8 Powerful Time Management Techniques

Time management is the secret to being productive. If you know how to use your time effectively, then you have unlocked the secret of productivity. This is why so many time management techniques exist to help boost productivity. I know a few methods from the books I have read, and at the moment, I am working on how to apply them in my life.

Some days ago, I came in contact with some time management methods that I think would be great to share here. I know about a few methods, and some are totally new to me. So let's begin:

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Eat that frog

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This method involves tackling tasks that are most important to you before attempting other tasks. When we say most important, it is based on its level of significance and how much it has an effect on your life. This method is effective for critical thinkers and people who procrastinate on important goals.

Some books that talked about this method is "Eat that Frog" by Brian Tracy and The on thing by Gary Keller.

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Pomodoro Technique

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This technique is something I am just hearing about myself and it is about taking breaks in between work intervals. This is done by simply taking 5minutes break for every 25minutes of work. This technique is suitable for people who struggle with concentration and time management. There are two books available "The Pomodoro Technique" By Francesco Cirillo, and "Deep Work" By Cal Newport.

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Eisenhower Matrix

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This technique is very popular and I use this very well. This method is about prioritizing your task based on urgency and importance versus not urgent and not important. This makes decision making and help prioritise task that contributes most to your life. There are books available to read on this, we have "First Things First" by Stephen R. Covey and "Essentialism" by Greg McKeown.

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Getting Things Done (GTD)

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This process is simply writing down your plans down on paper and breaking them into actionable steps. I personally apply this method very well and it has been quite helpful. It serves as a reminder of things that I need to do and also gives a sense of direction. The author "David Allen" wrote two books on this, "Getting Things Done" and "Making It All Work".

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Time Blocking

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The first time I heard of time blocking was when I was reading an article about how Elon Musk manages his time and his method was time blocking. How he does it is to assign time blocks for the tasks each day. So at a particular time of the day, he would know that time is for a specific activity.

This method is very effective if you want to minimize distraction, have a sense of direction and also enhance your productivity. You can read book on this, we have "Make Time" By Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky. We also have "168 Hours" by Laura Vanderkam.

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Pickle Jar Theory

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This method is about prioritising important task over less important task. In a way, I see that it has quite some similarity with "EisenHower Matrix". I got to know more about this method while reading "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen R. Covey. I am just getting to know this method was also discussed in the book "Essentialism" by Grey McKeown.

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Pareto Analysis (The 80/20 Rule)

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I know about this method very well and this is about making the most outcome 80% of results from just 20% of your input. It is based on identifying the most productive tasks and working straight on them. You don't have to do everything, only the ones that have a significant impact to your life. This method is effective for aiming to focus your effort to attain maximum results.

I got to know about this method from "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective people" but I see that it was also discussed in the book "The 80/20 Principle" by Richard Koch and the "The Lean Startup" by Eric Rics.

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Rapid Planning Method

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This technique is for goal achievers, and it is primary based on focusing your mind on the goal you are after, the outcome you plan to achieve. It help to define your sense of purpose and take consistent action towards it. The books that talks largely about this technique is "Coaching for Performance" By John Whitmore and "The 5 Second Rule" By Mel Robbins.