We found 21 results that contain "asa"
Posted on: #iteachmsu
image in description
image in description
Types of people who will benefit from the Eisenhower Matrix:
People in leadership positions
Critical thinkers
4. Parkinson’s Law
British historian Cyril Northcote Parkinson became famous for the phrase “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” In other words, the amount of time you give yourself to complete a specific task is the amount of time it will take you to complete that task.
How it works:
This is not a time management technique per se. It’s a law that, when understood, can be applied as one of the most beneficial time management methods out there—but you will have to put in the work. That means working more efficiently in shorter bursts of time. Here are some time management tips:
Try working without a computer charger. This will force you to finish a project before your computer dies.
Get it done early. Instead of finishing an essay by midnight, try to get it done by noon.
Set a deadline. Give yourself a set time to do something—and then cut it in half.
Limit time for tasks. Give yourself only 20 minutes in the morning to answer emails.
Types of people this works for:
Procrastinators
People who work well under pressure
5. Time Blocking Method
Inventor Elon Musk is known for being productive. He manages his time so efficiently that he can work over 80 hours a week and still make time for himself. What’s his secret? Time blocking.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eisenhower Matrix:
People in leadership positions
Critical thinkers
4. Parkinson’s Law
British historian Cyril Northcote Parkinson became famous for the phrase “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” In other words, the amount of time you give yourself to complete a specific task is the amount of time it will take you to complete that task.
How it works:
This is not a time management technique per se. It’s a law that, when understood, can be applied as one of the most beneficial time management methods out there—but you will have to put in the work. That means working more efficiently in shorter bursts of time. Here are some time management tips:
Try working without a computer charger. This will force you to finish a project before your computer dies.
Get it done early. Instead of finishing an essay by midnight, try to get it done by noon.
Set a deadline. Give yourself a set time to do something—and then cut it in half.
Limit time for tasks. Give yourself only 20 minutes in the morning to answer emails.
Types of people this works for:
Procrastinators
People who work well under pressure
5. Time Blocking Method
Inventor Elon Musk is known for being productive. He manages his time so efficiently that he can work over 80 hours a week and still make time for himself. What’s his secret? Time blocking.
Posted by: Venturit Super Admin
Navigating Context
Posted on: #iteachmsu
Getting Started
What is the #iteachmsu Commons?
Welcome to the #iteachmsu Commons
You teach MSU. We, the Academic Advancement Network, The Graduate School, and The Hub for Innovation in Learning and Technology, believe that a wide educator community (faculty, TAs, ULAs, instructional designers, academic advisors, et al.) makes learning happen across MSU. But, on such a large campus, it can be difficult to fully recognize and leverage this community’s teaching and learning innovations. To address this challenge, the #iteachmsu Commons provides an educator-driven space for sharing teaching resources, connecting across educator networks, and growing teaching practice.
#iteachmsu Commons content may be discipline-specific or transdisciplinary, but will always be anchored in teaching competency areas. You will find short posts, blog-like articles, curated playlists, and a campus-wide teaching and learning events calendar. We cultivate this commons across spaces. And through your engagement, we will continue to nurture a culture of teaching and learning across MSU and beyond.
How to login
To begin creating content of your own on the #iteachmsu Commons, simply click the green Login button in the upper right hand corner of the screen. Your account will automatically be provisioned after successfully logging into the MSU Net ID login prompt. Currently, only authenticated MSU faculty, staff and students can create content on the #iteachmsu Commons. However, external users are free to browse and share public facing content without logging into the site.
Where to start
If you are looking for brief instructive videos on the core functionality of the site, take a look at our Getting Started playlist. After viewing each one of the video tutorials on the playlist, you will receive a Contributor badge which will display on your profile
What Are the #iteachmsu Commons Policies?
Part of the mission of the #iteachmsu Commons is to provide space for sharing, reflecting, and learning for all educators on our campus wherever they are in their teaching development. The commons is designed to encourage these types of interactions and reflect policies outlined by the MSU Faculty Senate. We maintain the right to remove any post that violates guidelines as outlined here and by MSU. To maintain a useful and safer commons, we ask that you:
Follow the MSU Guidelines for Social Media.
Engage across the #iteachmsu commons in a civil and respectful manner. Content may be moderated in accordance with the MSU Guidelines for Social Media.Do not share private or confidential information via shared content on the #iteachmsu Commons.
Content posted on the #iteachmsu Commons is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. Learn more about this licensing here. Posted comments, images, etc. on the #iteachmsu Commons do not necessarily represent the views of Michigan State University or the #iteachmsu Commons Team. Links to external, non-#iteachmsu Commons content do not constitute official endorsement by, or necessarily represent the views of, the #iteachmsu Commons or Michigan State University.
Other important policies:
MSU's Web Accessibility Statement
MSU's Privacy Statement
What if I Have #iteachmsu Commons Questions and/or Feedback?
If you have any concerns about #iteachmsu Commons content, please email us at iteach@msu.edu. We welcome all feedback and thank you for your help in promoting a safer, vibrant and respectful community.
Stay up to date with the #iteachmsu Digest
Welcome to the #iteachmsu Commons
You teach MSU. We, the Academic Advancement Network, The Graduate School, and The Hub for Innovation in Learning and Technology, believe that a wide educator community (faculty, TAs, ULAs, instructional designers, academic advisors, et al.) makes learning happen across MSU. But, on such a large campus, it can be difficult to fully recognize and leverage this community’s teaching and learning innovations. To address this challenge, the #iteachmsu Commons provides an educator-driven space for sharing teaching resources, connecting across educator networks, and growing teaching practice.
