One of the hardest things for people to do is find time. And the keyword here is exactly that — find, as opposed to make. Time isn’t created; it’s uncovered, repurposed, claimed. With some basic balancing, you can begin boosting your overall productivity without feeling like you’re conjuring hours out of nowhere.

Finding time requires organization and clarity of priorities. You must accept that you can’t do everything — and that’s okay. The key is identifying which tasks matter most. Learn to say “no” when someone asks for something that doesn’t align with your goals.

What It Means to Have Good Time Management Skills

Time management is one of the most essential skills for any professional. The ability to prioritize tasks in time-sensitive and intuitive ways forms the backbone of efficiency. Below are several practical tips for managing your time effectively.

Tip 1: Create a Prioritized To-Do List

Begin by making a list of everything you need to accomplish, then rank tasks by importance. Use a daily planner template until you establish a comfortable routine. Keep your list flexible but structured — whether it’s daily, weekly, or monthly.

Setting SMART goals and organizing your tasks into actionable steps keeps you aligned with your responsibilities. Break each task into smaller sub-tasks and assign deadlines. Then, cross them off as you go. There’s real power in completing small goals along the path to larger ones.

Rome wasn’t built in a day — but someone definitely checked “lay bricks” off a list.

Tip 2: Use a Daily Planning Template

A calendar is a familiar starting point, but your ideal tool might look different. There are countless apps, programs, and notebooks available — experiment until you find a system that fits you.

No matter the format, the goal is the same: to keep your schedule visible, manageable, and adaptable. A strong planning system frees up your mind for the creative and critical work that matters most.

Tip 3: Prioritize Without Overcommitting

Avoid the burnout of trying to do too much. Look at your current commitments and identify which tasks, people, and projects are genuinely worth your time.

Your scheduling should reflect those priorities. And don’t forget: taking care of your mental health is just as important. Build in time to rest, reflect, and refocus — like an athlete fueling their body, your mind needs care to function at its peak.

A tired and undernourished brain is not a multitasking machine — it’s a foggy chaos gremlin.

Tip 4: Reassess Your Day in Real-Time

We often think we have more time than we do. In truth, productive time is slippery. Regularly reassessing how you’re spending your hours helps you make smarter choices.

Each day, identify a few tasks you can complete quickly — this keeps momentum strong. If you find yourself saying “no” repeatedly, or losing track of your hours, pause and recalculate your priorities. Consider what can be pushed, shortened, or dropped.

Tip 5: Match Your Tasks to Your Energy

Productivity isn’t just about what you do — it’s about when you do it. Know your own energy cycles. Are you sharper in the morning? Do you crash after lunch?

Schedule high-effort tasks for your peak mental hours. Save lower-effort tasks for dips in energy. Designing your day around your natural rhythms improves focus, flow, and stamina.

Tip 6: Finish What You Start

Few things are more disheartening than watching the same tasks carry over day after day. If your to-do list is full of unfinished business, try breaking tasks into smaller, digestible pieces.

Sub-tasks aren’t just helpful — they’re essential. They let you track progress and generate a sense of momentum, even when you’re tackling big projects. Don’t underestimate the power of checking a box, however small.

We all doubt ourselves sometimes. That’s human. But unfinished tasks don’t define you — progress does.

Take the Time to Organize Yourself

To be effective and productive, you need to invest in your own systems. That might mean setting up folders, colour-coding calendars, or using an app with satisfying click sounds. Whatever your process, the goal is to stop wasting time looking for your time.

Once you find a rhythm, stick with it. The more consistently you use your system, the less time you spend managing it — and the more time you reclaim for what truly matters.

So keep reaching for those small goals. They add up. You’ll find the time you’re looking for when you surpass them.