Cover image by Brad Neathery via Unsplash

Time management can be difficult at best, but it doesn’t have to be. These 15 time management tips will help you take control of your schedule and free up time to do what you love, whether that’s spending more time with family or discovering your new favorite hobby. You don’t have to use all the tips in this article—in fact, the best way to handle them is to find the ones that work best for you and your unique situation, and then incorporate them into your routine one at a time. The result? Happier employees and more focused workers who feel confident in their abilities!

How experts manage their time

From your perspective, time management might seem simple. Set a timer, set a schedule, and keep to it. In reality, most of us could probably use some improvement when it comes to staying on top of our own day-to-day tasks. If you want to do more with your time — whether that means finishing projects early, squeezing in extra work or simply making more room for yourself — there are some great strategies you can use for managing it better. Here’s what top productivity experts recommend

1. Use sticky notes to set reminders

Write down your tasks on sticky notes and place them strategically around your workspace. For example, put one by your computer, on your nightstand, or in your car. Alternatively, use a mobile app like Any.do to set reminders and timers for important tasks throughout the day. This method allows you to manage multiple types of tasks across all aspects of your life and helps prevent forgotten responsibilities from piling up later in the day—an all-too-common mistake that many busy professionals make.

2. Schedule social media posts in advance

If you want to make sure your social media presence is active 24/7, then schedule all of your posts in advance. Once you find a set amount of time that works for you to post each day, then plan out when those posts should go live during that week or month. Also include some time for maintenance and research. You can use scheduling apps like Buffer or Hootsuite to help with this process.

3. Use free tools for time management

The most important time management tip for me is to turn off your internet during work hours. No, it’s not a typo. Some of us spend a lot of time surfing online. This might include checking our emails and social media notifications, watching videos or listening to podcasts, which are all fine in moderation, but they can consume a lot of your working day if you don’t cut them out entirely during work hours. It may seem counterintuitive at first (how will you stay on top of things?), but when you learn how to use scheduling software like Google Calendar and get good at batching tasks together at certain times (say 9 am-11am), you’ll be able to carve out two-hour blocks where nothing distracts you from what’s important: getting stuff done.

4. Turn off your internet during work hours

Email is a big distraction for most professionals. It can easily become an extension of our personal lives—which means, if you’re like many people, that it’s also interfering with your work life. Research suggests that workers who respond to emails out of hours are more likely to get lower performance ratings. Unplugging regularly is one way to show your boss you take deadlines seriously and that you know how important it is to be available when you’re at work (or on-call).

5. Block time for productivity on your calendar

Planning your tasks and appointments ahead of time will help ensure you’re not putting out fires throughout your day. It can also keep you focused, motivated, and productive throughout your workday. To start, try scheduling one or two hours in each day for important tasks that require focus and concentration—and block off another few hours in which you’ll be free to catch up on emails, phone calls, and social media.

6. Set goals before starting a task

A common problem we all face is lack of time. We never seem to have enough time to complete everything we need to do, and deadlines always seem to be rushing up on us. One way that you can avoid getting caught in a deadline rush is by setting your goals before you start working on a task. When you are faced with two or more tasks that need to be completed, give yourself a moment and think about how much time each task will take if done correctly.

7. Enjoy downtime outside of work (e.g., hobbies, Netflix, etc.)

New research suggests that work-life balance and relaxation aren’t so much about how much time you spend at each, but how your time is divided. In other words, spending an hour on Netflix during downtime might be more relaxing than scrolling through social media feeds because you have less control over what comes up next. It’s important to find ways to reduce stress and clear your mind – which could mean anything from playing a sport to taking a bubble bath.

8. Wake up early — Make your day longer

If you’re trying to get more done, wake up early. A study by The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania found that people who woke up an hour and a half earlier than normal ended up working more hours and getting more things done at work.

9. Set SMART goals — Don’t just wish, do

Wishful thinking alone won’t get you to where you want to be. Make sure your goals are SMART, specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. If they aren’t, they will just remain in your head as fantasies of what could be — rather than becoming concrete plans of action. You can easily stay on track by using a weekly planner that syncs with your phone or computer calendar so that you see your goals daily.

10. Discover your zone

Everybody has a certain way of operating at their best. It might be in the early morning or late evening, or it might involve getting away from other people and into a quiet place. The key is to figure out when you’re your most productive, then schedule everything else around that time slot. You’ll be surprised how much faster you can get things done!

11. Take small breaks frequently

Frequent breaks help you stay focused and efficient. Just be sure to stop working when your brain starts to wander; a break is no good if it turns into procrastination. To avoid distraction, turn off email notifications and close other tabs on your computer or phone while working. If you still can’t stay away from your device, put it in another room so that you have to get up to check it.

12. Find inspiration — quotes, videos, audiobooks

Inspiration is often found outside of ourselves. Find inspiration through quotes and words of wisdom, by watching inspiring videos, or by listening to uplifting audiobooks. The better you feel about yourself and your life, it’s easier to manage time effectively. After all, you can’t improve your performance if you don’t believe in yourself.

13. Do less but impactful

If you are busy all day long, you will never do anything big in your life. Make sure to slow down and try to focus on just one thing at a time. Do less but focus on quality. When there are fewer things on your plate, every single thing that you do will become more impactful.

14. Use an online calendar

Keeping your schedule organized is key to staying on top of tasks, deadlines, and meetings. But calendars don’t do it all themselves—you need to set up a system that works for you. Try using Google Calendar or another online calendar tool to organize your weekly and daily schedules, then use digital reminders as alerts for due dates and meetings.

15. Track your time

If you want to stay on top of your productivity and life management, it can be worthwhile to track how you spend your time. Whether that’s using a spreadsheet or an app on your phone, monitoring your time can give you valuable insight into where it’s going and help you identify where you might want to re-prioritize.