#iteachmsu Commons content may be discipline-specific or transdisciplinary, but will always be anchored in teaching competency areas. You will find short posts, blog-like articles, curated playlists, and a campus-wide teaching and learning events calendar. We cultivate this commons across spaces. And through your engagement, we will continue to nurture a culture of teaching and learning across MSU and beyond.
How to login
To begin creating content of your own on the #iteachmsu Commons, simply click the green Login button in the upper right hand corner of the screen. Your account will automatically be provisioned after successfully logging into the MSU Net ID login prompt. Currently, only authenticated MSU faculty, staff and students can create content on the #iteachmsu Commons. However, external users are free to browse and share public facing content without logging into the site.
Where to start
If you are looking for brief instructive videos on the core functionality of the site, take a look at our Getting Started playlist. After viewing each one of the video tutorials on the playlist, you will receive a Contributor badge which will display on your profile
What Are the #iteachmsu Commons Policies?
Part of the mission of the #iteachmsu Commons is to provide space for sharing, reflecting, and learning for all educators on our campus wherever they are in their teaching development. The commons is designed to encourage these types of interactions and reflect policies outlined by the MSU Faculty Senate. We maintain the right to remove any post that violates guidelines as outlined here and by MSU. To maintain a useful and safer commons, we ask that you:
Follow the MSU Guidelines for Social Media.
Engage across the #iteachmsu commons in a civil and respectful manner. Content may be moderated in accordance with the MSU Guidelines for Social Media.Do not share private or confidential information via shared content on the #iteachmsu Commons.
Content posted on the #iteachmsu Commons is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. Learn more about this licensing here. Posted comments, images, etc. on the #iteachmsu Commons do not necessarily represent the views of Michigan State University or the #iteachmsu Commons Team. Links to external, non-#iteachmsu Commons content do not constitute official endorsement by, or necessarily represent the views of, the #iteachmsu Commons or Michigan State University.
Other important policies:
MSU's Web Accessibility Statement
MSU's Privacy Statement
What if I Have #iteachmsu Commons Questions and/or Feedback?
If you have any concerns about #iteachmsu Commons content, please email us at iteach@msu.edu. We welcome all feedback and thank you for your help in promoting a safer, vibrant and respectful community.
Stay up to date with the #iteachmsu Digest
Authored by: Admin #iteachmsu
Navigating Context
Posted on: Edited -- Time Mana...
Edited 9 Types of Time Management Techniques
Edited -- Achieving work life balance is possible with effective time management. Learning time management tips will not only help you manage your time better but also boost personal productivity. With that said, here are some time management strategies you can try:
1. Pareto Analysis (a.k.a., the 80/20 rule)
The 80/20 rule is a technique created by the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto. It’s the idea that 20% of actions are responsible for 80% of outcomes. The goal of Pareto analysis is to help you prioritize tasks that are most effective at solving problems.
2. Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique was created by entrepreneur and author Francesco Cirillo. This technique uses a timer to break down your work into intervals. Each interval is known as a Pomodoro, named after the tomato-shaped timer that Cirillo created.
3. Eisenhower Matrix
Before Dwight Eisenhower became president in 1953, he served in the U.S. Army as an Allied Forces Commander during World War II. He was faced with difficult decisions every day that led him to invent what is now called the Eisenhower matrix, or the urgent-important matrix.
4. Parkinson’s Law
British historian Cyril Northcote Parkinson became famous for the phrase “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” In other words, the amount of time you give yourself to complete a specific task is the amount of time it will take you to complete that task.
5. Time Blocking Method
Inventor Elon Musk is known for being productive. He manages his time so efficiently that he can work over 80 hours a week and still make time for himself. What’s his secret? Time blocking.
6. Getting Things Done (GTD) Method
Created by author David Allen, this process helps you get things done by recording tasks on paper and then breaking them down into actionable work items.
7. Rapid Planning Method (RPM)
“RPM” stands for “rapid planning method” or “result, purpose, and massive action plan.” It was developed by motivational speaker Tony Robbins as a way to train your brain to focus on a vision of what you want so you can make it real.
8. Pickle Jar Theory
This theory helps you figure out what is useful and what is not useful in your daily life. It allows you to plan tasks with time to spare and set priorities for your day.
9. Eat That Frog Technique
This technique is named after a Mark Twain quote: “Eat a live frog the first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” Start your day by doing the most onerous tasks first and getting them out of the way.
1. Pareto Analysis (a.k.a., the 80/20 rule)
The 80/20 rule is a technique created by the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto. It’s the idea that 20% of actions are responsible for 80% of outcomes. The goal of Pareto analysis is to help you prioritize tasks that are most effective at solving problems.
2. Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique was created by entrepreneur and author Francesco Cirillo. This technique uses a timer to break down your work into intervals. Each interval is known as a Pomodoro, named after the tomato-shaped timer that Cirillo created.
3. Eisenhower Matrix
Before Dwight Eisenhower became president in 1953, he served in the U.S. Army as an Allied Forces Commander during World War II. He was faced with difficult decisions every day that led him to invent what is now called the Eisenhower matrix, or the urgent-important matrix.
4. Parkinson’s Law
British historian Cyril Northcote Parkinson became famous for the phrase “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” In other words, the amount of time you give yourself to complete a specific task is the amount of time it will take you to complete that task.
5. Time Blocking Method
Inventor Elon Musk is known for being productive. He manages his time so efficiently that he can work over 80 hours a week and still make time for himself. What’s his secret? Time blocking.
6. Getting Things Done (GTD) Method
Created by author David Allen, this process helps you get things done by recording tasks on paper and then breaking them down into actionable work items.
