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If I Could Turn Back Time

Time Management Strategies for Busy Professionals

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By the end of the presentation today, participants will . . .

Objectives

Identify and explain various time management strategies, including time multipliers, time blocking, eating the frog, and the Pomodoro technique.

Create a personalized time-blocking schedule to enhance productivity and efficiency at work.

Apply the "eating the frog" strategy to prioritize and complete the most challenging tasks first.

Implement the Pomodoro technique to manage work sessions and breaks effectively.

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I want to meet you!

Share with those around you:

    • Your name
    • Your role in the company
    • Your baseball walkup song

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Simplify your work.

Avoid procrastination that may lead to poor quality work.

Better prioritize things that are important to you.

Get things done more efficiently when you can.

Benefits of Effective Time Management

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Think. Pair. Share.

On the handout, write down your responsibilities:

    • Daily. Weekly. Monthly.
    • Official Duties. Additional Responsibilities.
    • What do you wish you had more time to do?

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In a moment, you will be placed in a breakout room to discuss your answers.

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We will also come back and share with the larger group.

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Time Management Strategies

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    • Question 1: Can I eliminate this task?
    • Question 2: Can I automate this task if I can't eliminate it?
    • Question 3: Can it be delegated, or can I teach someone else how?
    • Question 4: Should I do this task now, or can I do it later?

Strategy from leadership coach Rory Vaden on how to "multiply your time" each day by asking the following 4 questions when looking at a detailed to-do list at the start of each day:

Multiplying Your Time

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Time blocking is a time management method that asks you to divide your day into blocks of time. Each block is dedicated to accomplishing a specific task or group of tasks, and only those specific tasks.

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The key is prioritizing your task list in advance with a dedicated weekly and end-of-work-day review for tasks you still need to complete.

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Variations also include "task batching" and "day theming."

Time Blocking

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Mark Twain once said, “Eat a live frog first thing in the morning, and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.”

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Your "frog" is the biggest, most important task you will most likely procrastinate on if you don't do something about it.

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Discipline yourself to begin immediately and then persist until the task is complete.

Eat The Frog

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    • Set your timer for 25 minutes. Focus on a single task until the timer rings.
    • When the session ends, record what was completed and take a 5-minute break.
    • After four "pomodoros" take a longer, more restorative 15-30 minute break.

Developed in the 1980s by Francesco Cirillo, who was then a university student. He set a timer for 10 minutes of study time on a tomato-shaped kitchen timer and committed to 10 minutes at a time.

The Pomodoro Technique

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To make the most of your "pomodoros"

    • Break down complex projects into smaller, actionable steps
    • Group small tasks together in the same 25 minute block.
    • Once a timer is set, let it ring! Do not check emails, teams messages, taking incoming calls, etc.

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The Pomodoro Technique

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Padlet Time!

We have experts right here in this room!

What do you use to manage your time?

https://padlet.com/katiemosure/turnbacktime

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Brainstorm

On the handout, write down:

    • 2 (or more) things you want to try THIS WEEK.
    • 2 (or more) things you want to try in the next few months.

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In a moment, you will go back to your breakout rooms to discuss your answers. We will also have time afterwards to share with the larger group.

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Final Thoughts

Some strategies you may find more personally effective than others for your role.

How you manage your time will differ depending on the season you are in!

Have time at the end of each week to reflect on how the previous week went - constantly evaluate!

Include others in this process - your supervisor, your team, or someone you admire who has excellent time management.