How to do "time management" well?

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If you have ever tried searching Google for “[time management](https://www.google.com/search?ei=odzrXOfvKImLr7wP3PawuAY&q=%E6%99%82%E9%96%93%E7%AE%A1%E7%90%86&oq=%E6%99%82%E9%9 6%93%E7%AE%A1%E7%90%86&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0i71l8.0.0..688010…0.0..0.0.0…0…gws-wiz.iASt_KxBxXs)” This keyword may surprise you that there are as many as 1.4 billion search results! It can be seen that “time management” is not only a popular topic, but also troubles many modern people.

Wikipedia tells us:

Time management is to use skills, techniques and tools to help people complete their work and achieve their goals. Time management is not about getting everything done, but about using time more effectively. In addition to deciding what should be done, the purpose of time management is also to decide what should not be done. Time management is not about complete control, but about reducing variability. The most important function of time management is to serve as a reminder and guide through advance planning.

These 1.4 billion search results are filled with all kinds of information about “time management” mentality and skills. The problem is - although everyone is well aware of the importance of “time management” and may have heard some experts and scholars talk about time management methods, I know that many of my friends still don’t get the point, and even secretly feel sad about it.

Time management methods from experts

For example, the CEO of Innovation Works [Kai-Fu Lee] (https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9D%8E%E9%96%8B%E5%BE%A9) once published an article on his personal WeChat official account to introduce to everyone [Five Ways to Manage Time] (https://m.igetget.com/share/course/article/article_id/66372). The first method is to determine the urgent and important tasks to be done today every morning, and then review them every night before going to bed to see if you have a good balance. The second method is to make a to-do list and a completed list. The third method is to focus on improving efficiency. The fourth method is to use efficient time. The fifth method is to set a reasonable deadline for yourself.

To be honest, these methods are all very good, but the problem is that many people can’t do them, or it’s difficult to sustain them!

I have taken many “time management” courses myself, and have been friends with the “time management” lecturer [Zhang Yongxi] (https://www.timemang.com/) for many years. I have read almost all the books on the topic of “time management” in the market, and I have even dabbled in GTD… I can’t say how familiar or proficient I am in “time management” skills, but I think I can share with you some of my experiences on how to manage time well over the years.

The main principle of GTD is that one needs to remove various tasks from the mind through recording. In this way, the mind can be freed from being filled with all kinds of things that need to be done, and can focus on what is being done.

I have worked in the Internet and the media, two industries that place great emphasis on “speed”. Perhaps because of the long-term professional training and influence, I have developed a rhythm and rituals for doing things over time; of course, the control of time is also not a problem.

Many people talk about “time management” and like to explore various novel methods or useful digital tools. In fact, I think you may have heard of “Pomodoro Technique”, and maybe you have tried to use alarm clocks, computer software or apps to control your work and rest like me. This is certainly a good idea, but I also know that not everyone can write a blog post in half an hour like me (https://www.contenthacker.today/2019/02/write-your-blog-post-faster.html).

“Pomodoro Technique” was developed by Francisco. A time organization method developed by Francesco Cirillo. It means that within twenty-five minutes, you only focus on what you are currently doing, take five minutes to rest, and then focus on one thing again in twenty-five-minute increments.

Attention is scarcer than time

What I want to say is that if you can’t first figure out which things are important and meaningful to you, and at the same time make up your mind to manage your time well… just spending money to take some “time management” courses here or there, or blindly buying a bunch of GTD software, to-do list apps or notebooks, is in vain, or even useless! Everyone knows that “time is money”, but the resource that is more scarce and precious than time is actually our attention.

Therefore, I have also heard a saying: time cannot be managed, and only by being willing to improve yourself can you improve the efficiency of work and life.

Many friends may know the so-called “[Four Quadrant Method of Time Management](https://wiki.mbalib.com/zh-tw/%E6%97%B6%E9%97%B4%E2%80%9C%E5%9B%9B%E8%B1%A1%E9%99 %90%E2%80%9D%E6%B3%95)”, and after reviewing it, I found that I was “often cheated of my time by “urgent but unimportant” trivial matters” (https://www.managertoday.com.tw/articles/view/52761). But I want to remind everyone, don’t always spend your energy on things that are “both important and urgent”. The real key is those things that are “important but not urgent.”

The success master [Stephen. Stephen R. Covey once mentioned that people face the challenge of making good use of time every day. In other words, we should learn to arrange work according to “importance” and stay away from unimportant things in the third and fourth quadrants.

“Computer Playthings” The webmaster Esor happened to share his time management method today. He suggested that everyone can “start practicing with self-awareness” (https://www.playpcesor.com/2019/05/blog-post_27.html). I also think it is great. Only by rethinking and measuring the precious resource of time and exploring our inner thoughts can we make good use of it to exchange or deal with more critical or important matters.

For example, the American best-selling author Stephen. Stephen King (Stephen King) is used to doing these things repeatedly every day: from 8 to 8:30 every morning, he must take vitamins at a fixed seat, listen to the music he selected, and then start organizing the manuscript.

And the French writer Simon. Bova（Simone de Beauvoir, she also has her own customary writing ritual: “I start with drinking tea. At about ten o’clock, I will start working until one o’clock in the afternoon, then meet friends, and then at five o’clock, I will go back to work until nine o’clock. In the afternoon, clearing my mind is not a problem for me.”

Work habits that put first things first

If you want me to give you some advice on “time management”, that is - always put important things first and develop the habit of “first things first”. As for other trivial matters, just deal with them when you have free time or when you are less energetic. Deal with important things first, and then match them with your own rhythm and rituals. I believe you can find a good way to use your time effectively!

First, remember that productivity is not an endless race, it is only a limited tool. Second, try often, because it’s not easy to find a method that suits your personality and habits. Of course, if you still want me to recommend some courses on “time management”, then you can consider the “[Time Management Mental Techniques: Upgrading Life Operation System] (https://hahow.in/cr/time-management)” online class recently launched by Mr. Zhang Yongxi (https://www.facebook.com/yunghsi) on the Hahow platform.

As for the books, I recommend you read Lola. Fan Dekang（Laura Vanderkam’s “If you want to be busy, be busy meaningfully”. I once introduced this book at Vista Reading Club in March this year. Friends who are interested are welcome to refer to it! Another new book by this author, “[The day was very fulfilling: The application philosophy of the three golden periods of successful people] (https://www.books.com.tw/exep/assp.php/vista/products/0010823154?utm_source=vista&utm_medium=ap-books&utm_content=recommend&utm_campaign=ap-201905)” will be published in June this year and is also worth looking forward to!

You should treat your time as a garden. If you want to get anything, you have to plant it carefully.

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💡 Photo Credit: Seth Macey

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