7. Rapid Planning Method (RPM)
“RPM” stands for “rapid planning method” or “result, purpose, and massive action plan.” It was developed by motivational speaker Tony Robbins as a way to train your brain to focus on a vision of what you want so you can make it real.
8. Pickle Jar Theory
This theory helps you figure out what is useful and what is not useful in your daily life. It allows you to plan tasks with time to spare and set priorities for your day.
9. Eat That Frog Technique
This technique is named after a Mark Twain quote: “Eat a live frog the first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” Start your day by doing the most onerous tasks first and getting them out of the way.
Authored by: Vijaya
Disciplinary Content
Posted on: Smoke test group on...
Smoke test article: 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiv
A Jyotirlinga or Jyotirling or Jyotirlingam (Sanskrit: ज्योतिर्लिङ्ग) are shrines where Lord Shiva, is worshipped in the form of a Jyotirlingam. ‘Jyothi’ means ‘Radiance’ and Lingam, the Shiva Lingam-‘the mark or sign’ of The Almighty or the phallus symbol. Jyotir Lingam means the The Radiant sign of The Almighty. There are twelve traditional Jyotirlinga shrines in India.Lord Shiva first manifested himself as a Jyotirlinga on the night of the, Aridra Nakshatra thus the special reverence for the Jyotirlinga. There is nothing to distinguish the appearance, but it is believed that a person can see these lingas as columns of fire piercing through the earth after he reaches a higher level of spiritual attainment. There are twelve Jyotirlingas in India and they are spread all over India.
Authored by: venturit
Justice and Belonging
Posted on: Smoke test group on...
Smoke test article 1 : 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiv
The jyotirlinga is the supreme partless reality, out of which Shiva partly appears. The jyothirlinga shrines, thus are places where Shiva appeared as a fiery column of light. Originally there were believed to be 64 jyothirlingas while 12 of them are considered to be very auspicious and holy. Each of the twelve jyothirlinga sites take the name of the presiding deity – each considered different manifestation of Shiva. At all these sites, the primary image is lingam representing the beginningless and endless Stambha pillar, symbolizing the infinite nature of Shiva. The twelve jyothirlinga are Somnath in Gujarat, Mallikarjuna at Srisailam in Andra Pradesh, Mahakaleswar at Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh, Kedarnath in Himalayas, Bhimashankar in Maharashtra, Viswanath at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Triambakeshwar in Maharashtra, Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga at Deogarh in Jharkhand, Nageswar at Dwarka in Gujarat, Rameshwar at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu and Ghushmeshwar at Shiwar in Sawai Madhopur district Rajasthan, 12th joytrilinga is Grishneshwar at ellora in aurangabad district Maharashtra.The following sanskrit sloka ( द्वादश ज्योतिर्लिंग स्तोत्रम्) (Dwadasha Jyotirlingum Strota) describes about the 12 Jyotirlingas
Authored by: Venturit
Navigating Context
Posted on: #iteachmsu
Article with large text in description
Time management—how we choose to use and organize our time—is something many of us struggle with. Effective time management allows us to make the most of our day, accomplishing tasks more quickly and prioritizing those that will make the most impact.
Different people need different effective time management strategies. If you’re a graduate student, you may choose to manage your time in a different way than someone who is a working mother. If you’re a visual person, you may prefer a color-coded calendar over a written to do list.
Figuring out a process that works for you, whatever that may be, is key to creating your most efficient life. To help you improve poor time management, we’ve explored nine popular techniques, from the 80/20 rule to the “eat that frog” method. We’ve outlined what they are, how to implement them, and the types of people who most benefit from them. And, check out our infographic below that includes a flowchart to help you decide which time management process will work the best for you.
9 Types of Time Management Techniques
Achieving work life balance is possible with effective time management. Learning time management tips will not only help you manage your time better but also boost personal productivity. With that said, here are some time management strategies you can try:
1. Pareto Analysis (a.k.a., the 80/20 rule)
The 80/20 rule is a technique created by the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto. It’s the idea that 20% of actions are responsible for 80% of outcomes. The goal of Pareto analysis is to help you prioritize tasks that are most effective at solving problems.
How it works:
List some of the problems you are facing. For example, maybe your grades are slipping.
Identify the root cause of each problem. Maybe your grades are slipping because you spend too much time on social media or any other sort of distraction.
Assign a score to each problem: Assign higher numbers to more important problems
Group problems together by cause: Group together all the problems caused by spending too much time on social media.
Add up the score of each group: The group with the highest score is the issue you should work on first.
Take action.
Types of people who will benefit from Pareto Analysis:
Problem solvers
Analytical thinkers
2. Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique was created by entrepreneur and author Francesco Cirillo. This technique uses a timer to break down your work into intervals. Each interval is known as a Pomodoro, named after the tomato-shaped timer that Cirillo created.
How it works:
Choose a task you need to get done.
Set a timer (e.g., for 25 mins).
Focus on the task at hand.
When the timer rings, put a checkmark on a piece of paper.
Take a short break: Take a break for about three to five minutes. Go for a walk, grab a cup of coffee, do something non-work-related to give your brain a break.
Repeat steps two to five: Once you have completed this process four times, you can begin to take longer breaks (20–30 mins).
Types of people that will benefit from the Pomodoro Technique:
Creative thinkers
Those who feel burnt out from work/school
The Pomodoro technique doesn’t just teach your time management; it also teaches you in setting goals and how to achieve them. You’ll be able to better stick to your daily schedule and weekly schedule.
3. Eisenhower Matrix
Before Dwight Eisenhower became president in 1953, he served in the U.S. Army as an Allied Forces Commander during World War II. He was faced with difficult decisions every day that led him to invent what is now called the Eisenhower matrix, or the urgent-important matrix.
