Making a to-do list is an old yet effective way to manage time and be more productive. Pretty much everybody makes to-do lists nowadays. However, just making to-do lists isn’t going to help you, unless you avoid these pitfalls:Assigning too many tasks: It’s better to write the three most important items you want to accomplish that day.Make a to-do list in the morning: Don’t waste your morning energy on thinking ‘what I should do today?’. Instead, writing down your to-dos in the evening is much better.

1. Making Ineffective To-Do Lists:

2. Not Prioritizing:When you have a pile of tasks on your hands, and you don’t prioritize them, you will surely accomplish some of your tasks by the evening .However, by the end of the day, you will realize that although you did accomplish some simple tasks like replying to a client's email. But in the thick of these trivial tasks, you missed some urgent and important ones e.g. a deadline.That’s why it is necessary to prioritize your tasks in the order of their importance. So your most important tasks don’t get buried under the unimportant ones. Moreover, eliminate some unnecessary tasks altog<warningtag>ether</warningtag>

2. Not Prioritizing:

In this day and age of digital technologies, multitasking has become a default habit. But focusing on a single task is a much better approach than switching between the tasks. Because, if you multitask, what you will get by the end of the day, is a few partially completed tasks.When you constantly shift from one task to another, you are more prone to making mistakes. Moreover, multitasking slows you down because you are focusing on many tasks at a time.It is better to be a single-tasker than to be a multi-tasker.

3. Multitasking:

Social media is good for networking, and email is good for business. But we all know that constant checking of social media and emails throughout the day becomes a great distraction.When you are working on a difficult task, scrolling Twitter seems to be the perfect 5-minute break. But this 5-minute break soon turns into a 30-minute of doom-scroll. After which, you not only have wasted 30 minutes but also the motivation and energy to complete your task.The best approach is to schedule 20-minute time blocks for using social media and email, maybe twice or thrice a day.

4 . Checking Social Media & Email Through Out The Day:

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We read and watch a lot about productivity and time management these days. We also have a lot of productivity tools and apps at our disposal. However, it is important to get familiar with the basic mistakes that we might be committing while considering ourselves to be productive.

We read and watch a lot about productivity and time management these days. We also have a lot of productivity tools and apps at our disposal. However, it is important to get familiar with the basic…

4 Common Mistakes That Ruin Your Productivity

a) Digital: If you prefer a digital system, do some research on to-do list apps and digital calendars. You will surely land on a reasonable app from App Store/ Play Store.My personal recommendation is Microsoft To Do(Simple and free).b) Pen and Paper: If you like going old-schools, get a notebook. A simple notebook will do the trick. However, some specialized notebooks (e.g. bullet journals) are also available in the market.c) Hybrid: If you want to harness the benefits of both the above-mentioned systems, a hybrid system is the viable solution.

1. Pick a Planning tool

2. PrioritizePrioritize your activities in the order of their importance. Schedule your most important tasks first, then do the second most important one, and so on.The most common technique to prioritize is to write down the three most important things that you want to accomplish by the end of the day.Another way is to write the one most important task which you must complete on that day. Start the remaining tasks once you complete this task.

2. Prioritize

Task batching is a planning technique to combine similar activities. Simply put tasks that are similar can be scheduled together, like texting a friend, emailing a client, or replying social media comments, which can all be planned to be held, say from 12:30 to 1:30.Without Batching technique, you would be spreading them throughout the day (say texting a friend at 10:30, emailing the client at 12:00, and replying to social media comments at 2:00). This way of planning doesn’t look so bad on the surface, but switching between tasks offers considerable friction and therefore wastes your time.

3. Task Batching

4. Use Mornings for difficult TasksMorning is the most productive time of the day. You are naturally most active, energized, and focused at the start of the day. This means, your ability to learn and process new information is maximum during this time. So, it is best if you start the most difficult tasks in the morning.For example, for me, writing an article is a much more difficult task than sorting out icons on my desktop. Therefore, I will prefer to write the article in the morning.You may have heard the expression Eat the frog, which simply means you should start the most difficult task fi<warningtag>rst.</warningtag>

4. Use Mornings for Difficult Tasks

5. Use Afternoons for Mundane TasksThe afternoon is the time when your energy is depleting hence, it’s best to schedule simple and managing-type tasks in the afternoon.A quote I read somewhere:Use morning for making, and the afternoon for managingTasks like editing your selfies or reading social media comments don’t require much energy and therefore, can be scheduled for the afternoon.

