Time Management Tips to Help You Crush Your Goals

Hey there, leading lady! Can you believe we’re already heading into the final stretch of 2024? If you’re anything like me, you’re probably wondering where the heck the time went and how you’ll get everything done before the year wraps up. Well, don’t worry – I’ve got your back with some time management tips that’ll help you make the most of every day left this year!

Now, I’m not going to lie to you – there’s no magic wand that’ll suddenly make you a time management wizard. (If you find one, let me know, okay?) What works like a charm for me might be a total flop for you. But that’s the beauty of it! We’re all unique, and finding the right time management tricks is like finding the perfect pair of jeans – it might take some trial and error, but once you find them, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them.

1. Find Tools That Work for You

One of the most crucial time management tips I can share is to use tools that vibe with your working style.

I’m a paper planner girl through and through. I love the feeling of physically writing things down and crossing them off. It keeps me focused and organized. But my executive director, Aubrey? She’s all about that Google Calendar life. She’s so organized, she makes me look like a hot mess sometimes! The key is that we’ve each found a system that clicks with our individual styles.

Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution here. What works for one person might be a total nightmare for another. The goal is to find what feels right for you.

Time Management Tip: Play around with different tools (paper planners, digital calendars, productivity apps) for a week each. Pay attention to which one feels most natural and keeps you on track. Habits take time to form. In fact, research has shown it takes an average of 66 days for a new habit to form, so after you narrow down your tools, try one or two for a couple of months. Here are some cool options to try:

2. Identify Your Time Thieves

We all have those sneaky activities that suck up our time without us even realizing it. Spotting these time thieves is key to upping your time management game.

In my coaching practice, I’ve seen clients who are totally baffled about where their time goes. One client thought she was spending maybe 30 minutes a day on social media. When she tracked her time? Turns out it was over two hours of daily scrolling! (Hands up if this might be you!) Once she realized this, she set some boundaries around her social media use and freed up a ton of time for more productive stuff.

Here are some common time thieves I’ve noticed:

Social Media: The ultimate rabbit hole!
Email Overload: Constantly checking your inbox can fragment your day.
Unproductive Meetings: These can be a huge time suck for you and your team.
Perfectionism: Sometimes good enough is… well, good enough!
Multitasking: It might feel productive, but it often leads to less efficiency and lower quality work.

Time Management Tip: For one week, track how you spend your time each day. Be brutally honest with yourself – you might be surprised at where your time is actually going! Here are some tools you can use to help you track your time:

3. Set Realistic Goals

Setting achievable goals is one of the most underrated time management tips out there. While it’s great to dream big, setting unrealistic expectations is a recipe for frustration.

Let me share a real-life example from one of my clients. She’s a business owner and mom of two who initially set broad goals to “grow her business” and “be more present with family.” Noble intentions, but way too vague! We worked together to break these down into smaller, more manageable goals:

Month 1-2:
- Business: Dedicate 30 minutes each morning to strategic planning before checking emails.
- Personal: Implement a “no phone” rule during family dinner time.
Month 3-4:
- Business: Schedule and conduct one 15-minute client feedback session per week.
- Personal: Spend 30 minutes planning a fun family activity each weekend.
Month 5-6:

Remember, the key is to start small and build momentum. Don’t try to change everything at once. This balanced approach allows you to make sustainable improvements in your time management across all areas of your life.

Time Management Tip: Choose one area of your life where you want to improve your time management. Set one or two small, specific goals for the next two months. For example, “I will spend 15 minutes each evening planning for the next day.”

4. Create Boundaries

As a woman entrepreneur, you probably feel the pressure to be available 24/7 to both your business and your family. But being constantly “on” is a one-way ticket to burnout city. Setting boundaries is crucial!

In my coaching sessions, we talk a lot about work-life balance. It’s kind of my thing! One client recently shared how she felt totally overwhelmed by always being “on” for her business. She was answering emails at all hours, taking client calls during family dinners – you name it. So, we worked together to set up a “no work email after 8 PM” rule. Here’s how she did it:

She communicated the new policy to her team and clients, setting clear expectations about her availability.
She set up an auto-responder for emails received after 8 PM, politely informing senders that she’d respond the next business day.
She removed work email notifications from her phone to reduce temptation.
She created a wind-down routine for the evenings, replacing email-checking with activities like reading, spending time with family, or practicing meditation.