How it works:
Organize your task list into four separate quadrants, sorting them by important vs. unimportant and urgent vs. not urgent, as shown in the graphic below. Urgent tasks are those we feel need to get done immediately. Important tasks are those that contribute to your long term goals or values. Ideally, you should only work on tasks in the top two quadrants—the other tasks, you should delegate or delete.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eisenhower Matrix:
People in leadership positions
Critical thinkers
4. Parkinson’s Law
British historian Cyril Northcote Parkinson became famous for the phrase “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” In other words, the amount of time you give yourself to complete a specific task is the amount of time it will take you to complete that task.
How it works:
This is not a time management technique per se. It’s a law that, when understood, can be applied as one of the most beneficial time management methods out there—but you will have to put in the work. That means working more efficiently in shorter bursts of time. Here are some time management tips:
Try working without a computer charger. This will force you to finish a project before your computer dies.
Get it done early. Instead of finishing an essay by midnight, try to get it done by noon.
Set a deadline. Give yourself a set time to do something—and then cut it in half.
Limit time for tasks. Give yourself only 20 minutes in the morning to answer emails.
Types of people this works for:
Procrastinators
People who work well under pressure
5. Time Blocking Method
Inventor Elon Musk is known for being productive. He manages his time so efficiently that he can work over 80 hours a week and still make time for himself. What’s his secret? Time blocking.
How it works:
From the moment you wake up, assign each time block in your day to a task. These tasks can be anything from eating breakfast to studying for a test. Below are the steps Elon Musk uses to block his time:
Divide a piece of paper into two columns. On the left, write down each hour of the day and create blocks of time such as half-hour or hour chunks.
Estimate the time it’s going to take to complete each of your tasks and fit them into your time blocks.
Add buffer times in between each time block to allow for adjustments during the day.
Types of people this works for:
Working students or parents
Analytical thinkers
6. Getting Things Done (GTD) Method
Created by author David Allen, this process helps you get things done by recording tasks on paper and then breaking them down into actionable work items.
How it works:
Capture the actions that have your attention: These actions are tasks that can relate to anything from work to school to your personal life.
Clarify what they mean: Decide whether the tasks that have your attention are actionable or not. If an item is not actionable, ignore it for now. If the item is actionable, do it, delegate it, or set it aside.
Organize your actions: Prioritize your to do list according to what you need to get done when.
Reflect: Review your list of actions frequently to determine your next priority. Cross off tasks you have accomplished and update your list.
Engage: Take the actions or smaller tasks you can complete right now.
Types of people who will benefit from the GTD method:
People who struggle to focus on one thing at a time
People who feel overwhelmed in their daily lives
7. Rapid Planning Method (RPM)
“RPM” stands for “rapid planning method” or “result, purpose, and massive action plan.” It was developed by motivational speaker Tony Robbins as a way to train your brain to focus on a vision of what you want so you can make it real.
How it works:
Capturing: Write down all the tasks you need to accomplish this week.
Chunking: “Chunk” your tasks together by commonalities. Which items are personal? School-related? Career-focused?
Create your own RPM blocks: On the top of a new sheet of paper, make three columns: the task, the result you want from completing that task, and your purpose for completing it. Next, list the actions you can take to get there.
Create an empowering role for yourself: If you’re a student, you might call yourself the “Study Queen.” Anything that will get you jazzed about completing your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the RPM:
Working students or parents
People who have long-term goals
8. Pickle Jar Theory
This theory helps you figure out what is useful and what is not useful in your daily life. It allows you to plan tasks with time to spare and set priorities for your day.
How it works:
Imagine a pickle jar full of sand, pebbles, and rocks. The sand is at the bottom and the rocks sit at the top.
The sand: This represents disrupting elements of your day, such as phone calls, text messages, emails, social media, etc.
The pebbles: This represents tasks that need to be completed, but can be done on another day or by someone else.
The rocks: These are the most important tasks that need to get done today.
Begin by thinking about how your tasks for the day would fit into the above categories. Then make a task list starting with the rocks and ending with sand (if time permits). Include an honest time estimate next to each. Try not to plan more than six hours of an eight-hour working day. This will leave buffer time for the pebbles and sand.
Types of people who will benefit from the Pickle Jar theory:
Visual people
Concrete thinkers
9. Eat That Frog Technique
This technique is named after a Mark Twain quote: “Eat a live frog the first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” Start your day by doing the most onerous tasks first and getting them out of the way.
How it works:
Get clear on a goal. What do you want to achieve most?
Write it down.
Set a deadline.
Compile a list of things you need to do to achieve your goal.
Organize this list in order of priority. The most important items are probably the most difficult. These are your “frogs.”
Take action. If you have more than one frog on your plate, eat the nastiest one first.
Repeat this cycle every day so that you’re always doing something that will push you toward your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eat That Frog technique:
Abstract thinkers
People with long-term goals
Choosing a Time Management Technique That Works for You
Whether you’re a full-time student, a working student or a parent going back to school, better time management skills are vital to living a balanced life. If you have a habit of leaving things until the last minute, try using Parkinson’s Law or the eat that frog method. If you have a hard time focusing on the task at hand, try the Pomodoro technique of working more intensely in short intervals.
Mastering time management will set you up for success in all areas of your life and will help you avoid test anxiety when finals roll around. At USAHS, we emphasize supporting our students in their personal and professional lives. We help you develop the tools and additional resources you need to succeed in our graduate degree programs.
Different people need different effective time management strategies. If you’re a graduate student, you may choose to manage your time in a different way than someone who is a working mother. If you’re a visual person, you may prefer a color-coded calendar over a written to do list.
