The Biggest Time Management Mistakes Killing Your Progress
- J.Lonya Ononiwu
- May 15, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 29, 2024
In a world that confuses “busy” with “productive,” it can be easy to find your time management skills in shabby shape. The good news? It’s never too late to whip your time management strategies into shape and maximize every moment.
Signs you’re not a time-management master (yet!):
You’re constantly rushing
Your track record with punctuality is poor
You regularly miss deadlines
You struggle to set and achieve goals
The quality of your work is suffering
Procrastination is your daily companion
There’s no shame in struggling with time management. In fact, it’s a widespread issue. It can also be a testament to your passion and enthusiasm for life. But if you’re constantly struggling with the items above, it’s probably worth examining your current time management strategies.
Below, we look at some top time management mistakes that could be killing your progress.
Forging Ahead Without A List
Some people are obsessive list-makers, while others prefer to wing it. And while it’s true that not everyone who’s list-happy has good time management skills, most people with good time management use lists!
That’s because there’s a trick to to-do lists. Instead of just writing down everything you want to accomplish, apply a hierarchy of priorities. For example, some people use the letters A through F when making lists. This coding system allows you to determine where your goals lie on the spectrum of high priority (A) through low priority (F).
You’ll also want to examine whether your goals are specific or vague. When goals are too broad or large, you’re more likely to put them off. That might be because vague doesn’t feel actionable, and big is intimidating.
Try breaking large goals down into bite-sized, manageable milestones. By dividing your bigger goals, you can avoid missing key steps and set yourself up for success.
Not Setting Personal Goals
Most of us like to think we know exactly where we’re going. But, like our to-do lists, we’re easily bogged down when our personal goals are too vague or “big-picture.” Individual goals should always be meaningful, challenging, and specific.
Ask yourself these questions as you set personal goals:
Is my goal clear?
How will I measure success in this area?
How does this goal make me feel?
If I don’t feel strongly about this goal, can I shift the priority level?
Are there measurable and specific standards for hitting this goal?
Is this goal challenging enough to spark and hold my interest?
How will I reward myself when I make progress on this goal?
If I get overwhelmed, is there a way I can break this goal down into smaller tasks?
While you might think you’re clear on your vision, nothing creates greater clarity than writing it down and getting specific. Setting personal goals gives you something to aim for and helps you chart the course ahead.
Breaking big goals into smaller milestones, tracking your progress, and celebrating along the way are fantastic ways to stay motivated and make the most of your time.
Letting Distractions Get The Upper Hand
Distractions are a significant issue for all of us. Bids for our attention have always existed, but the ubiquitous nature of cell phones has changed the distraction game forever. Advertisements are nothing new, but advertisements that chime at you from your pocket ARE!
Thankfully, minor adjustments can lead to major improvements. But first, it’s essential to understand the toll distractions take.
“Flow” is the state of creativity or deep focus where you generate ideas, solve problems, and accomplish tasks. If you allow your flow to be interrupted repeatedly, it gets harder and harder to find it again.
Focus experts liken flow to a lake. If you’re constantly coming to the surface to tend to every interruption, you never get the chance to go deep. And if you never go deep, you never achieve the level of focus necessary for high-quality work.
Making the most of your time means regularly entering a flow state. So take whatever steps necessary to guard your attention and resist distractions.
You might:
Leave your phone in another room for blocks of time
Turn disruptive phone notifications off
Check your email at a specific time or times during the day
Have regular hours where you don’t use your phone
Help friends and acquaintances understand your schedule and boundaries
Observe a day of rest where you reset and relax with no distractions
Turn devices on silent when appropriate
Let people know how they can support your focus (AKA stop distracting you!)
Taking On Too Much
In today’s world, taking on too much is almost a badge of honor. When you ask someone how they’re doing, the answer you’ll get more often than not is, “busy!” Unfortunately, we often confuse movement with productivity. We can also fall into the trap of thinking that being a “good person” means always saying “yes.”
If we’re honest with ourselves, we know we cannot do a dozen things well. We can do a few things at a high level or a ton of things at a mediocre level, but we can’t do “it all” with excellence.
Most people think life is about saying no to bad things and yes to good things. In reality, it’s more often about saying no to good things so we can say yes to the best things.
When we see it this way, saying no becomes more manageable. We aren’t calling things bad or inferior; we’re just acknowledging that our top priorities suffer when we say yes to all the things.
When deciding whether to take something on, ask yourself:
How do I feel in my gut right now?
What would I do if I wasn’t afraid of disappointing this person?
Am I saying yes out of fear?
What is my motivation for saying yes?
Does this align with my values?
Is this a good thing or a great thing?
Will this thing keep me from a greater something I should be doing?
What purpose does this serve?
Why am I afraid to say no?
If you decide to say no, remember: You aren’t saying no to the person; you’re simply saying no to the task! Recognize the difference and celebrate the opportunity to say yes to something greater.
Often we say yes out of fear. Other times, taking something on makes us feel essential or in control. Try to embrace the things that align most strongly with your goals, make the best use of your time, and do the most good.
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