5. Use Afternoons for Easy Tasks

6. Keep your Schedule Flexible.When we sit to plan, we generally underestimate the amount of time certain tasks will take. That’s why it is important that you don’t fill each second of your day.Keeping it flexible allows you to carter for uncertainties, like a traffic jam, slow internet connection, etc.

6. Keep your Schedule Flexible

In today’s fast-paced world, everybody has a lot of plates spinning. Planning your day in advance gives you better control over your day-to-day activities. A daily plan enables you to focus on your most important task while keeping the distractions to a minimum,

In today’s fast-paced world, everybody has a lot of plates spinning. Planning your day in advance gives you better control over your day-to-day activities. A daily plan enables you to focus on your…

How to Plan Your Day for Maximum Productivity

Many people try to find the perfect productivity system, hoping that it will help them better manage their work and mental health. However, there is no universal productivity system. For example, a remote worker may need a different approach to someone commuting to work.
Everyone should intentionally design a system based on their needs by using existing systems and adding personal touches.

Choosing a productivity system

GTD was created by David Allen and is about taking your ideas, tasks and to-dos and organise them into manageable tasks. How to deal with tasks:<ul><li>Write down anything that's on your mind, like a brain dump.</li><li>Break it down into smaller, manageable steps.</li><li>Organise your tasks based on priority.</li><li>Reflect and refine your task.</li><li>Do the tasks.</li></ul>

Getting Things Done (GTD)

Leo Babauta created ZTD. It focuses on one habit at a time but with more structure and simplicity. It's based on several habits which you can incorporate in any order, including collect, process, plan, do, organise, review, and simplify.

Zen to Done system (ZTD)

This method is useful for people who get easily distracted. With the Pomodoro method, you split your work sessions into 25- minutes, followed by a 5-minute break. Most people use a timer for this productivity technique.

The Pomodoro Technique

Time blocking helps to set aside chunks of time for specific goals. It can be used with other productivity systems. To use it, just block off time in your existing calendar.

Time Blocking Technique

Sometimes, we are unsure how to handle a lengthy task list. The Eisenhower Matrix help you prioritise your tasks based on the following:<ul><li>Urgent and Important tasks. Do the task now.</li><li>Important but not urgent tasks. Schedule when you must do it. </li><li>Urgent but not important tasks. Delegate these tasks.</li><li>Neither urgent nor important. Delete these tasks.</li></ul>

The Eisenhower Matrix

In the Moscow Method, you list all your tasks, then categorise them as follows:<ul><li>Must. These tasks are not negotiable and must be done today.</li><li>Should. These tasks are important but can wait for later.</li><li>Could. These tasks are not urgent and can be done when you don't feel very productive.</li><li>Won't. These tasks must be deleted from your to-do list.</li></ul>

The Moscow Method

Projects can be managed with a Kanban board. Make three columns, To Do, Doing, and Done. Then split your tasks between them. <ul><li>To Do. Writing your tasks in this column makes them visible.</li><li>Doing. Limit your work in progress to three items.</li><li>Do﻿ne. Write your completed tasks in this column for reviewing and improving the process.</li></ul>

The Kanban Method

This method was popularised by Jerry Seinfeld, who would write a joke every day. This method is about marking an X in your calendar over each day that you achieved your goal. This method works well to create new habits.

Don't Break the Chain

Go through the list of tasks and ask yourself: <ul><li>Are these tasks collaborative or solo? The answer will impact how much freedom you have when building your productivity system.</li><li>Differentiate between short and long-term goals as some productivity methods are better suited to one type of goal.</li><li>Consider if the tasks are structured or unstructured. It will influence which type of system to use.</li></ul>

Auditing your tasks

<ul><li>It's sustainable. How do you feel after a day using the system? The system should help you, not burden you.</li><li>It works for short-term and long-term goals. Your productivity system is a toolbox that should contain tools that work for both timelines.</li><li>It works for structured and unstructured work.</li><li>It helps to manage your mental health, taking breaks and time away into account.</li><li>It makes space for regular reviews where you can reflect on work done and tweak your processes.</li></ul>

Characteristics of the ideal productivity system

Let’s cut to the chase: there is no universally perfect productivity system. Instead of wasting time trying to copy-and-paste a system from a self-help book, everyone should intentionally design a system that works for them.

