Introduction
Getting everything done can be a daunting task, especially when balancing work/school, family, social life, and sports/hobbies. In this post, many of the essential strategies that can improve productivity and help finish urgent tasks will be outlined and explained. Additionally, a few different techniques will be described to prevent burnout and overexertion.
The Eisenhower Matrix
This is the first, and arguably most important, step for time management. The Eisenhower Matrix allows someone to categorize the tasks that need to be done into 4 categories:
Urgent and important: Should be prioritized
Important but not urgent: Should be scheduled for later, but not neglected
Urgent but not important: Should be delegated to others if possible
Neither urgent nor important: Should be minimized or scheduled for later
Time Blocking
This method is pretty simple and self-explanatory. Time blocking simply divides the day into blocks of time (ex: 9am-12pm) to complete a specific category of tasks. This helps minimize distractions and ensures that all of someone's focus stays on the task at hand.
The Pomodoro Technique
This technique encourages someone to push themselves to work for 25 minutes straight: no breaks and no distractions. Then, they get a 5 minute rest. Repeat this 4 times then take a longer rest. Using this technique, people can prevent burnout and stay on task.
Eat That Frog
This method, which is based on Brian Tracy's book, Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time, encourages one to finish the most challenging and daunting task immediately. By getting the hardest task out of the way immediately, they set a positive environment for the rest of the day. Plus, the rest of their tasks will seem much easier.
The Two-Minute Rule
Oftentimes, people don't have tasks that take up a lot of time, but multiple tasks that take up a little bit of time each. It's easy for these to stack up, so the two-minute rule ensures that they don't. If the task takes less than two minutes, do it right away. Plain and simple.
Say "No"
Another way that people can overload ourselves with work is by promising to do things that they don't have time for. It can be difficult to refuse to help someone, but sometimes, it's necessary to say "no" to focus on the things that are most important.
Conclusion
One important reminder is that one shouldn't try to get everything done by watching motivational videos on YouTube or using all of the above methods at once. Instead, people should choose one or two methods from above that work for them and stay committed. In the end, discipline is much better than motivation. Time waits for no one, but with the right mindset and tools, someone can make every moment work for them.