I have a problem managing my time, how would I fix this problem?

Hi Josh--you're not alone! I think everyone experiences this problem, and it's definitely something you can work on.

What helps me stay focused is to plan out my time (I use a google calendar), and reward myself for finishing tasks. It's SUPER important that you have a calendar. You can use google calendar for free if you create a google account (or if you already have a google) account, if you have outlook for email, there is a calendar feature in there as well.

This is what I do each week:

• On SUNDAY afternoon, in my calendar, I put in all of the appointments that I already have--this includes classes, meetings, extracurricular activities (some of these like classes are recurring, so with the calendar, you can create recurring appointments)


• Then, I list all of things that are DUE this week--this can include homework assignment, applications I need to turn in, etc.


• After I have all my appointments in, I look to see what free time is left, and I schedule in blocks of time where I have free time to do all of things that are due.

I used to have a lot of trouble focusing--when I was trying to do homework, I would find myself checking my email, seeing what my friends were doing on facebook, or looking at videos on youtube. That was really bad for my focus, so what I now do is that when I am working on homework, I disconnect from the internet and never have any distractions (like TV) on.

The last thing I would suggest is that you reward yourself for focusing and for getting things done. For example, after I have worked on something for 30min (without checking facebook, email, or youtube), I reward myself with something I like (e.g., watch a TV show on Hulu). You should pick things you like and reward yourself when you accomplish the things you set out to do.

There are lots of nifty online resources and "apps" to try to help you to manage your time, send reminders, etc. but I think the most important thing is that you want to stay focused and "on task". You've taken the initiative by asking the question, so that in itself is a good start.

Time management is a problem people seem to have at all ages. I would recommend creating a list of what you need to get done for the day, and periodically checking to see that you are on track to finish what you wanted to at the beginning of the day.

How much time do you spend a day reading, watching or listening to content that doesn’t enhance your life? If you spent a day keeping track, you’d be surprised at how much time this robs from you. Don’t waste precious moments on things that don’t move you closer to your goals.

This is a problem that is faced by everyone be it a student or a professional.To start with keep a to do list.
Do not take too many things on your list.You also need to know which time in your productive time.
That is when you can dedicate to study.More important never let go of your sleep and food. Because this will never let you focus.

1.Carry a schedule and record all your thoughts, conversations and activities for a week. This will help you understand how much you can get done during the course of a day and where your precious moments are going. You'll see how much time is actually spent producing results and how much time is wasted on unproductive thoughts, conversations and actions.
2.Any activity or conversation that's important to your success should have a time assigned to it. To-do lists get longer and longer to the point where they're unworkable. Appointment books work. Schedule appointments with yourself and create time blocks for high-priority thoughts, conversations, and actions. Schedule when they will begin and end. Have the discipline to keep these appointments.
3.Plan to spend at least 50 percent of your time engaged in the thoughts, activities and conversations that produce most of your results.
4.Schedule time for interruptions. Plan time to be pulled away from what you're doing. Take, for instance, the concept of having "office hours." Isn't "office hours" another way of saying "planned interruptions?"
5.Take the first 30 minutes of every day to plan your day. Don't start your day until you complete your time plan. The most important time of your day is the time you schedule to schedule time.
6.Take five minutes before every call and task to decide what result you want to attain. This will help you know what success looks like before you start. And it will also slow time down. Take five minutes after each call and activity to determine whether your desired result was achieved. If not, what was missing? How do you put what's missing in your next call or activity?
7.Put up a "Do not disturb" sign when you absolutely have to get work done.
8.Practice not answering the phone just because it's ringing and e-mails just because they show up. Disconnect instant messaging. Don't instantly give people your attention unless it's absolutely crucial in your business to offer an immediate human response. Instead, schedule a time to answer email and return phone calls.
9.Block out other distractions like Facebook and other forms of social media unless you use these tools to generate business.
10.Remember that it's impossible to get everything done. Also remember that odds are good that 20 percent of your thoughts, conversations and activities produce 80 percent of your results.

Like some of the other answers I have read in this thread, keep a to do list. Once that list is complete, figure out the frivolous or wish list items compared to the must do's or the must completes, and then prioritize. Obviously, you'd want to do the most important ones first. I believe this is a skill that is learned for most people, as personally I have found that I don't have to keep as many lists anymore.

Hi,

Thank you for your query.

Time management, according to me is a HABIT more than anything else.

Few things I focused on:
1. Making a To Do list and adhering to the timelines
2. Prioritizing the work as High-Medium-Low on importance for completion
3. Scheduling my day to day activities

So based on the above points, I made a list of things I need to do daily including the basics as bath, eat, travel, etc. Everything was time based and scheduled. I practiced this and today its my habit. I follow it religiously and it has eased my work and my personal life too. I have calendarized everything I need to do and today's technology (mobiles, watches, etc.) are a big help in keeping up with your schedules. I'm able to do all of it in time and also get to have free time to have some fun.

I hope this helps you in getting better at managing time. I will you all the very best.

One of the easiest ways I manage my time through the day/week is I make a checklist, from what is the highest priority to the least. This has been a very helpful to me I think it will help you out too!

To efficiently manage time, you have to set up a timetable for everything and prioritize your duties.

I agree, this is an issue which majority of us face. To start with take a notepad and stare making notes of your daily activity with time for each of them. It could be the simple as going for a quick break. At the end of the day sit down and calculate how much time you have utilized and how much time could have been utilized in a better manner. You do this for 2 weeks and be honest to your self and you would see that your are getting better at managing you time.This is the most simplest of time management exercise you could do to start with. Remember "Being Honest" to yourself is the key.. One of my managers made me do this exercise in my early stages of my career, I loved it and was shocked to see how many hours in a day was I spending doing "Nothing" at all.

