With the start of the new year comes new resolutions but finding time to complete new goals while managing everything else that needs to get done can get tricky. But even if you don’t have any new goals, now can be a great time to test out a new schedule, implement new tips and tricks or just refresh your current routines.
Earlier last year we spoke to Christie Flora, a holistic time and energy coach, who shared her tips on mastering your time. Often focusing on a gentler approach to time management, she shared some great tips from how to organise calendars to categorising to-do lists. One of her tips was to plan without overloading. Calendars are a great tool to visualise your time and see your capacity but remember to keep things flexible. Set time ranges rather than fixed times and don't forget to add in transition or commute times from one task or place to another.
Another great tip, especially for people with fluctuating energy levels, is to energy tag your checklist. Categorise your to-do list into low, medium and high energy tasks. On days where your energy levels are depleted you can focus on low-energy items and vice versa.
This goes hand in hand with her tip about chunking. Look at things on your to-do list as projects and break them down into manageable smaller tasks to get that project done. If these smaller tasks are also energy tagged, that means you can still make progress on your larger projects even on days where you might be feeling less productive. For more of Christie’s tips, check out her full Master Your Time session and her blog for extra information and resources.
Chunking isn’t just for breaking up big things, it can also be for breaking up time. A popular time chunking method is the Pomodoro Method. This is where you pick a task, set a timer (usually for 25 minutes) to focus only on that task and then take a five-minute break. The best part is that this method is completely adaptable to your capacity. You may like to set your timer for 10 minutes and take a 2-minute break or 50 minutes and take a 10-minute break. The aim of this method is to improve focus, minimise distractions, avoid burnout and boost motivation. For more information on adapting the Pomodoro Method, check out Rethinking Productivity and the Pomodoro Technique for ADHD.
The Financial Advice Association Australia also have a few handy hints to help master time management. One of their suggestions is to utilise planning tools, whether it’s your email calendar, a weekly planner or sticky notes, find what works for you and stick with it. You might even like to try digital to-do lists like Todoist and Microsoft To Do. Read more of their tips here.
Whether you’ve made resolutions, big or small, and need to find time to slot them in or you just want to find ways to manage an already full plate, time management is a skill that can help you achieve what you need and want to do.