<p><span>At heart, time management isn’t really about managing time at all – it’s about managing yourself. We all have the same 24 hours each day, but how well we use them is completely down to us.</span></p>

5 Essential Time Management Techniques

<p>The best time management techniques improve the ways you work, help control distractions and lock your concentration. Here are the 5 time management techniques that make the biggest difference:</p><p><strong>1. Be intentional</strong>: Keep a to-do list.</p><p><strong>2. Be prioritized</strong>: Rank your tasks.</p><p><strong>3. Be focused</strong>: Manage distractions.</p><p><strong>4. Be structured</strong>: Time block your work.</p><p><strong>5. Be self-aware</strong>: Track your time.</p>

<figure><img src="https://assets.website-files.com/5db19bb5bc2c146525fed407/5f47ba629be07a9cf46a4c1b_nTask-board%402x.jpg" alt="" width="628" height="313"></figure><h3><a href="https://memory.ai/timely-blog/task-management-software">🏆 Our pick of the best task management software</a></h3><h2>3. &nbsp; Be focused: manage distractions</h2><p>Despite our best intentions, we all get distracted. From social notifications to talkative colleagues – and the very human problem of procrastination – actually sitting down and getting things done is almost always harder than it should be. Given that it takes about 23 minutes to refocus after an interruption, the productive cost of our daily distractions quickly adds up. So you need to effectively manage your distractions in order to protect your flow and focus. </p><p>While some distractions easy to identify, many people aren’t aware of numerous pressures that fracture their days. One you have identified the source, you can set controls in place so you decide when to let notifications in. Common culprits like email, meetings and Slack can be effectively managed with the help of a clear communication framework.</p><figure><img alt="distractions-in-Timely@2x" src="https://assets.website-files.com/5db19bb5bc2c146525fed407/5e0f0ea1d4243b0124334c75_distractions-in-Timely_2x.jpeg" width="376" height="239"></figure><BLOCKQUOTE>For identifying and quantifying distractions, an activity tracking app like <a href="https://timelyapp.com/trial-timely-free" rel="noopener noreferrer" dir="ltr"><strong dir="ltr">Timely</strong></a> is your best bet – it can automatically record the time you spend in every work tool and website. If you just need more discipline when your concentration is waning, apps like <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/stayfocusd/laankejkbhbdhmipfmgcngdelahlfoji?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" dir="ltr"><strong dir="ltr">StayFocusd</strong></a> and <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/mindful-browsing/cciemibfcmeeiijeefebhojenhnpoibc?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" dir="ltr"><strong dir="ltr">Mindful Browsing</strong></a> can put access restrictions on time-wasting websites.</BLOCKQUOTE><h3><a href="https://memory.ai/timely-blog/anti-distraction-apps">🧠 4 of the best anti-distraction apps </a></h3><h2>4. &nbsp; Be structured: time block your work</h2><p>A structured schedule is crucial for actually delivering what you set yourself. It helps you protect space for your work and sets a healthy pressure to actually complete it. Time blocking is one of the most productive ways of doing this, as it prevents one task from overtaking your entire day and stops you from multi-tasking. </p><p>Many of us juggle multiple jobs at the same time, believing we’ll get more done, but in fact the opposite is true; we are most productive when we focus on one thing at a time. Time blocking is essentially a thoughtful approach to dividing attention across all your work. Set aside small periods of time for admin-style tasks like email, scheduling and returning calls, and larger periods for more detailed, in-depth or analytical work. </p><figure><img alt="Hours accurate-timesheets@2x" src="https://assets.website-files.com/5db19bb5bc2c146525fed407/5e0f0e9e473c7643e58fe2cb_Hours_accurate-timesheets_2x.jpeg" width="628" height="426"></figure><BLOCKQUOTE>You just need a simple calendar tool like <a href="https://weekplan.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" dir="ltr">Week Plan</a> to time block your week in advance. Alternatively, consider using a calendar app that also <a href="https://timelyapp.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" dir="ltr">tracks what you actually end up achieving</a>, so you can optimize future schedules. </BLOCKQUOTE><h3><a href="https://timelyapp.com/blog/what-is-time-blocking-and-does-it-work" rel="noopener noreferrer">👉 A walk-through guide to time blocking</a></h3><h2>5. &nbsp; Be self-aware: track your time</h2><p>Ultimately, you can’t improve how you use your time, without understanding how you actually use it in the first place. Tracking your time is elementary here – it provides the insight and self-awareness to make effective changes, surfacing hidden time drains, highlighting inefficient processes and laying out your productive patterns.</p><figure><img src="https://assets.website-files.com/5db19bb5bc2c146525fed407/5f33ae0f9b165f07263a34e4_Timeline-splash%402x.jpg" alt="" width="628" height="411"></figure><p dir="ltr">Thankfully you no longer have to expend time in order to understand time. <a href="https://timelyapp.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" dir="ltr">Automatic tracking apps</a> can now do the heavy work for you, recording how you spend your time in a private timeline. There are no timers to stop and start, and you don’t have to write anything down – every detail is captured in the background while you get on with your day.</p>

At heart, time management is about managing yourself. The best time management techniques improve the ways you work, minimize distractions and lock your concentration. While there are lots floating about on the internet, here are the five time management techniques that make the biggest difference.

productivity

Productivity

remotework

Remote Work

problemsolving

Problem Solving

timemanagement

Time Management

meditation

Meditation

🏆 Our pick of the best task management software

<p>Despite our best intentions, we all get distracted. From social notifications to talkative colleagues – and the very human problem of procrastination – actually sitting down and getting things done is almost always harder than it should be. Given that it takes about 23 minutes to refocus after an interruption, the productive cost of our daily distractions quickly adds up. So you need to effectively manage your distractions in order to protect your flow and focus. </p>

<p>While some distractions easy to identify, many people aren’t aware of numerous pressures that fracture their days. One you have identified the source, you can set controls in place so you decide when to let notifications in. Common culprits like email, meetings and Slack can be effectively managed with the help of a clear communication framework. </p>

4.   Be structured: time block your work

<p>A structured schedule is crucial for actually delivering what you set yourself. It helps you protect space for your work and sets a healthy pressure to actually complete it. Time blocking is one of the most productive ways of doing this, as it prevents one task from overtaking your entire day and stops you from multi-tasking. </p>

<p>Many of us juggle multiple jobs at the same time, believing we’ll get more done, but in fact the opposite is true; we are most productive when we focus on one thing at a time. Time blocking is essentially a thoughtful approach to dividing attention across all your work. Set aside small periods of time for admin-style tasks like email, scheduling and returning calls, and larger periods for more detailed, in-depth or analytical work. </p>

👉 A walk-through guide to time blocking

<p>Ultimately, you can’t improve how you use your time, without understanding how you actually use it in the first place. Tracking your time is elementary here – it provides the insight and self-awareness to make effective changes, surfacing hidden time drains, highlighting inefficient processes and laying out your productive patterns. </p>

<p dir="ltr">Thankfully you no longer have to expend time in order to understand time. <a dir="ltr" href="https://timelyapp.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Automatic tracking apps </a>can now do the heavy work for you, recording how you spend your time in a private timeline. There are no timers to stop and start, and you don’t have to write anything down – every detail is captured in the background while you get on with your day. </p>

5 essential time management techniques – Timely Blog

5 Essential Time Management Techniques

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