The process wasn’t without challenges. She initially felt anxious about missing important messages, and sometimes, she was tempted to “just quickly check” her inbox. But she remained committed to the boundary, and it worked! In fact, it worked so well that she felt empowered to create more boundaries like dedicated “no-meeting” days for focused work and specific hours for client calls.

Time Management Tip: Identify one boundary you can set this week to protect your time. It could be as simple as not checking work emails after 7 PM or dedicating Sunday afternoons to self-care. Communicate your new boundary clearly with everyone who needs to know about it, stick to it consistently, and be patient with yourself as you adjust.

5. Embrace Flexibility

Life happens, and sometimes, even the best-laid plans go awry. The key is to be flexible and kind to yourself when things don’t go as planned. This is especially true for women who are juggling multiple roles as entrepreneurs, leaders, partners, or parents.

Let’s talk about one of my clients. She always prided herself on her meticulously planned schedule. Every hour of her day was accounted for, from client meetings to her children’s activities. So imagine her frustration when, in one week, everything seemed to go off track. First, on Monday, a client emergency required her to reschedule two important meetings. Then, on Wednesday, her daughter woke up with a fever, requiring a last-minute day off from school. And then, on Friday, her babysitter canceled five minutes before date night with her partner.

As each new challenge came up, she could have felt stressed, frustrated, and defeated. And in the past, she might have felt all of those things. However, because we had been working on embracing flexibility, she could work with her challenges.

Time Management Tip: The next time your schedule gets derailed, take a deep breath and focus on what you can control. Adjust your priorities for the day and move forward without beating yourself up. Here are some things you can try to help you embrace flexibility:

Build margin into your schedule: Don’t pack your day so tightly that one unexpected event throws everything off.
Have a “Plan B” for important tasks: Always have a backup plan for crucial responsibilities.
Practice the “two-minute rule”: If something unexpected comes up that can be handled in two minutes or less, do it immediately.
Regularly reassess your priorities: What seemed important yesterday might not be as crucial today. Be willing to shift your focus as needed.
Cultivate a growth mindset: View challenges and changes as opportunities to learn and grow, not as failures of your planning.

6. Start Small and Be Patient

One of the biggest mistakes people make when trying to improve their time management is attempting a complete overhaul of their habits overnight. That’s a great plan if you want to feel frustrated and burned out, but I really don’t recommend it. Instead, start with small changes and be patient with yourself as you develop new habits.

One of my clients came to me feeling overwhelmed and unproductive despite working long hours. She wanted to change her entire work process immediately. Instead, we took a step back and focused on one small change at a time. She started by adding a 15-minute planning session each morning. Once that became a habit, she added a twice-daily email check system instead of constantly monitoring her inbox. Then, she started using the Pomodoro Technique, working in focused 25-minute bursts followed by 5-minute breaks.

By focusing on one small change at a time, she made significant improvements to her time management without feeling overwhelmed. Each new habit was built on the previous ones, creating a compound effect that dramatically increased her productivity and reduced her stress levels.

Time Management Tip: Choose one small habit you want to develop or change. If possible, attach your new habit to something you already do regularly. For example, “After I pour my morning coffee, I’ll spend 15 minutes planning my day.” Focus on that new habit for at least a month before adding another. Remember that 66-day average for habit-forming! Celebrate your progress, no matter how small. This positive reinforcement can help cement new habits.

Implementing These Time Management Tips

Remember, changing habits takes time. If you slip up or fall back into old patterns, don’t view it as a failure. Instead, see it as an opportunity to learn and adjust your approach. Be kind to yourself, celebrate small wins, and keep pushing forward.

Your time management journey is just that – a journey. As you grow and your life changes, your strategies may need to evolve too. That’s why it’s so important to find time management tips that work for you, rather than trying to force yourself into someone else’s system.

I’d love to hear about your time management goals. Which of these time management tips resonated with you? Do you have any additional tips to share? Join the Leading Ladies Facebook group to share and connect with other leading ladies on the same journey.

Remember, you’ve got this! Here’s to a year of growth, success, and better time management – on your own terms.

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Time Management Tips to Help You Crush Your Goals (Without Losing Your Mind!)