when appropriate, allowing you to focus on high-priority responsibilities.
9. Minimize distractions: Identify and eliminate or reduce distractions that hinder your focus and productivity.
10. Practice effective communication: Clearly communicate expectations, deadlines, and progress with team members or stakeholders.
11. Learn from failures: Embrace setbacks as learning opportunities and use them to refine your time management approach.
12. Celebrate achievements: Acknowledge and reward yourself for reaching milestones and accomplishing goals.

Table of Contents

1. You Should Have One Main Goal

It should be something you want to achieve in the next 90 days.

It should be specific, measurable, and realistic.

Your goal must be something you can control or influence (i.e., “I will lose 10 pounds” is a bad goal because it’s not within your control).

And finally, remember: it needs to be something YOU want to achieve; don’t pick something for someone else or make their goals your own!

Your goal should revolve around a single activity or good habit.

This is the big one. Your goal should revolve around a single activity or good habit. Don’t try to change everything at once, or even in one day.

For example, if your goal is to spend more time with family, don’t start by planning out a whole new schedule for every member of your family that’s way too much change!

Instead, pick just one thing: maybe you want to sit down next to your son with his homework and help him do it every night before bedtime.

You can make it into a fun game: he gets 10 points every time he gets an answer right and loses a point whenever he makes a mistake!

That way he won’t feel like he’s being treated differently by his parents because they’re helping him.

He’ll see it as something fun that they’re doing together instead of something boring and stressful. You’ll be having quality time together while also working toward achieving your larger goal!

Building a support system after experiencing grief and loss can be difficult, but finding strength in community can make a big difference. Check out our guide on The Easiest Way to Become More Productive to learn practical tips and strategies for boosting your productivity.

2. Even A Small Change Can Build Momentum

You may be thinking, “Why even bother with the small changes? Isn’t it best to just make a big change and commit to it for good?” That might work for some people, but I’ve found that starting small is often the better way.

It’s easier to stick with a plan when you’re not overwhelmed by too many new habits all at once. Small changes can also add up to big results over time if you give them time and energy.

It’s not like the only way to lose weight is by going on an extreme diet and exercise plan;

Instead, small improvements in your diet (like cutting out one soda per day) and exercise routine (like walking an extra 20 minutes each day) can add up over time without being overwhelming or difficult.

A good example of this principle in action comes from my experience with setting goals as part of my 90 Days Of Time Management project: I started by committing to writing down 3 things every day that made me feel proud of myself throughout the week.

For example: “I gave my friend some advice about her relationship,” or “I took care of my dog on her birthday.”

It was simple enough so that I could easily do it every day without getting overwhelmed by trying something too big for me and now that it’s become part of my routine.

Those little bits of self-affirmation have helped build momentum toward bigger goals like getting more organized at work!

3. Start With Five Minutes A Day, First Thing In The Morning Then Build From There

If you’re just getting started with time management, it’s okay to start small. You don’t have to go all-in right away. Start by adding five minutes of work time to your morning routine, then build up from there.

The point is that you’ll find yourself more productive if you’ve already taken a little bit of time for yourself before working on your tasks for the day.

Plus, taking even a few minutes for yourself can help relieve stress and make those important tasks feel less overwhelming when they come along later in the day or week.

It might be tempting to tell yourself that “you’re going to be so much more efficient if you don’t take any breaks!” But trust me: it’s not true!

Taking breaks will help make whatever work comes after them easier because it will feel less exhausting and who doesn’t want an easier-to-accomplish task list?

If we had known this earlier, we might have been able to get our work done sooner!

Are you a freelancer who struggles with planning and time management? Our article on Time Management for Freelancers Who Hate to Plan provides valuable insights and techniques to help you optimize your workflow and achieve better results.

4. Set Up A Time Window That Fits Into Your Schedule, And Stick To It

Do you know what’s not fun? Being rushed out of your house or work because you thought you had enough time to get something done.

Realizing that you don’t have enough time to get it done, and then having to rush back home or to work with the knowledge that now you’re going to be late. It’s a vicious cycle!

