Why Time Management Has Nothing To Do With Time

Great time management can seem like a magic wand that makes people’s lives miraculously better. It can seem like a fantasy concept that none can master, just manipulate. It can seem like no one actually does it well.

And it can seem like… it actually has nothing to do with time.

Because it doesn’t.

I consider myself a good time manager. It’s a strength that has gotten me through years and years of schooling and projects. If I have a list of tasks, I find a way to get them done. Somehow, as if my miracle.

Here’s the kicker… time management is rarely about managing time. It’s about managing everything else in your life.

Because time management involves managing everything EXCEPT your time.

Here are five areas that will help you MAKE the time you so desperately need.

1. Technology Management

You may never know everything involved with the software, the program, or the platform you use. Figure out what content you need to create and do your best to manipulate the technology to complete your tasks. If this means stepping away and grabbing a pen and paper, then do it.

If this means watching a quick YouTube video about a particular feature you can’t figure out or a shortcut that will help you speed up the process, then do that. The point is, work with the technology. You don’t have to master it; just use it to your advantage.

And as far as social media goes, if you can’t complete your tasks because you are too distracted by social media, turn it off or put your phone in the next room. Only allow yourself to check up on the world every once in a while, and only after you’ve completed a few things on the to-do list. Technology can be your greatest asset, but it can also be your downfall.

Technology can be frustrating. So get a firm grasp on the basics and keep moving through the glitches as best you can.

2. People Management

I am a people pleaser. I often put work I have to do for other people ahead of my own. Most times, it just makes me incredibly reliable and trustworthy.

People know that if they give me a task, I’ll complete it on time. But that comes at a price.

Managing the people in your life can be one of the most challenging things to actually do. Some people fulfill your time, while others simply drain it. People that drain your energy are also draining your time.

If you have a friend or co-worker who regularly eats up your headspace, it can be hard to get them out while you are trying to work. People are different, Duh. That means people must be managed differently.

Assess the relationships in your life and how much time they require of you. Most of the time,… time spent with people is necessary. It rejuvenates and refuels you.

But there are times when you need to step away from relationships, and that’s okay.

Be clear and direct with people. Agree on mutual expectations. Don’t bite off more than you can chew, but don’t settle for less than you are capable of.

Always remember, people management is a two-way street. This means you have to consider how other people might be having to manage you. Sometimes that perspective can help you navigate your relationships in a healthier way.

3. Fun Management

Carve out time to have fun. Fun is necessary for a fulfilling life, or so they say. If you aren’t having any fun, find out what you can do to make something fun.

Reward yourself for your hard work. Work hard, play hard? Isn’t that what they say? Well, do that. Taking a break from your work may help you find the motivation or inspiration to do better work once you get back to it.

It may feel like a waste of time, but it pays off in the long run. If you think of time management as a long term goal, wasting a little time is okay.

Fun is sort of like the air pockets in microwavable dinner; you have to have them or else you may explode.

4. Emotional Management

Oh, golly. Emotions! Those can be hard to contain. People release emotions in different ways. Work on finding a healthy way to navigate your emotional state that doesn’t wholly hinder your workability.

If talking to your mom or spouse every day makes you a better worker, then speak to them every day. Use your time wisely. Burning out doesn’t help you in the long run. Remember, time management is about long-term progress, not the short term.

If eating a snack, watching an episode of TV, or taking a walk outside makes you feel better, then that is time well spent. If I am in a weird emotional state, I am not working up to the best of my ability. When this happens, I assess the root cause of the issue and try to do at least one little thing to make me feel better.

Some people can compartmentalize. Others can’t. For those that can’t, don’t. Feel everything you need to feel and then talk yourself into how you will finish the day’s task despite not feeling like it.

Because the truth is, we have to work whether or not we feel like it or not. That’s what adults do, right? I had days when I didn’t feel like teaching, but I had no choice. I had seventy undergraduate students sitting at desks, waiting for class to start. So I did it.

Don’t underestimate your ability to work when you don’t feel like it. Just remember to keep it in check and address the reasons WHY either before or after.

Don’t push emotions away. Channel them. Check them. Feel them. A release might be the thing you needed all along.

5. Mental Management

This kind of bleeds over from your Emotional Management.

Taking care of yourself is one of the most important things ever. Making your mental health a priority will help you manage every other aspect of your life.

If talking to a therapist or meditating every day enables you to be more active in living your life, then make an effort to perform those actions regularly.

It’s hard to work or do anything when you are in a mental funk or low place. And sometimes, you just have to ride it out. But understand that it’s okay to have bad work days, weeks, or even months.

Continue to challenge yourself. As I mentioned earlier, you are probably much more capable than you think.

The truth is that your mental management is the most important one.

Have I MADE time yet?

Time management is a marathon, not a sprint. When you look at it like that, it’s easier to de-stress about how much time you don’t have.

So…

Time management is not about time at all. It’s about managing other aspects of your life.

By managing these, time is created. This is how you MAKE time!

People say that you can make time for something if it matters enough. All you have to do is stop trying to manage your time… and start managing other aspects of your life.

And maybe, just maybe, you actually can MAKE time.

This isn’t about being the BEST at time management, just about being BETTER than you were before.