Time Management Tips to Help Me Be More Productive

I’m a big time management advocate over here—as in, do it. There’s no need to cram everything in one day, and yes, I’m talking to myself here. Although I write time management as one of my strengths on my resume, there is always room for improvement.

These are tips that come to my brain about time management. These are simple and easy tips and tricks to implement in your daily routines, but will also increase productivity levels. 

And down at the bottom, I’m curious to know any other time management tips that you may have and implement easily into your routines. Share a tip for others in the comments.

Related Post: How to Prioritize Your Time Using Your Phone Calendar + Time Management Tips

Set your “big three” goals for the day. 

I found this off of content creator Austen Tosone’s Instagram stories, where she created a template that included her goals for the day and anything else on her to-do list. The main idea of doing this is to focus on “the big three.” Setting these will help you zone in on what you absolutely need to do that day or want to get done that day. When I do this, I don’t find myself jumping from task to task, but instead, I focus on the task at hand and am able to produce more quality content. 

Write anything down! Even if it’s just an email to a colleague or client. Feel free to use Austen’s template and post it to your Instagram stories and tag her (@austentosone). 

Some of my “big three” tasks include: Brainstorm content for an upcoming issue, email colleagues for edits, email writers for deadline reminders. 

Schedule Your breaks… + actually take them.

Um, this goes without saying, but take your breaks. I cannot imagine not taking my lunch break or quick 10-minute breaks to grab a coffee at work or to go on a short walk. Use this downtime for what it is: downtime! Your body legit needs it. Use it. (And no, don’t use your downtime to work on your side hustle.) 

And this goes for your lunch break, too—for those working from home, sit somewhere other than your desk to eat lunch. (If your couch is your desk, then I recommend switching that up ASAP.) For those working in an office, go somewhere else in your building (COVID-safe) to eat your lunch. Bring something other than your phone if that helps! I started bringing a book to lunch, and it has helped me unwind after staring at a screen for a few hours. 

Write down everything in your planner. 

Even the digital planner gals! Whether you hand-write it or type it, write every event, reminder, task, or note into your planner. Keep it simple—no need to write a paragraph for that one reminder. You’ll know what you’re talking about. (Just don’t keep it too brief, you want to know exactly what you need to do at the time you need to do it.) My suggestion: use actionable words (verbs, lol) in your list; “create,” “email,” and “update” are just a few examples. 

Block out your time.  

I am still new to time blocking, as I am a chronic multitasker and cannot focus on one task at hand. I always get distracted and I ramble … and you get the point. However, since I started blocking out time for certain tasks, and even marking certain days for different types of tasks, I found myself to be more productive, efficient, and producing quality content. 

Learn to say no.

I’d like to think this is an easy one, but frankly, it’s not. Don’t be afraid to say no to something if your list is overwhelming or daunting. This can go for non-work reasons, too. Do you have a pile of laundry as high as your TBR or have an assignment due at midnight, but your friend asked you to happy hour? You can say no—and offer to schedule it at another time. Learn to say no; your body and your mind will thank you for it later. 

Hope these tips helped you in your journey to effective time management! Let me know of any other tips you may have, or if you use any apps for productivity. I’d love to know!