If you want to avoid this scenario (and who doesn’t?), two things need to happen: 1) You need to set up a time window for yourself, and 2) You must stick to this time window. Here’s how:

Set Up A Time Window That Fits Into Your Schedule

The first step is figuring out when exactly your “window” will be in other words, which activities will fall under its umbrella.

For example: If I’m trying not to spend as much time on social media during my work day but still want some social media breaks throughout the day (say, once an hour).

Then I might choose 5 PM-6 PM as my “window” because this is when most people are off from their jobs in the summertime and more likely on their phones posting pictures of food.

Or if I’m trying not to spend too much money during my trip abroad next month but still want some money for souvenirs along the way (and maybe even some extra spending cash).

Then I might choose 8 AM-9 AM as my “window” because those are usually quiet hours when no one else seems willing or able afford anything quite yet.

Stick To Your Time Window

Schedule calendar reminders for the night before.

Calendar reminders are a great way to help you stick to your schedule. If you don’t schedule it, then you’re unlikely to do it. I’ve found that when I don’t properly schedule my tasks and commitments, they fall by the wayside and sometimes get forgotten altogether.

That’s why I use calendar reminders for everything from meetings and appointments to important events like birthdays or anniversaries that take place during the week ahead.

To make sure those events will be added to my calendar appropriately (with enough lead time), I set reminders for the night before so that there aren’t any last-minute hiccups on my end if someone forgot about an upcoming celebration altogether!

Looking to land amazing gigs on Upwork? Discover 5 Easy Tips for Landing an Awesome Upwork Gig that can help you stand out from the competition and secure high-quality projects.

5. Habit-Tracking Apps Help Keep You Accountable

I’ve tried a lot of habits tracking apps over the years and settled on the simple but effective Todoist Premium. It has a clean interface, it syncs with my phone and computer, and it allows me to schedule tasks.

The app also has an extension for Chrome that allows me to add new projects and tasks without opening the app itself (which is great because I hate opening apps).

You can track your habits on your phone or computer.

I keep all my daily activities in Todoist Premium including this article! If you don’t have a habit-tracking app yet, check out some of our favorites here: 5 Best Habits Tracking Apps For 2019

6. Set Up Accountability Partners This Could Be Anyone, But It Helps To Have Someone Who Shares Your Goals

You’ll want to set up accountability partners to stay on track and make sure you’re making progress. This could be anyone a friend, family member, coworker, or even someone you meet online.

If you have a hard time keeping yourself motivated and focused on your goals, having an accountability partner can help keep things moving along. You can also share your goals with friends and family members who support what you’re trying to achieve.

Accountability partners are especially useful if there’s something specific about the process of achieving them (like losing weight) because they can help keep each other motivated when one person starts falling off track.

Accountability partners can also work wonders for projects that require more than just one person’s attention; when tackling a large task (like learning how to code).

It’s helpful having someone else involved in managing the project so that both parties feel accountable for its success or failure

7. Make Decisions Ahead Of Time About What You’ll Do When You Face Unplanned Opportunities That Conflict With Your Window Of Time

So how can you manage your time more effectively? Here are 15 actionable tips:

Make a plan for when you face conflicts.

You’re likely to have several unplanned opportunities come up in the course of your day, and at least one of them will likely be something you want to do but that doesn’t fit into the window of time you’ve set aside for getting things done.

The key is to decide ahead of time what you’ll do when this happens so that when it does happen, it’s not such a big deal. If there’s something else on your list that doesn’t require quite as much focus (or if there isn’t anything else on your list), then take care of that instead!

Plan for the unexpected in advance. It’s hard enough to plan for all possible contingencies when we’re putting together our daily schedules; it’s even harder when we don’t know what those contingencies might be until they happen!

But trying as best as possible beforehand can make a huge difference in how much control we feel over our lives while also preventing us from feeling overwhelmed by an influx of information after the fact (or during).

Freelance project time management can be stressful, but there are proven ways to reduce the pressure. Explore our guide on 13 Proven Ways to Lower Freelance Project Time Management Stress to discover effective strategies for managing your time more efficiently and achieving work-life balance.

8. Don’t Put Off Too Many Things At Once Spreading Yourself Too Thin Can Lead To Burnout And Guilt

This is a lesson that I learned the hard way. When you put off doing something for too long, it’s easy to feel guilty about it. I would often find myself delaying doing things like applying for jobs because I was busy with other things and didn’t have time to do them all at once.