All the best!!

Its better to schedule your work in the best sequence setting the priority list and then executing it one by one .
Set the timings accordingly and do not allocate more hours in something less importance .

<span style="background-color: transparent;">You have to set a routine for yourself and stick to it for the most part. Once you get into the groove of a routine it will be much easier for you to manage your time and have enough time for everything you need to do (including relaxing). Make yourself to-do lists on a weekly basis, use Google calendar or a planner to keep track of events, deadlines, and due dates. In addition to setting a routine and sticking to it, plan out relaxing activities into your day. Or set aside a time, after everything is done for the day, that you can have "me" time. I have also personally found it essential to not only find time for myself but also make use of that time in a way that is best for me and my holistic wellness. I have found the HeadSpace app to be an essential tool in helping me relax and generally feel more relaxed throughout the day, Guided meditation, even if you have a busy schedule, will make you feel more at ease and relaxed throughout the day as a whole (not just when you have the time to relax and focus on that "me" time).</span>

<span style="background-color: transparent;">Set a routine.Use Google Calendar.Set aside Me TimeWrite weekly to-do lists and use a planner.Find a peaceful and restful activity that will help you feel relaxed.</span>

Whenever I am approached with this question I can always feel the pull of the undercurrent of what is really being asked: “How do I fulfill my dreams?” Objectively, the ability to not only set but accomplish goals has everything to do with time management, focus and completing a task.

Consider this question: “What is your largest aspiration? Your most lofty dream?” Write it down somewhere. Now imagine that someone whom you admire and respect stood before you and asked you to go out into the world, at this very moment--without delay, and execute on that desire.

An insurmountable task no doubt!

This sense of insurmountability is a common pitfall that dissuades many people from their heartfelt intentions. We, as people, are naturally inclined to look at the finished product and consequently judge ourselves based on the difference between the present state of affairs and our envisionment of the future.

Instead, treat task setting like you would a jigsaw puzzle. Begin with this grand picture in your mind. Next, fragment that picture into hundreds of little manageable tasks (e.g: group similarly colored pieces, group pieces that make the edge, etc). As you tackle these small tasks you will start to make significant progress without even realizing it. From time to time, look back at your reference: your big picture. As you reevaluate what you have accomplished you can realign your goals and then proceed to go back to the small details.

You will surprise yourself with what you can accomplish in this way.

There's a lot of things that can contribute to poor time management skills.

Do you plan too many things in a day?
Do you have trouble focusing on your task at hand?
Is that you are avoiding the task because it's not that much fun, like chores?

A few things that I found helpful is to do one thing at a time.
Scheduling is HUGE! I use a calendar for events and include travel time in your schedule. If you have a game that is from 3-5 then include the time marked off from 2:30 - 5:30 in include travel and parking, hooking up with friends etc.
Lists are a must for me, I write down only the top 3 things I must get done, then I have a list of nice to get done.
For tasks that are not that pleasant, work to make them fun by blasting your favorite music.

And as Jared mentioned above, meet with your guidance counselor at school. They can help asses and give you even more tips on how to manage time.

Before you can effectively manage your time, you have to know how you should be allocating it on a day-to-day basis. Set a specific date and time as a deadline. Have confident on controlling time and plan on how you arrange and manage your use of it every day.

I completely agree with all of these previous answers. When I was in college, I took at 9.5 x 6 notebook and wrote out the times down the left side of the page (7a-10p) and scheduled/planned every single task, whether that was class, work, studying, lunch with a friend- it was all in there. It absolutely kept me on track and became a game in that if I felt pressed for time, I put my head down and knocked it out to get it off my schedule! I still do this in my job! Writing your tasks down and visualizing them really helps you to prioritize what you are doing and recognize if you have too much on your plate!

Here’s a plan to identify your daily activities priority:

Quadrant 1: Important/ Urgent.
Quadrant 2: Important/ Not Urgent.
Quadrant 3: Not Important/ Urgent.
Quadrant 4: Not Important/ Not Urgent.

Please utilize the above quadrant system to prioritize your daily activities.

I would also consult with a guidance counselor, family member, and/or teacher to see if you have a physical or neurological challenge to overcome. Sometimes dietary reactions, attention deficit disorder, or other things could be happening that might make you easily distracted or sluggish.

One exercise that helped me was keeping a log book for 2 weeks. I would write down every task/activity I was doing and the time I spent on the task/activity (including leisure activities like watching tv, etc). Then you will get a good idea of what you are actually spending your time on, and how much time you spend on doing it. You might realize how much time you are spending on something, that might not really need that much time devoted to it. You can then start to prioritize the most important tasks to get those done first and work your way down your list of things to do.

Make a list of the tasks you need to accomplish. But before you can manage your time, you need to know what it is you must manage. A list of tasks, from the mundane to the critical, will help you get a handle on what needs to get done. Then, assign realistic priorities to each task.

A couple of the most important things to consider when trying to manage your time are creating To-Do lists and prioritizing. One of the things most people run into as college students or even as professionals is putting off things that may be more difficult or that you don't want to do. To make sure that these important tasks do get done, I've found it helpful to create To-Do lists and put the most urgent or important things at the top of that list. Being able to cross things off once you have gotten them done, especially the more difficult things like writing a paper or getting started on a project feels very rewarding!