Everyone's raving about this new time management system, and how much more productive it's made them.
Well, hey, you want to be more productive! So you run out and buy the book. You spend several hours (possibly days) reading it. You spend a few more hours setting the system up. And, of course, there's the money you spend on the stuff the book says you just have to have to really make the system work.
Finally, you put your new time management system into action. Only it doesn't work for you. There are too many steps, too many “moving parts.” You keep forgetting one or two of the half dozen things you're supposed to do to keep the system running smoothly. And it feels like you spend more time trying to make the system work than you do getting anything done.
After a few days, you give up. And try not to think about all the time and money you just wasted.
But before you completely abandon that time management system, here are some things you can do to get real value out of it.
Step 1: Start with One Piece of the System
You know why some time management systems seem too complicated? Because they are.Time management isn't a single skill. It's a bunch of different skills and habits all smashed together.
The best way to make any new skill or habit stick is to focus on developing one at a time. But time management systems (like Getting Things Done) expect you to adopt at least five or six new habits and skills right out of the gate.
For some people, this isn't too difficult, probably because they've already developed some of those skills in some other way. But if you're unfamiliar with any of the skills in a time management system, trying to adopt them all at once will be a struggle.
So don't. Instead , pick the one technique in the system that you think might actually work for you. For example, maybe you think the Next Actions idea from Getting Things Done has some potential. Or you might prefer the Closed List from Do It Tomorrow. Or maybe you find the Now Habit's Un-Calendar more appealing.
Trying to learn an entire time management system can be overwhelming. But learning just one part of the system? Piece of cake, at least by comparison.
Step 2: Give the Technique Time to Work
I think the reason some of us don't succeed with some time management techniques is we don't give them enough time to work. We'll use a new technique for a day or two and, if it doesn't make us more productive right away, we conclude the technique is a bust and move on to something else.But think of any skill you've had to learn. You probably sucked the first time you tried to hit a baseball, draw something recognizable, or cook a cake you weren't afraid to eat. But, with practice, you got better.
Time management techniques work the same way. It takes time to learn to use them. It takes even more time to get good at them. But the more you practice, the better you'll get.
So give your new time management technique at least two weeks.
In the first week, you'll focus on learning to use the technique.
In the second week, you'll be better at using it, and will be able to judge whether it's working for you or not.
If, at the end of two weeks, you decide the technique has potential, keep using it. As each day passes, using the technique will be a little easier. And after about 30 days, using that technique will be second nature.
Step 3: Pick Another Technique
So you've been using one of the techniques from that time management system for about a month, and it's been a huge success.Or you gave the technique two weeks, and it was a total bust. You tried. You really did. But it just didn't work for you.
Either way, see if there's another technique in that system that you'd like to try. Even if the first technique hasn't worked for you, that doesn't mean another one won't.
But keep this in mind. Any time you add a new time management technique to your repertoire, it will probably throw you off your game for a few days, if not more. That doesn't mean it's a bad technique, or that it will never work for you. It just means you aren't used to using it yet. Give it the full two-week test drive and see how it goes. Many people find that the techniques that were the hardest for them to adopt are the ones that end up benefiting them the most in the long run.
Step 4: Keep Going...Or Not
Working one piece at a time, you can adopt an entire time management system. But do you really want to?Maybe some parts of a time management system don't really appeal to you. Or you're satisfied with the two or three techniques you've adopted from the system, and don't feel like you really need the rest. Or you want to try some techniques from an entirely different time management system.
When it comes to time management, there are no rules. All that matters is what works for you.
There are some great time management systems out there. But if you try to learn and implement a new system all at once, you could be setting yourself up for a failure.
Instead, pick one piece of the system that you really like and give it a try. It's much less overwhelming, and will actually put you on the road to being more productive.
