How Good Is Your Time Management?

For each statement, click the button in the column that best describes you. Answer the questions as you actually are, rather than how you think you should be, and don't worry if some of the questions seem to score in the "wrong direction." When you are finished, click the "Calculate My Total" button at the bottom of the test.

As you answered the questions, you probably had some insight into areas where your time management could use a pick-me-up.

Top Skills For Time Management

The following is a quick summary of the main areas of time management that were explored in the quiz, and a guide to the specific tools you can use for each.

Goal Setting
(Questions 6, 10)

To start managing time effectively, you need to set goals. When you know where you're going, you can then figure out what exactly needs to be done, in what order. Without proper goal setting, you'll fritter your time away on a confusion of conflicting priorities.

People tend to neglect goal setting because it requires time and effort. What they fail to consider is that a little time and effort put in now saves an enormous amount of time, effort and frustration in the future. Mind Tools has two great articles on goal setting that are must-reads for everyone. If you are serious about time management, we suggest you start with Personal Goal Setting and The Golden Rules of Goal Setting. We also recommend Treasure Mapping.

Prioritization
(Questions 1, 4, 8, 13, 14, 15)

Prioritizing what needs to be done is especially important. Without it, you may work very hard, but you won't be achieving the results you desire because what you are working on is not of strategic importance.

Most people have a To-Do List of some sort. The problem with many of these lists is they are just a collection of things that need to get done. There is no rhyme or reason to the list and, because of this, the work they do is just as unstructured. So how do you work on To-Do List tasks – top down, bottom up, easiest to hardest?

To work efficiently you need to work on the most important, highest value tasks. This way you won't get caught scrambling to get something critical done as the deadline approaches. For information on how to start prioritizing your tasks, see Activity Logs, Prioritized To Do Lists, Prioritization, The Action Priority Matrix, and Eisenhower's Urgent/Important Principle.

Managing Interruptions
(Questions 5, 9, 11, 12)

Having a plan and knowing how to prioritize it is one thing. The next issue is knowing what to do to minimize the interruptions you face during your day. It is widely recognized that managers get very little uninterrupted time to work on their priority tasks. There are phone calls, information requests, questions from employees, and a whole host of events that crop up unexpectedly.

Some do need to be dealt with immediately, but others need to be managed. Our article on Managing Interruptions discusses how you can minimize your interrupted time.

However, some jobs need you to be available for people when they need help – interruption is a natural and necessary part of life. Here, do what you sensibly can to minimize it, but make sure you don't scare people away from interrupting you when they should.

Procrastination
(Questions 2)

"I'll get to it later" has led to the downfall of many a good employee. After too many "laters," the work piles up so high that any task seems insurmountable.

Procrastination is as tempting as it is deadly. The best way to beat it is to recognize that you do indeed procrastinate. Then you need to figure out why. Perhaps you are afraid of failing? (And some people are actually afraid of success!)

Once you know why you procrastinate then you can plan to get out of the habit. Reward yourself for getting jobs done, and remind yourself regularly of the horrible consequences of not doing those boring tasks! For more help on recognizing and overcoming procrastination see our guide to beating procrastination.

Scheduling
(Questions 3, 7)

Much of time management comes down to effective scheduling of your time. When you know what your goals and priorities are, you then need to know how to go about creating a schedule that keeps you on track, and protects you from stress.

This means understanding the factors that affect the time you have available for work. You not only have to schedule priority tasks, you have to leave room for interruptions, and contingency time for those unexpected events that otherwise wreak chaos with your schedule.

The Importance of Time Management

The benefits of time management can't be overstated. We all need time management skills to make the most of life and work, so that we can make room for what's most important to us. Without time management, you'll be constantly battling to find time to get things done.

Just some of the benefits of time management include:

• Reduced stress
• Higher productivity
• Increased free time
• Decreased risk of making mistakes
• A better work-life balance

Time Management Tools

Time management requires a personal approach. The same techniques don't work for everyone.

Some people find it best to tackle the hardest things first. The concept of "eating the frog" was proposed by author Brian Tracey. The idea is to face head-on the most dreaded, difficult, unpleasent task and get it done straight away – then you'll be in a better position to take on the rest of your tasks without the difficult one hanging over your head.

Other people find it more motiviating to start off with some "quick wins." Start your day by completing any To-Do list tasks that take less than five minutes. You'll get satisfaction from seeing your list shrink quickly.

Another classic tool is the Pomodoro Technique. Developed by Francesco Cirillo in the 1980s, the idea is to work in short bursts (usually 25 minutes) and then have a short break. The name for the method comes from the old-fashioned tomato-shaped kitchen timer. Once you've completed four "pomodoros," take a longer break.

Frequently Asked Questions About Time Management

1. What is time management?

Time management is all about planning how you divide your time between organizing and executing your different tasks. It's the process of orgnaizing your time in such a way that you're working smarter, not harder. But it's notoriously difficult to get right and many of us constantly feel like there aren't enough hours in the day.

2. Why is time management so important?

With good time management you can maximise your effectiviness in planning your days, weeks, and even years, to make the most of your time – by many measures one of the most important assets we have. With good time management, you'll be more productive, less stressed, and have more opportunity to focus on the things that really matter.

3. How can I improve my time management?

The top time mangement skills, listed above, are goal setting, prioritization, managing interruptions, beating procrastination, and effective scheduling. If you work on these areas, your time mangement will greatly improve and you'll find more time for the important things in life.

4. How can Mind Tools help me improve time management?

Mind Tools has a huge collection of time managment resources – featuring everything from writing the perfect To-Do list, creating an Action Priority Matrix, and an array of techniques for overcoming procrastination. These resources are available in articles, videos, infographics, podcasts, and more in-depth workbooks and short courses.

For more tools and tips, see our article, What Is Time Management?.