What are some innovative ideas in time management?

A few weeks back, I shared what I think of time management. It’s not for managers. You can check out if you didn’t read the piece here. The premise is that managers are not the sole stakeholders of their time. Teams hold onto a fair share and often go on to define how it will be used. So, how do we break out of this rut?

Time blocks

It is the method I have used most frequently to date. As a founder, I have multiple hats to wear and questions to answer throughout the day. Delaying anything further will just add more to the pile. So, get the basics right. There are some hours when everything flows, and there are some dedicated ones. I try to create a flow state in these time blocks and work on the big chunks of personal tasks. These are the urgent, important, or those which can’t be delegated.

How can you start with this?
Notice your productivity patterns. When do you work the best? When is your brain at its fastest? Make this the dedicated block that your work gets. You should also consider what sort of work you are dealing with. Do your evenings seem suitable for creative tasks, or do analytical ones feel better?

Pro tip: Add your time blocks to your calendar so your team knows your availability. It will help them sync up and avoid delays.

Now, that’s not the end of it. Sitting down to work is a start, but a notification pops up. Trump said something more outrageous than ever before. Musk killed another feature of X/Twitter. And so it goes down the spiral. How can you bring balance into this?

Pomodoro

If this is not your first time reading a management guide, you must have heard of it. The Pomodoro technique of time management asks you to follow a simple pattern:

• work for 25 mins
• rest for 5 mins

Quite simple, right? It helps when you have multiple tasks that would take a medium amount of time. In the five minutes of peace, enjoy and learn every absurd fact about the world that social media presents to you. But as soon as the timer hits, return to work.

Why is it good?
I know you must be thinking that Pomodoro is nothing new. But here’s the thing: you can make this time management technique yours. Five minutes of breaks allow me to walk around the room once, saving me from clocking hours of constantly sitting in front of a screen. What’s your mini habit that can make a big difference? Fit it in here and kill two birds with one stone.

Pro tip: Checking the clock constantly is annoying. Plus, it keeps breaking your focus. Get an app that does this for you, like Pomofocus, that sets timers and keeps you going.

Innovative time management is not a secret you can discover by following a guru or technique. Instead, this is about making the best use of time using methods that fit you. The key is to take inspiration and modify things. You don’t need to follow the tips & tricks as it is but make them your own.