{"id":211584,"date":"2021-01-18T16:33:33","date_gmt":"2021-01-18T16:33:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focusme.com\/?p=211584"},"modified":"2025-02-07T10:25:18","modified_gmt":"2025-02-07T10:25:18","slug":"only-time-management-techniques-you-need","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focusme.com\/blog\/only-time-management-techniques-you-need\/","title":{"rendered":"The Only 5 Time Management Techniques You Actually Need"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"211584\" class=\"elementor elementor-211584\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-44350928 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"44350928\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-479f592\" data-id=\"479f592\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-53543ef1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"53543ef1\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-63f5d1ec\" data-id=\"63f5d1ec\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f54fce1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f54fce1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><b>Simplifying Productivity In An Overcomplicated World<\/b><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c8212dc elementor-text-custom elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c8212dc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Like most things in our busy, distracted, and increasingly complex lives, we often make time management way more complicated than it needs to be.\u00a0<\/p><p>There are countless systems out there for running your life \u201cbetter.\u201d And probably as many time management techniques as there are things to spend your time on in the first place.\u00a0<\/p><p>However, getting a handle on your time isn\u2019t (and shouldn\u2019t be) some complex process.<\/p><p>At FocusMe, we spend a great deal of energy on the various systems people use to conduct more productive lives. So we know all about the best productivity software programs on the market. And yes, we are well clued in to \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.the1thing.com\/\">The One Thing<\/a>,\u201d The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/80-20-Principle-Secret-Achieving\/dp\/0385491743\">80\/20 Principle<\/a>, Pomodoros, The <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Priority_Matrix\">Eisenhower Method<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/hbr.org\/2018\/12\/how-timeboxing-works-and-why-it-will-make-you-more-productive\">Timeboxing<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/gettingthingsdone.com\/\">GTD<\/a>, Don\u2019t Break the Chain, <a href=\"https:\/\/focusme.com\/blog\/tiny-habits-review-hack-the-fogg-behavior-model\/\">\u201cTiny Habits,\u201d<\/a> the list goes on and on\u2026<\/p><p>One thing we\u2019ve noticed, though, is this\u2026<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-63a03914 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"63a03914\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><b>Many Time Management Techniques Follow The Same Basic Principles\n<\/b><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d54b972 elementor-text-custom elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5d54b972\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>And if we were really to boil down the essence of time management\u2026<\/p><p>&#8230;Into a simple package that would save you the ironically large amount of time it would take to read all the books, learn all these various systems, and put them all into action to try them out\u2026<\/p><p>You could sum the best of them up with these 5 different rules.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-70a0944c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"70a0944c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-2b422f59\" data-id=\"2b422f59\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-af0cfd3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"af0cfd3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><b>Simplified Time Management Technique #1: \n\n<br>Look For Ways To Protect Your Time<\/b><\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f189980 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f189980\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"530\" src=\"https:\/\/focusme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/stop-3089945_1280-1024x678.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-211614\" alt=\"stop wasting time\" srcset=\"https:\/\/focusme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/stop-3089945_1280-1024x678.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/focusme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/stop-3089945_1280-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/focusme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/stop-3089945_1280-768x508.jpg 768w, https:\/\/focusme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/stop-3089945_1280-1000x662.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/focusme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/stop-3089945_1280.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5ea48d1 elementor-text-custom elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5ea48d1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>One of the most important time management principles to understand is that plugging up holes that waste time is the easiest way to capitalize more on what you\u2019ve got. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.inc.com\/david-finkel\/new-study-shows-youre-wasting-218-hours-a-week.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">In this study here <\/a>by a business consulting firm, they found that business owners and key execs were spending more than 30% of their work week essentially wasting time on low-value or no-value activities.\u00a0<\/p><p>Once you understand this simple crisis in wasted time, there\u2019s plenty you can do to take it back.\u00a0<\/p><p>Some of that you\u2019ll find on this list and can minimize just by implementing these other ideas (setting better goals so you focus on the right things, minimizing distractions, having a more organized office, etc).<\/p><p>But two other core principles that help you protect your time include learning how to say \u201cno\u201d to people and decisions that will eat away at your time if you don\u2019t safeguard it, and delegation or automation. Both of these areas are pretty multifaceted, so individuals should figure out how to best implement them based on the work they&#8217;re doing and the resources they have their disposal.