Figuring out a process that works for you, whatever that may be, is key to creating your most efficient life. To help you improve poor time management, we’ve explored nine popular techniques, from the 80/20 rule to the “eat that frog” method. We’ve outlined what they are, how to implement them, and the types of people who most benefit from them. And, check out our infographic below that includes a flowchart to help you decide which time management process will work the best for you.
9 Types of Time Management Techniques
Achieving work life balance is possible with effective time management. Learning time management tips will not only help you manage your time better but also boost personal productivity. With that said, here are some time management strategies you can try:
1. Pareto Analysis (a.k.a., the 80/20 rule)
The 80/20 rule is a technique created by the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto. It’s the idea that 20% of actions are responsible for 80% of outcomes. The goal of Pareto analysis is to help you prioritize tasks that are most effective at solving problems.
How it works:
List some of the problems you are facing. For example, maybe your grades are slipping.
Identify the root cause of each problem. Maybe your grades are slipping because you spend too much time on social media or any other sort of distraction.
Assign a score to each problem: Assign higher numbers to more important problems
Group problems together by cause: Group together all the problems caused by spending too much time on social media.
Add up the score of each group: The group with the highest score is the issue you should work on first.
Take action.
Types of people who will benefit from Pareto Analysis:
Problem solvers
Analytical thinkers
2. Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique was created by entrepreneur and author Francesco Cirillo. This technique uses a timer to break down your work into intervals. Each interval is known as a Pomodoro, named after the tomato-shaped timer that Cirillo created.
How it works:
Choose a task you need to get done.
Set a timer (e.g., for 25 mins).
Focus on the task at hand.
When the timer rings, put a checkmark on a piece of paper.
Take a short break: Take a break for about three to five minutes. Go for a walk, grab a cup of coffee, do something non-work-related to give your brain a break.
Repeat steps two to five: Once you have completed this process four times, you can begin to take longer breaks (20–30 mins).
Types of people that will benefit from the Pomodoro Technique:
Creative thinkers
Those who feel burnt out from work/school
The Pomodoro technique doesn’t just teach your time management; it also teaches you in setting goals and how to achieve them. You’ll be able to better stick to your daily schedule and weekly schedule.
3. Eisenhower Matrix
Before Dwight Eisenhower became president in 1953, he served in the U.S. Army as an Allied Forces Commander during World War II. He was faced with difficult decisions every day that led him to invent what is now called the Eisenhower matrix, or the urgent-important matrix.
How it works:
Organize your task list into four separate quadrants, sorting them by important vs. unimportant and urgent vs. not urgent, as shown in the graphic below. Urgent tasks are those we feel need to get done immediately. Important tasks are those that contribute to your long term goals or values. Ideally, you should only work on tasks in the top two quadrants—the other tasks, you should delegate or delete.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eisenhower Matrix:
People in leadership positions
Critical thinkers
4. Parkinson’s Law
British historian Cyril Northcote Parkinson became famous for the phrase “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” In other words, the amount of time you give yourself to complete a specific task is the amount of time it will take you to complete that task.
How it works:
This is not a time management technique per se. It’s a law that, when understood, can be applied as one of the most beneficial time management methods out there—but you will have to put in the work. That means working more efficiently in shorter bursts of time. Here are some time management tips:
Try working without a computer charger. This will force you to finish a project before your computer dies.
Get it done early. Instead of finishing an essay by midnight, try to get it done by noon.
Set a deadline. Give yourself a set time to do something—and then cut it in half.
Limit time for tasks. Give yourself only 20 minutes in the morning to answer emails.
Types of people this works for:
Procrastinators
People who work well under pressure
5. Time Blocking Method
Inventor Elon Musk is known for being productive. He manages his time so efficiently that he can work over 80 hours a week and still make time for himself. What’s his secret? Time blocking.
How it works:
From the moment you wake up, assign each time block in your day to a task. These tasks can be anything from eating breakfast to studying for a test. Below are the steps Elon Musk uses to block his time:
Divide a piece of paper into two columns. On the left, write down each hour of the day and create blocks of time such as half-hour or hour chunks.
Estimate the time it’s going to take to complete each of your tasks and fit them into your time blocks.
Add buffer times in between each time block to allow for adjustments during the day.
Types of people this works for:
Working students or parents
Analytical thinkers
6. Getting Things Done (GTD) Method
Created by author David Allen, this process helps you get things done by recording tasks on paper and then breaking them down into actionable work items.
How it works:
Capture the actions that have your attention: These actions are tasks that can relate to anything from work to school to your personal life.
Clarify what they mean: Decide whether the tasks that have your attention are actionable or not. If an item is not actionable, ignore it for now. If the item is actionable, do it, delegate it, or set it aside.
Organize your actions: Prioritize your to do list according to what you need to get done when.
Reflect: Review your list of actions frequently to determine your next priority. Cross off tasks you have accomplished and update your list.
Engage: Take the actions or smaller tasks you can complete right now.
Types of people who will benefit from the GTD method:
People who struggle to focus on one thing at a time
People who feel overwhelmed in their daily lives
7. Rapid Planning Method (RPM)
“RPM” stands for “rapid planning method” or “result, purpose, and massive action plan.” It was developed by motivational speaker Tony Robbins as a way to train your brain to focus on a vision of what you want so you can make it real.
How it works:
Capturing: Write down all the tasks you need to accomplish this week.
Chunking: “Chunk” your tasks together by commonalities. Which items are personal? School-related? Career-focused?