This is especially true of big projects or tasks that require a lot of time and energy, like writing an essay or working on an ambitious project with your friends.

If you have too many things going on in your life at once, then chances are high that something will suffer as a result: whether it’s your motivation levels or the quality of your work output (which can lead to burnout).

The best way around this problem is simply not to put off too many things at once spreading yourself too thin can lead to burnout and guilt

9. Don’t Forget To Take Care Of Yourself (And Factor It Into Your Plans)

Take care of yourself (and factor it into your plans).

I found that taking care of myself was important. If I was exhausted, had a headache or stomach ache, or just needed some time away from work, I’d make sure to permit myself to do something else.

Taking care of yourself is often described as an act of self-love and respect. And while this may sound “selfish,” it’s incredibly important in terms of being successful at managing your time and energy because if you don’t take care of yourself first.

How can you expect to care for others? This doesn’t mean that every evening needs to be spent binge-watching Netflix on the couch; rather, it means making sure that you’re taking breaks when necessary so that the rest of your day can flow smoothly without interruption or burnout.

10. Sometimes It’s OK To Skip A Day If Something Bigger Comes Up

Sometimes it’s OK to skip a day if something bigger comes up. It’s important to be flexible and not be too rigid with your goals. If you can’t make it work, don’t stress out about it just move on! If you can make it work, go for it!

11. Give Yourself Extra Cushioning On Days You Know Will Be Busy

When you know a big project is coming up, it’s important to give yourself extra time for it. This can be stressful if you’re not used to doing this, but it will save you time in the long run.

If there are things on your agenda that aren’t challenging, consider either taking them off or cutting back on their estimated times.

You’ll never feel like something is going well without giving yourself enough cushioning in your schedule so that things don’t feel rushed, and by doing so, you’ll be able to enjoy the rest of your day with ease and confidence.

12. Planning Can Help You Make The Most Of Your Time And Accomplish Things You Want In Life

If you have a busy schedule, it’s important to plan so that you can make the most of your time. This will enable you to get more done and accomplish things that are important to you.

Planning also helps with stress management because it allows us to be prepared for upcoming events, rather than being caught off guard by them. It helps us feel calmer when we know what is coming up on our calendars because we’ve planned for it in advance.

Learn from the mistakes of others and avoid common pitfalls in freelancing. Read our article on 10 Mistakes I Made Freelancing as a Designer and How You Can Avoid Them to gain valuable insights and practical advice for a successful freelancing career.

Conclusion

If you want to become productive, master every facet of your work and social life, and achieve excellence in everything you do, then I encourage you to try the 90 days challenge.

It has improved my work and personal life beyond measure and allowed me to achieve success at a level that I never thought possible.

FAQs

How can I improve my time management skills?

Improving time management skills can be achieved by setting clear goals, prioritizing tasks, breaking them down into smaller steps, eliminating distractions, and using productivity tools such as calendars and to-do lists.

What are some effective techniques for overcoming procrastination?

Some effective techniques for overcoming procrastination include breaking tasks into smaller, manageable parts, using time-blocking techniques, practicing the Pomodoro Technique (working in focused bursts with short breaks), and creating accountability through deadlines or external support.

How can I better prioritize my tasks and responsibilities?

To better prioritize tasks and responsibilities, start by identifying and understanding your goals and objectives. Then, evaluate the urgency and importance of each task, consider deadlines, and assess the potential impact on your long-term goals. Utilizing techniques like Eisenhower Matrix and ABC analysis can also help in prioritizing effectively.

How can I handle interruptions and distractions more effectively?

Handling interruptions and distractions effectively involves creating a conducive work environment, setting boundaries, communicating your availability to others, utilizing techniques like time blocking or the “Do Not Disturb” mode on devices, and practicing self-discipline and focus.

What are some tips for managing time in a team or collaborative setting?

When managing time in a team or collaborative setting, it’s essential to establish clear communication channels, set shared goals and expectations, delegate tasks effectively, use project management tools to track progress, schedule regular check-ins, and encourage open and efficient communication among team members.

Costantine Edward

Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.