From now on rethink Time Management
Today I had a small determination, simply to present an overview to those people who, like me, may be submerged in the seas of self-perception about how time is used. This feeling, is obviously accompanied by the ghosts that question us “in what” you invest or waste time. Let’s start.
Time management… two words capable of:
- place us in an uncomfortable feeling of living with the compulsive shadow of hyper-productivity.
- Dizzying us with the latest technique of the thousand self-help gurus.
- To offer us the sweet fruits of discipline and results.
- Or simply, all of the above together (or just the negatives in some cases).
The idea of this article is that you can reflect with me as I write, since, my way of approaching the topics is to disarticulate the arguments at the moment, there is not too much pre-production in these cases. Think of it as a conversation out loud, will you join me?
What you should and shouldn’t care about time management
First of all, techniques are adaptive, strategies can vary and the rhythms of each person are different. The intention is that you dare to try different ways of organizing yourself, different schedules, and different formats because self-knowledge is in the exploration.
The most important thing is that you get to know yourself in the process, so you can see what suits you. Let’s get into the details:
Techniques/Tools
Pomodoro, GTD Schemes, Eisenhower Matrix, Kanban, Seinfeld Method, mind maps, implementation of Trello Boards, To-Do lists, some organization system in a Agenda, Pareto Principle with the 80/20 Rule, SMART Objectives, Eat the Frog technique. And we could go on and on… but, those would be some of the most popular ones.
What should matter to you: Understand that any of them can be a great support for you. Ideally, you should be able to get to know them and to be able to experience which one suits you, your context and your interests.
What you shouldn’t care: Don’t run after a need for hyper-productivity. This can generate anxiety and an overload of processes capable of micromanaging life itself. If the technique complicates the flow of your processes, reevaluate the technique.
Formats/Mode of Work
Analog, digital or mixed. Try what fits better to your routine, expertise, or comfort, some people are able to manage their time and tasks with different online platforms, and others with a simple agenda can organize everything. In my case, I work with a mixed system of analog Kanban with post it stickers, an Agenda and, deadlines in calendars or reminders on the phone. This way I can easily see my daily process flow and what I forget, the technology will remind me.
What you should care about: Make the most of what you have and what you are most comfortable with. Not everyone has an affinity for phones, computers, tablets or, digital tools. Nor do they have an affinity for writing, using a day planner, whiteboards or, other analog tools. Start with what you have and what you are most comfortable with.
What you shouldn’t care about: Don’t give so much importance to a thousand gadgets, apps, tools, software or organizational systems. Your life doesn’t have to be a Tetris game where everything is controlled, measured and optimized to fit. The best time management system can value the unpredictable by being flexible.
Just keep going
The bottom line is that you must give yourself the opportunity to try the existing tools and techniques to create your own system. There are no secret formulas, no magic recipes. Improvement depends largely on your perseverance and ability to measure the results you are getting. Change what is not efficient for you. If it is difficult to implement it, analyze why and act accordingly. If you have already created the habit, analyze if there is room for improvement.
In either case, just keep going.
Finally, speaking of time management, thank you for investing in this reading. I appreciate it. If you want to comment your opinion will be welcome.
See you next time.