Create your own RPM blocks: On the top of a new sheet of paper, make three columns: the task, the result you want from completing that task, and your purpose for completing it. Next, list the actions you can take to get there.
Create an empowering role for yourself: If you’re a student, you might call yourself the “Study Queen.” Anything that will get you jazzed about completing your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the RPM:
Working students or parents
People who have long-term goals
8. Pickle Jar Theory
This theory helps you figure out what is useful and what is not useful in your daily life. It allows you to plan tasks with time to spare and set priorities for your day.
How it works:
Imagine a pickle jar full of sand, pebbles, and rocks. The sand is at the bottom and the rocks sit at the top.
The sand: This represents disrupting elements of your day, such as phone calls, text messages, emails, social media, etc.
The pebbles: This represents tasks that need to be completed, but can be done on another day or by someone else.
The rocks: These are the most important tasks that need to get done today.
Begin by thinking about how your tasks for the day would fit into the above categories. Then make a task list starting with the rocks and ending with sand (if time permits). Include an honest time estimate next to each. Try not to plan more than six hours of an eight-hour working day. This will leave buffer time for the pebbles and sand.
Types of people who will benefit from the Pickle Jar theory:
Visual people
Concrete thinkers
9. Eat That Frog Technique
This technique is named after a Mark Twain quote: “Eat a live frog the first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” Start your day by doing the most onerous tasks first and getting them out of the way.
How it works:
Get clear on a goal. What do you want to achieve most?
Write it down.
Set a deadline.
Compile a list of things you need to do to achieve your goal.
Organize this list in order of priority. The most important items are probably the most difficult. These are your “frogs.”
Take action. If you have more than one frog on your plate, eat the nastiest one first.
Repeat this cycle every day so that you’re always doing something that will push you toward your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eat That Frog technique:
Abstract thinkers
People with long-term goals
Choosing a Time Management Technique That Works for You
Whether you’re a full-time student, a working student or a parent going back to school, better time management skills are vital to living a balanced life. If you have a habit of leaving things until the last minute, try using Parkinson’s Law or the eat that frog method. If you have a hard time focusing on the task at hand, try the Pomodoro technique of working more intensely in short intervals.
Mastering time management will set you up for success in all areas of your life and will help you avoid test anxiety when finals roll around. At USAHS, we emphasize supporting our students in their personal and professional lives. We help you develop the tools and additional resources you need to succeed in our graduate degree programs.
Authored by: Vijaya
Navigating Context
Posted on: #iteachmsu
Just added large text
Text:Time management—how we choose to use and organize our time—is something many of us struggle with. Effective time management allows us to make the most of our day, accomplishing tasks more quickly and prioritizing those that will make the most impact.
Different people need different effective time management strategies. If you’re a graduate student, you may choose to manage your time in a different way than someone who is a working mother. If you’re a visual person, you may prefer a color-coded calendar over a written to do list.
Figuring out a process that works for you, whatever that may be, is key to creating your most efficient life. To help you improve poor time management, we’ve explored nine popular techniques, from the 80/20 rule to the “eat that frog” method. We’ve outlined what they are, how to implement them, and the types of people who most benefit from them. And, check out our infographic below that includes a flowchart to help you decide which time management process will work the best for you.
9 Types of Time Management Techniques
Achieving work life balance is possible with effective time management. Learning time management tips will not only help you manage your time better but also boost personal productivity. With that said, here are some time management strategies you can try:
1. Pareto Analysis (a.k.a., the 80/20 rule)
The 80/20 rule is a technique created by the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto. It’s the idea that 20% of actions are responsible for 80% of outcomes. The goal of Pareto analysis is to help you prioritize tasks that are most effective at solving problems.
How it works:
List some of the problems you are facing. For example, maybe your grades are slipping.
Identify the root cause of each problem. Maybe your grades are slipping because you spend too much time on social media or any other sort of distraction.
Assign a score to each problem: Assign higher numbers to more important problems
Group problems together by cause: Group together all the problems caused by spending too much time on social media.
Add up the score of each group: The group with the highest score is the issue you should work on first.
Take action.
Types of people who will benefit from Pareto Analysis:
Problem solvers
Analytical thinkers
2. Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique was created by entrepreneur and author Francesco Cirillo. This technique uses a timer to break down your work into intervals. Each interval is known as a Pomodoro, named after the tomato-shaped timer that Cirillo created.
How it works:
Choose a task you need to get done.
Set a timer (e.g., for 25 mins).
Focus on the task at hand.
When the timer rings, put a checkmark on a piece of paper.
Take a short break: Take a break for about three to five minutes. Go for a walk, grab a cup of coffee, do something non-work-related to give your brain a break.
Repeat steps two to five: Once you have completed this process four times, you can begin to take longer breaks (20–30 mins).
Types of people that will benefit from the Pomodoro Technique:
Creative thinkers
Those who feel burnt out from work/school
The Pomodoro technique doesn’t just teach your time management; it also teaches you in setting goals and how to achieve them. You’ll be able to better stick to your daily schedule and weekly schedule.
3. Eisenhower Matrix
Before Dwight Eisenhower became president in 1953, he served in the U.S. Army as an Allied Forces Commander during World War II. He was faced with difficult decisions every day that led him to invent what is now called the Eisenhower matrix, or the urgent-important matrix.
How it works:
Organize your task list into four separate quadrants, sorting them by important vs. unimportant and urgent vs. not urgent, as shown in the graphic below. Urgent tasks are those we feel need to get done immediately. Important tasks are those that contribute to your long term goals or values. Ideally, you should only work on tasks in the top two quadrants—the other tasks, you should delegate or delete.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eisenhower Matrix:
People in leadership positions
Critical thinkers
4. Parkinson’s Law
British historian Cyril Northcote Parkinson became famous for the phrase “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” In other words, the amount of time you give yourself to complete a specific task is the amount of time it will take you to complete that task.
