Time Management Tips for Meeting Professionals

The First 15

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If you’ve ever had the experience of a workday with so many interruptions it feels as if you haven’t focused for more than five minutes, try the “First 15” technique.

When you sit down at your desk in the morning, get settled in and then take the first 15 minutes of the day to review your calendar and your to-do list. Consider each to-do item and decide which ones will take priority that day. Take note of how much time you’ll be in your office and how much time will be spent in meetings. The First 15 is a proactive versus a reactive approach to your day.

Guard Your Time

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Avoid the day getting away from you! Create a calendar appointment for tasks requiring at least an hour to complete. Setting aside a block of time to work on something sends a message of priority and guards time in your day against meetings that others might try to schedule.

Dreading a Task? Do This.

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Set the timer on your phone for 30 minutes. Tell yourself, ‘I can do anything for 30 minutes’ and ‘The world won’t end if I ignore my e-mail for 30 minutes.’ Then get laser-focused and hunker down with the project you’ve been avoiding. Chances are when your time is up you’ll be impressed with how much you got done.

How to Make a Habit Stick

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Start small and break it down: If your goal is to go from checking e-mail continuously to doing it only four times a day, ease into the new schedule rather than going cold turkey. For the first week, use a timer and check e-mail every 15 minutes. In week two, check every 30 minutes, and so forth.

Stop that Bleeping Bleep!

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You’re going to check your e-mail regularly anyway, so turn off whatever bleep or alert you get when a message comes in. Unplanned interruptions are productivity killers.

Reach a Goal in Six Steps

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1. Keep it simple. Consider your current skill level, time available, and resources. You won’t be fluent in Spanish before your trip to Mexico in a month. But you could learn five to eight key phrases.
2. Be specific. “I will walk at least 8,000 steps per day” is better than “I will be more fit.”
3. Write it down. Record your goal on a calendar, journal, even in a book that may have been the inspiration for the goal. Believe it or not, this adds accountability, even if it’s just between you and a piece of paper.
4. Pick a due date. Whether it’s a week (paint the kitchen), a year (earn a certification), or more, you need a timeline. Without one, it’s too easy to give up.
5. Find a partner. Having someone to share your journey means encouragement and accountability. Choose someone who is non-judgmental and can provide positive reinforcement.
6. Plan a reward. Having something to look forward to—big or small—is fun and motivating. If your due date is years away, celebrate intermediate achievements too.