First and foremost, are we talking about time management or procrastination? Procrastination is often thought of as an issue of time management, not an issue of emotion. However, in recent years it has been linked more to emotions than previously thought. A lack of ability to manage time, or a propensity towards procrastination generally stems from a fear of failure. If you do not complete the task at hand, you will not have an opportunity to fail. The fear of failure is considered by our brains to be an external threat, and therefore something to be avoided at all costs. Logically, many of us can understand that procrastination may lead to a lesser product or even a incomplete product, which would in turn produce the same result of failure.
Alternately, time management can truly be an issue of poorly managing your time. If you feel like you don’t have enough hours in the day, it may be an issue of time management as opposed to procrastination. The experts have compiled a list of useful tips and tricks to help improve time management skills, here are a few:
1. Know your strengths and your weaknesses.
Being honest with yourself about both the good and the bad will help you to better plan your day. If you struggle with a specific task, try scheduling it for the morning when you have a clean mental slate.
2. Use a timer.
Often called the Pomodoro Technique, setting a timer for alternating work and break times can help create structure in the day. A 20 minute work period is offset by a 5 minute break period.
3. Find a use for useless time.
Whether you have a 45 minute train ride to work, or a 10 minute drive, that time can be used in a productive way. If you take public transit, read a book, meditate, or listen to music that calms you down from a stressful day. If your commute is driving, use that time to make calls to family or friends, listen to a podcast, or think about a problem you need to solve *.
4. Make a list.
While to-do lists are helpful for some, they are not for others. Instead of a general To-Do list, try creating a list where the to-do items are prioritized, a Priority List. Or a Time List, where you estimate the time it will take for each item, and organize your day that way.
If you can’t figure it out on your own, there are professionals (like us) to help guide you. You are still strong and valuable if you ask for help. Take this time management quiz to get a better idea of how you manage your time: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/tests/career/time-management-skills-test
* We would never recommend any activity that would take your focus away from driving, or endanger you in any way. If you aren’t a multitasker, then maybe the driving commute consists of some music to get your day started, or some music that winds you down from a long day at the office. Either way, safety first!
Make sure to also check out our blog posts on challenging thinking, anxiety, perfectionism, problem solving, and learning new skills.
References:
Flaxington, B. D. (2015, July 27). Developing Time Management Skills. Retrieved from
Kemmis, S. (2020, May 12). Procrastination Isn’t a Time Management Problem, It’s an Emotional Problem. Retrieved from
https://zapier.com/blog/procrastination-emotion/
Nemko, M. (2019, February 3). My Best Thoughts on Time Management. Retrieved from
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/how-do-life/201902/my-best-thoughts-time-management