Stashed ideas

Is there a perfect productivity system?

We often use the phrase “Time is Money” to depict the importance of time in our life. But, is it an accurate analogy? Because, unlike money, the time once spent can never be earned back. It is like a one-way road with no U-turn.

Time Is Money 

After a Life itself, time is the second most precious thing in the world. The best thing about time is that it is unbiased. You’ve got the same 24 hours in your day like any other living being. It changes for no one. And the worst thing about time is that it isn’t your friend. It doesn’t stop or slow down for anyone.

An average human life expectancy is around 75 years. This is the total amount of time you have which includes your schooling, higher studies, job, sleep, and all other daily chores. Though you can skip some of these activities, others can’t be skipped at all.Going to work is necessary to earn money and have food and shelter for your family. Sleeping is mandatory to stay healthy. Similarly, eating, cleaning, grooming, and parenting are also essential for a balanced life. All these tasks consume time. So, the question arises, <a href="https://link.medium.com/VaLGvvZIvpb">“How much time do you really have?” </a>

Oxford conducted a <a href="https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article-pdf/41/12/zsy182/27090248/zsy182.pdf">study </a>that shows that sleeping for 8 hours a day results in better cognitive abilities. That’s 25 years straight out of your total lifespan of 75 years. Now you’re left with only 50 years.

Working 8 hours a day for 45 years (from age of 20 till 65) costs 10 years in total. Watching television daily for an hour, using social media for 2 hours, and watching a movie twice a month combined together consume another 9 years of your life. You spend 6 years doing daily household work like cooking, cleaning, etc. Around 4 years are spent eating and drinking. Similarly, 3.5 years on education, 2.5 years on grooming, another 2.5 years on shopping, 2 years on daily travel, and 1.5 years on childcare. Sighs!

Eventually, you’ll be left with only 9 years ! That’s the total amount of time you have. No matter what you do, the time keeps on moving and you have to race against the clock to get things done. Those who do not understand the importance of time can easily be found wasting their time by doing things like <ul><li>Complaining about everyone and everything. </li><li>Repeating the same mistakes. </li><li>Comparing themselves with others. </li><li>Waiting for the right time. </li><li>Talking without taking any action. </li><li>Having fear of failure. </li><li>Lack of priorities. </li><li>Trying to please others and worry about their opinions. </li> </ul>

If you’re doing any of the above things, you need to stop doing it NOW. Time is limited. The days you’re living will never come back. Every second you’re spending is part of those limited years you’ve left. So, you need to optimize it in order to make the best out of each and every moment of your life. Time is precious; more precious than money. And that is why Time Management should be your topmost priority.

There are many ways to manage your time while increasing your efficiency. You can change your sleeping patterns, create a to-do list, set up reminders, or download time management apps. But if you do not understand the importance of time, all those things will be of no use.Time is the only thing you cannot buy or barter. No matter how much you’re willing to spend or what you have to offer in exchange. You can save yourself from the guilt of wasting it if you can learn to manage it now. It will not only help with a disciplined and successful career, but it’ll also help you to stay ahead in life

Time management starts with fast thinking and faster decision-making abilities. If you can think fast, you take lesser time to decide, and then you will have extra time in stock for yourself. Below are some basic things you need to remember to be a fast thinker: <ul><li>Always prefer time over money. </li><li>Narrow down your options. </li><li>Listen to your gut feeling. </li><li>Be prepared for the unexpected. </li><li>Differentiate between good and bad choices. </li><li>Remember indecision is the worst decision. </li> </ul>

Time Management 

We all want to make the best out of the 24 hours we get each day. Some people manage to be successful, happy, and contained in the same time period, while others struggle to find their aim and are unable to stay focused. This results in the wastage of the most precious thing that we have i.e. Time. Time management is a process of organizing and utilizing the available time in order to maximize productivity. Though time is limited, there’s no such thing as a shortage of time. In order to make the best out of the available time, you’ll need to manage it properly.