How it works:
This is not a time management technique per se. It’s a law that, when understood, can be applied as one of the most beneficial time management methods out there—but you will have to put in the work. That means working more efficiently in shorter bursts of time. Here are some time management tips:
Try working without a computer charger. This will force you to finish a project before your computer dies.
Get it done early. Instead of finishing an essay by midnight, try to get it done by noon.
Set a deadline. Give yourself a set time to do something—and then cut it in half.
Limit time for tasks. Give yourself only 20 minutes in the morning to answer emails.
Types of people this works for:
Procrastinators
People who work well under pressure
5. Time Blocking Method
Inventor Elon Musk is known for being productive. He manages his time so efficiently that he can work over 80 hours a week and still make time for himself. What’s his secret? Time blocking.
How it works:
From the moment you wake up, assign each time block in your day to a task. These tasks can be anything from eating breakfast to studying for a test. Below are the steps Elon Musk uses to block his time:
Divide a piece of paper into two columns. On the left, write down each hour of the day and create blocks of time such as half-hour or hour chunks.
Estimate the time it’s going to take to complete each of your tasks and fit them into your time blocks.
Add buffer times in between each time block to allow for adjustments during the day.
Types of people this works for:
Working students or parents
Analytical thinkers
6. Getting Things Done (GTD) Method
Created by author David Allen, this process helps you get things done by recording tasks on paper and then breaking them down into actionable work items.
How it works:
Capture the actions that have your attention: These actions are tasks that can relate to anything from work to school to your personal life.
Clarify what they mean: Decide whether the tasks that have your attention are actionable or not. If an item is not actionable, ignore it for now. If the item is actionable, do it, delegate it, or set it aside.
Organize your actions: Prioritize your to do list according to what you need to get done when.
Reflect: Review your list of actions frequently to determine your next priority. Cross off tasks you have accomplished and update your list.
Engage: Take the actions or smaller tasks you can complete right now.
Types of people who will benefit from the GTD method:
People who struggle to focus on one thing at a time
People who feel overwhelmed in their daily lives
7. Rapid Planning Method (RPM)
“RPM” stands for “rapid planning method” or “result, purpose, and massive action plan.” It was developed by motivational speaker Tony Robbins as a way to train your brain to focus on a vision of what you want so you can make it real.
How it works:
Capturing: Write down all the tasks you need to accomplish this week.
Chunking: “Chunk” your tasks together by commonalities. Which items are personal? School-related? Career-focused?
Create your own RPM blocks: On the top of a new sheet of paper, make three columns: the task, the result you want from completing that task, and your purpose for completing it. Next, list the actions you can take to get there.
Create an empowering role for yourself: If you’re a student, you might call yourself the “Study Queen.” Anything that will get you jazzed about completing your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the RPM:
Working students or parents
People who have long-term goals
8. Pickle Jar Theory
This theory helps you figure out what is useful and what is not useful in your daily life. It allows you to plan tasks with time to spare and set priorities for your day.
How it works:
Imagine a pickle jar full of sand, pebbles, and rocks. The sand is at the bottom and the rocks sit at the top.
The sand: This represents disrupting elements of your day, such as phone calls, text messages, emails, social media, etc.
The pebbles: This represents tasks that need to be completed, but can be done on another day or by someone else.
The rocks: These are the most important tasks that need to get done today.
Begin by thinking about how your tasks for the day would fit into the above categories. Then make a task list starting with the rocks and ending with sand (if time permits). Include an honest time estimate next to each. Try not to plan more than six hours of an eight-hour working day. This will leave buffer time for the pebbles and sand.
Types of people who will benefit from the Pickle Jar theory:
Visual people
Concrete thinkers
9. Eat That Frog Technique
This technique is named after a Mark Twain quote: “Eat a live frog the first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” Start your day by doing the most onerous tasks first and getting them out of the way.
How it works:
Get clear on a goal. What do you want to achieve most?
Write it down.
Set a deadline.
Compile a list of things you need to do to achieve your goal.
Organize this list in order of priority. The most important items are probably the most difficult. These are your “frogs.”
Take action. If you have more than one frog on your plate, eat the nastiest one first.
Repeat this cycle every day so that you’re always doing something that will push you toward your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eat That Frog technique:
Abstract thinkers
People with long-term goals
Choosing a Time Management Technique That Works for You
Whether you’re a full-time student, a working student or a parent going back to school, better time management skills are vital to living a balanced life. If you have a habit of leaving things until the last minute, try using Parkinson’s Law or the eat that frog method. If you have a hard time focusing on the task at hand, try the Pomodoro technique of working more intensely in short intervals.
Mastering time management will set you up for success in all areas of your life and will help you avoid test anxiety when finals roll around. At USAHS, we emphasize supporting our students in their personal and professional lives. We help you develop the tools and additional resources you need to succeed in our graduate degree programs.
Text:Time management—how we choose to use and organize our time—is something many of us struggle with. Effective time management allows us to make the most of our day, accomplishing tasks more quickly and prioritizing those that will make the most impact.
Different people need different effective time management strategies. If you’re a graduate student, you may choose to manage your time in a different way than someone who is a working mother. If you’re a visual person, you may prefer a color-coded calendar over a written to do list.
Figuring out a process that works for you, whatever that may be, is key to creating your most efficient life. To help you improve poor time management, we’ve explored nine popular techniques, from the 80/20 rule to the “eat that frog” method. We’ve outlined what they are, how to implement them, and the types of people who most benefit from them. And, check out our infographic below that includes a flowchart to help you decide which time management process will work the best for you.