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-44faf34 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"44faf34\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-bbb3d45\" data-id=\"bbb3d45\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cdc8c4c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cdc8c4c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><b>Simplified Time Management Technique #2: \n<br>\nPlan Your Time So You\u2019re Working On The Right Things\n<\/b><\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4280fe2 elementor-text-custom elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4280fe2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>\u201cOne of the very worst uses of time is to do something very well that need not be done at all.\u201d<\/em> &#8211; Brian Tracy<\/p><p>Goal-Setting is a main focus of many time management strategies. This is another thing that can be as simple or complicated as you want it to be.<\/p><p>It IS crucial to set goals so you can spend your time on the right priorities. We simply don\u2019t have time to do everything we wish we could do, so we need to define what it is we will actually accomplish.\u00a0<\/p><p>These goals shouldn\u2019t change on a weekly basis, of course &#8212; write them down on an index card and carry it around with you.<\/p><h2><strong>Prioritizing On A Daily Basis<\/strong><\/h2><p>Many experts may teach you a fancy system for scheduling, like prioritizing your to-do list with numbers and letters. We recommend just knowing what you want to do most so you can choose tasks that support your goals more often than tasks that do not. Pretty simple.<\/p><p>If these tasks need to be scheduled to get done, so be it, but the human brain is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/221518959_What_a_to-do_studies_of_task_management_towards_the_design_of_a_personal_task_list_manager\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pretty good at prioritizing<\/a> when it knows what\u2019s important.\u00a0<\/p><p>Of course, any discussion of goals and tasks wouldn\u2019t be completely without mention of one of the most common time management techniques we see popping up from system to system.<\/p><h2><b>Do The Most Important Work First<br \/><\/b><\/h2><p>This advice is universal for multiple reasons &#8212; but the main one is <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Planning_fallacy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the \u201cPlanning Fallacy.\u201d<\/a><\/p><p>Humans aren\u2019t very good at estimating how much time they need to do things. The tasks in your day are almost guaranteed to swell, and emergencies are guaranteed to pop up.\u00a0<\/p><p>So, if you want to move the line on the goals in your life, work on them first thing in the morning before they can get pushed out by the rest of your day.\u00a0<\/p><p>If your most important objectives in life aren\u2019t tied to your work, well, you better start getting up early in the morning before you even leave the house.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-0a7c3e8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0a7c3e8\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-d68897f\" data-id=\"d68897f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0bd2cb7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0bd2cb7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><b>Simplified Time Management Technique #3: \n<br>\nKnow How To Start Fast And Consistently\n<\/b><\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1e31afe elementor-text-custom elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1e31afe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Just doing something to defeat the gravity of procrastination can radically change your days completely. Often, time is simply wasted because you delay work, find other things to do, or even sit down at your computer only to c<a href=\"https:\/\/focusme.com\/blog\/how-to-avoid-distractions-during-remote-work-from-home-jobs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ave into distraction<\/a>.<\/p><p>If you could just start faster and start more often, you would get a ton more done.\u00a0<\/p><p>Because generally, the performance drain of procrastination solves itself if you just get the ball rolling.<\/p><h2><strong>How To Stop Procrastinating<\/strong><\/h2><p>We don\u2019t need to give it a fancy name (though many have), but the most effective method we\u2019ve found for starting is to lower the pressure by telling yourself you\u2019ll only work for 5, 10, maybe 20 minutes and then starting a clock.\u00a0<\/p><p>You\u2019ll find that once you get going, you almost always just get caught up in the work. And if you make this a regular habit, all the times it does happen will make up for the few times that it doesn\u2019t.<\/p><p>To do this more consistently, set a schedule for starting work several times throughout your day. The more times you start, the more you inevitably get done.\u00a0<\/p><p>Consider it an appointment to yourself, show up, and get the clock going.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-bb79fef elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"bb79fef\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-0ab6674\" data-id=\"0ab6674\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e9c4195 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e9c4195\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><b>Simplified Time Management Technique #4: \n<br>\nControl Your Environment\n<\/b><\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-85189ab elementor-text-custom elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"85189ab\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>To make the most of your time, control your environment before your environment controls you. Because if you don\u2019t, it most certainly will.<\/p><p>How do you set your life up to get work done in a timely manner?<\/p><h2><strong>Dedicated Space<\/strong><\/h2><p>The most important factor here is having a quiet dedicated space dedicated to getting work done. Controlling your environment is about minimizing distractions.\u00a0<\/p><p>Do people know to leave you alone while you\u2019re working, or do they have free rein to barge in and start talking to you whenever they want? Is there a door you can close? If not, can you cut out the noise with something like <a href=\"https:\/\/rainycafe.com\">Rainy Cafe<\/a> and a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones?<\/p><h2><strong>Your Digital Environment<\/strong><\/h2><p>Of course, the conditions in your computer also create a crucial component of your total environment. If you have a computer that dings at you every time you get a Facebook message, you obviously have not set up your environment for success.\u00a0<\/p><p>Try FocusMe\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/focusme.com\">web blocking software<\/a> to lock yourself out of distracting websites completely (so the temptation isn\u2019t even there during work hours).\u00a0<\/p><h2><strong>Get Organized<\/strong><\/h2><p>Being organized is also a key part of controlling your environment.<\/p><p>The authors of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.asee.org\/documents\/zones\/zone1\/2014\/Student\/PDFs\/177.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">this study on student performance<\/a> in the UAE found one of the most \u00a0 important\u00a0 factor\u00a0 affecting student academic \u00a0 performance was searching for lost papers and other resources when they were supposed to be working.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-c66e391 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c66e391\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-0d5c1da\" data-id=\"0d5c1da\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bd0eb3b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bd0eb3b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><b>Simplified Time Management Technique #5: \n<br>\nGet More Out Of The Time You Do Have\n <\/b><\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d86248b elementor-text-custom elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d86248b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Sometimes being more efficient and effective really just comes down to knowing your industry better. And getting better at what you do. Sometimes we can force ourselves to work faster,\u00a0 but having a better skillset or slowing down to get it right the first time can may create better results and reduce time making up for poor work later.<\/p><p>So the best way to increase efficiency often depends on your specific industry.<\/p><h2><strong>Work Blocks<\/strong><\/h2><p>But many time management techniques encourage creating work blocks to get more done with your hours. Kind of like sprints where you give the work your undivided attention and get yourself in the zone.\u00a0<\/p><p>You&#8217;ll get a lot more done this way than with divided attention spread throughout the day. Focused work time is a universal recommendation across the time management sphere.<\/p><h2><strong>Multitasking<\/strong><\/h2><p>All this makes sense because multitasking can be a horrible drag on your brain\u2019s performance. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4763375\/#i1949-8357-8-1-10-b12\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Some experts think<\/a> multitasking can bring your IQ down 10 points and make you 40% less productive! You can <a href=\"https:\/\/focusme.com\">use FocusMe<\/a> to cut yourself off the internet during these focused work blocks and get a ton more done without distraction. Try the Pomodoro feature.<\/p><p>Similar focused blocks are also great for batching things like email. <a href=\"https:\/\/affect.media.mit.edu\/pdfs\/16.Mark-CHI_Email.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">This report here<\/a> shows that people who batch email, spending longer in their inbox to handle everything and get out of there (rather than checking whenever an email comes in), experience less stress and are more productive.<\/p><h2><strong>Multi-Purposing<\/strong><\/h2><p>Another great way to make the most of the time you do have is to combine activities&#8230;<\/p><p>This might sound like a contradiction since we just tore apart the idea of multi-tasking. But there are ways to use your time for multiple purposes that do serve you.\u00a0<\/p><p>You might learn more about your industry through podcasts and audiobooks while driving, working out, or taking a morning walk. Another way you can multi-purpose your time is to reuse work for multiple purposes.\u00a0<\/p><p>For example, rewording snippets of your blog articles for social media posts while you\u2019re writing. Or, if you\u2019re reading new books to update your knowledge in the industry, you could turn your notes into articles for marketing your business online. A student could even run a blog about his major while going to school and build up a little side income by the time he graduates.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-49ad26c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"49ad26c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/focusme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/business-man-2452808_1280-1024x682.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-211625\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/focusme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/business-man-2452808_1280-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/focusme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/business-man-2452808_1280-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/focusme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/business-man-2452808_1280-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/focusme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/business-man-2452808_1280-1000x666.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/focusme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/business-man-2452808_1280.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-bb82e08 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"bb82e08\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-87c2178\" data-id=\"87c2178\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8a0d02a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8a0d02a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><b>Simplified Time Management Technique #6 \n<br>\nMake Time For Actually Living Your Life\n<\/b><\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-408242c elementor-text-custom elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"408242c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We\u2019d never recommend a time management plan that didn\u2019t make room for the things that matter most to you outside of work.