20 lessons on time management

Recognize that 20% of your efforts often produce 80% of the results. Focus on those high-impact tasks to maximize productivity.

• Short-term goals should be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound).
• Long-term goals should be desirable and challenging but not so hard that they discourage you.

Plan with different time frames in mind—daily, weekly, and monthly—to maintain a balance between immediate tasks and future objectives.

Organize tasks with checklists to ensure nothing important is overlooked. They help track progress and boost accountability.

Use checklists to fit tasks into available free time slots or "capsules." For example:

• If you have 15 free minutes, choose a task from your list that can be completed within that timeframe.

Begin your day with calm and focus, such as a mindfulness practice, to set a positive tone for the rest of the day. It's a proven technique to maximize your performance.

• A silent mind is our target! It's difficult at the begging, but achievable with persistence.
• Avoid any kind of disturbance, specially your smart phone and social media at the beginning of your day.

Prioritize tasks based on their significance and required quality. Not everything needs perfection—some tasks just need to be done.

Adjust your schedule based on whether you're a "day person" or a "night owl." Leverage your most productive hours to tackle high-priority tasks. Not everyone is meant to join the 5 a.m. club!

Be kind to yourself and avoid self-blame. Take care of your inner well-being and include enjoyable, creative activities in your day to stay motivated.

When you accomplish necessary but undesired tasks, you push your boundaries and grow personally and professionally.

Limit meeting durations and keep discussions focused to save time. Use agendas to ensure clarity and productivity.

Align tasks with your natural energy levels. Schedule demanding tasks when your energy is at its peak. You can use POMODORO technique:

• 25 minutes of deep work
• 5 minutes of absolute rest
• After 4 cycles of 25-5, 15 minutes of a long rest.

Balance the five pillars of life:

• love
• friendship
• family
• job
• self-improvement

Allocate time to each in a week, to maintain overall well-being.

Implement the 5S technique (Sort, Set in order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain) to keep your workspace efficient and distraction-free.

An organized desk is an organized mind

Politely decline unnecessary commitments to protect your time and energy for priority tasks.

If you are always available, you have no priority and no vision for your life

Push your boundaries by:

• striving to be 10% better each time or
• committing to an extra 10% effort or time on tasks.

Tell yourself: only 10% more!

Value your own time and boundaries. Treat them as a resource to be used wisely.

View time management as an ongoing journey of learning and adjustment. Regularly refine your strategies to suit evolving needs.