Benjamin Franklin said, “For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned.” With distractions all around, it is now more important than ever to manage your time. Using 10 quick time management tips below, you can easily organize your time to achieve success in life.

<ol><li>Complete the most important task first thing in the morning </li><li>Use a calendar and add a “To-do” list to it. </li><li>Do not multitask. </li><li>Do not stick to small things. Move on. </li><li>Learn to say NO. </li><li>Do not answer each and every unnecessary call or text. </li><li>Track the time you spend on each activity. </li><li>Instead of waiting for inspiration, do it NOW. </li><li>Outsource unimportant things as much as you can. </li><li>Set up a time limit for everything you do. </li> </ol>

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The End

We often use the phrase “Time is Money” to depict the importance of time in our life. But, is it an accurate analogy? Because, unlike money, the time once spent can never be earned back. It is like a…

How Much Time Do You Really Have?

Time is a finite resource and like your capital, inventory or profits, the success of your business depends on managing it well. As an entrepreneur, time management would aid you in delivering work on time, upscaling your business, and ensuring that you live your life while you pursue your goals.

An Entrepreneur’s Lazy Guide to Time Management

In today’s world where being a workaholic is glorified, most entrepreneurs seem to overlook the fact that energy, like time, is limited, and there’s only so much of yourself that can go around in a day. If you have ever made time to do something, but you were too tired to do it when the time came, “you missed the first step“. Time management and Energy management go hand in hand, Here are 6 tips to help ensure that you have the energy to do your work when the time comes.<ol><li>Get more sleep</li><li>Get organized</li><li>Delegate</li><li>Stay hydrated</li><li>Eat breakfast and eat nutritiously</li><li>Exercise more</li></ol>

Energy: Starting at the Very Beginning

<ol><li>Important/Urgent: These tasks are done immediately and personally, e.g. crises, deadlines, and problems.</li><li>Important/Not Urgent: These tasks get an end date and are done personally, e.g. relationships, planning, and recreation.</li><li>Unimportant/Urgent: These tasks are delegated, e.g. interruptions, meetings, activities.</li><li>Unimportant/Not Urgent: These tasks are dropped, e.g. time wasters, pleasant activities, trivia.</li></ol>

Planning with the Eisenhower Priority Matrix

“I have two kinds of problems, the urgent and the important. The urgent are not important, and the important are never urgent.”

It works like this:<ol><li>Decide on the task to be done. (You have done this at the Eisenhower stage)</li><li>Decide how long you want to spend on the task. This is important because “projects tend to expand with the time allocated for it.” </li><li>Set the Pomodoro timer (typically for 25 minutes).</li><li>Work on the task.</li><li>End work when the timer rings and take a short break (typically 5–10 minutes).</li><li>After three Pomodoro's are done, take the fourth Pomodoro and then take a long break (typically 20 to 30 minutes). Once the long break is finished, return to step 2</li></ol>

Working with The Pomodoro technique

“If you give yourself one thing to do, it will take all day. If you give yourself two things to do, you get them both done. If you give yourself a dozen things to do, you may not get 12 done, but you’ll get seven or eight completed.”

Although we aim for perfection in our plans, true perfection is impossible and at the end of the day, you must reconcile yourself with this fact. Don’t try to squeeze all of your remaining tasks into one final hour, instead allow your time for planning and practice to become a habit, stop when it’s time to stop and take your Rest.

Reconciling your Progress With Patience and Acceptance.

At the end of each month look at everything you have been doing, see how they have influenced your objectives, what you need to change and what stays the same.Ask yourself:<ul><li>Where did you spend the most time?</li><li>Was your quality bolstered?</li><li>What unanticipated events affected your plans?</li><li>Did you stick to the time limits?</li><li>Was your planning overall effective?</li></ul>

Time Audits

These are time management guides for small business owners and entrepreneurs.

Time is a finite resource and like your capital, inventory or profits, the success of your business depends on managing it well. As an entrepreneur, time management would aid you in delivering work on time, upscaling your business, and ensuring that you live your life while you pursue your goals. Energy: Starting at the Very…

4 Common Mistakes That Ruin Your Productivity

How to Plan Your Day for Maximum Productivity

Is there a perfect productivity system?

How Much Time Do You Really Have?

A Lazy Entrepreneur’s Guide to Time Management

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