\u00a0<\/p><p>Because the units of time aren\u2019t just a metric. They are the moments of your life. Not to mention that you need rest, relaxation, and recreation to perform at your best when it\u2019s time to work again.<\/p><p>Of all the time management advice we\u2019ve seen regarding work\/life balance, our favorite is probably the \u201cUnschedule\u201d technique from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B001QNVP7M\/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&amp;btkr=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u201cThe Now Habit.\u201d<\/a> I don\u2019t personally use every step in Unscheduling as outlined in the book, but their time management technique of planning your \u201cfun\u201d first, and then planning all your work and other responsibilities in the time you have left over, is one of the best pieces of wisdom in this area.\u00a0<\/p><p>Try it for yourself, especially if you\u2019re a remote worker with a lot of freedom on your hands. Don\u2019t be that person who neglects to plan their fun and then ends up filling time between work with meaningless trivia. Or even worse, the person who always has to turn down plans because he procrastinates, but then uses that time to procrastinate more.<\/p><p>By planning your fun in advance and committing to your recreational activities, you force yourself to do your work in the time that\u2019s left. And become more efficient.<\/p><p>While making sure you actually take the time to live your life.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-36ddb9c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"36ddb9c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-5c04f05\" data-id=\"5c04f05\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0748206 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0748206\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><b>Want Help Managing Your Time Better?\n<\/b><\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-db13a19 elementor-text-custom elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"db13a19\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/focusme.com\">Check out our home page<\/a> to learn about all the different ways FocusMe can cut down on procrastination and help you get work done in a more efficient manner. Protect your attention; protect your time.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ce7a830 elementor-align-center buttom_home button_margin-mobile elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"ce7a830\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/focusme.com\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">GET STARTED NOW<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Simplifying Productivity In An Overcomplicated World Like most things in our busy, distracted, and increasingly complex lives, we often make time management way more complicated than it needs to be. There are countless systems out there for running your life \u201cbetter.\u201d And probably as many time management techniques as there are things to spend your [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":211587,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22,8,23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-211584","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-habits","category-productivity","category-technology"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Simplify Productivity and Time Management Effectively<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Stop overcomplicating time management! Learn 6 simple techniques to boost productivity and make the most of your time.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/focusme.com\/blog\/only-time-management-techniques-you-need\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Simplify Productivity and Time Management Effectively\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Stop overcomplicating time management! Learn 6 simple techniques to boost productivity and make the most of your time.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/focusme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/time-management-techniques.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@FocusMe\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@FocusMe\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jon Rumens\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/focusme.com\/blog\/only-time-management-techniques-you-need\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/focusme.com\/blog\/only-time-management-techniques-you-need\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Jon Rumens\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/focusme.com\/#\/schema\/person\/297f70f827aa84c6df066d21456c1c90\"},\"headline\":\"The Only 5 Time Management Techniques You Actually Need\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-01-18T16:33:33+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-02-07T10:25:18+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/focusme.com\/blog\/only-time-management-techniques-you-need\/\"},\"wordCount\":1953,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/focusme.com\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/focusme.com\/blog\/only-time-management-techniques-you-need\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/focusme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/time-management-techniques.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Habits\",\"Productivity\",\"Technology\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/focusme.com\/blog\/only-time-management-techniques-you-need\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/focusme.com\/blog\/only-time-management-techniques-you-need\/\",\"name\":\"Simplify Productivity and Time Management Effectively\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/focusme.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/focusme.com\/blog\/only-time-management-techniques-you-need\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/focusme.com\/blog\/only-time-management-techniques-you-need\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/focusme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/time-management-techniques.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-01-18T16:33:33+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-02-07T10:25:18+00:00\",\"description\":\"Stop overcomplicating time management! 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