9 Types of Time Management Techniques
Achieving work life balance is possible with effective time management. Learning time management tips will not only help you manage your time better but also boost personal productivity. With that said, here are some time management strategies you can try:
1. Pareto Analysis (a.k.a., the 80/20 rule)
The 80/20 rule is a technique created by the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto. It’s the idea that 20% of actions are responsible for 80% of outcomes. The goal of Pareto analysis is to help you prioritize tasks that are most effective at solving problems.
How it works:
List some of the problems you are facing. For example, maybe your grades are slipping.
Identify the root cause of each problem. Maybe your grades are slipping because you spend too much time on social media or any other sort of distraction.
Assign a score to each problem: Assign higher numbers to more important problems
Group problems together by cause: Group together all the problems caused by spending too much time on social media.
Add up the score of each group: The group with the highest score is the issue you should work on first.
Take action.
Types of people who will benefit from Pareto Analysis:
Problem solvers
Analytical thinkers
2. Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique was created by entrepreneur and author Francesco Cirillo. This technique uses a timer to break down your work into intervals. Each interval is known as a Pomodoro, named after the tomato-shaped timer that Cirillo created.
How it works:
Choose a task you need to get done.
Set a timer (e.g., for 25 mins).
Focus on the task at hand.
When the timer rings, put a checkmark on a piece of paper.
Take a short break: Take a break for about three to five minutes. Go for a walk, grab a cup of coffee, do something non-work-related to give your brain a break.
Repeat steps two to five: Once you have completed this process four times, you can begin to take longer breaks (20–30 mins).
Types of people that will benefit from the Pomodoro Technique:
Creative thinkers
Those who feel burnt out from work/school
The Pomodoro technique doesn’t just teach your time management; it also teaches you in setting goals and how to achieve them. You’ll be able to better stick to your daily schedule and weekly schedule.
3. Eisenhower Matrix
Before Dwight Eisenhower became president in 1953, he served in the U.S. Army as an Allied Forces Commander during World War II. He was faced with difficult decisions every day that led him to invent what is now called the Eisenhower matrix, or the urgent-important matrix.
How it works:
Organize your task list into four separate quadrants, sorting them by important vs. unimportant and urgent vs. not urgent, as shown in the graphic below. Urgent tasks are those we feel need to get done immediately. Important tasks are those that contribute to your long term goals or values. Ideally, you should only work on tasks in the top two quadrants—the other tasks, you should delegate or delete.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eisenhower Matrix:
People in leadership positions
Critical thinkers
4. Parkinson’s Law
British historian Cyril Northcote Parkinson became famous for the phrase “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” In other words, the amount of time you give yourself to complete a specific task is the amount of time it will take you to complete that task.
How it works:
This is not a time management technique per se. It’s a law that, when understood, can be applied as one of the most beneficial time management methods out there—but you will have to put in the work. That means working more efficiently in shorter bursts of time. Here are some time management tips:
Try working without a computer charger. This will force you to finish a project before your computer dies.
Get it done early. Instead of finishing an essay by midnight, try to get it done by noon.
Set a deadline. Give yourself a set time to do something—and then cut it in half.
Limit time for tasks. Give yourself only 20 minutes in the morning to answer emails.
Types of people this works for:
Procrastinators
People who work well under pressure
5. Time Blocking Method
Inventor Elon Musk is known for being productive. He manages his time so efficiently that he can work over 80 hours a week and still make time for himself. What’s his secret? Time blocking.
How it works:
From the moment you wake up, assign each time block in your day to a task. These tasks can be anything from eating breakfast to studying for a test. Below are the steps Elon Musk uses to block his time:
Divide a piece of paper into two columns. On the left, write down each hour of the day and create blocks of time such as half-hour or hour chunks.
Estimate the time it’s going to take to complete each of your tasks and fit them into your time blocks.
Add buffer times in between each time block to allow for adjustments during the day.
Types of people this works for:
Working students or parents
Analytical thinkers
6. Getting Things Done (GTD) Method
Created by author David Allen, this process helps you get things done by recording tasks on paper and then breaking them down into actionable work items.
How it works:
Capture the actions that have your attention: These actions are tasks that can relate to anything from work to school to your personal life.
Clarify what they mean: Decide whether the tasks that have your attention are actionable or not. If an item is not actionable, ignore it for now. If the item is actionable, do it, delegate it, or set it aside.
Organize your actions: Prioritize your to do list according to what you need to get done when.
Reflect: Review your list of actions frequently to determine your next priority. Cross off tasks you have accomplished and update your list.
Engage: Take the actions or smaller tasks you can complete right now.
Types of people who will benefit from the GTD method:
People who struggle to focus on one thing at a time
People who feel overwhelmed in their daily lives
7. Rapid Planning Method (RPM)
“RPM” stands for “rapid planning method” or “result, purpose, and massive action plan.” It was developed by motivational speaker Tony Robbins as a way to train your brain to focus on a vision of what you want so you can make it real.
How it works:
Capturing: Write down all the tasks you need to accomplish this week.
Chunking: “Chunk” your tasks together by commonalities. Which items are personal? School-related? Career-focused?
Create your own RPM blocks: On the top of a new sheet of paper, make three columns: the task, the result you want from completing that task, and your purpose for completing it. Next, list the actions you can take to get there.
Create an empowering role for yourself: If you’re a student, you might call yourself the “Study Queen.” Anything that will get you jazzed about completing your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the RPM:
Working students or parents
People who have long-term goals
8. Pickle Jar Theory
This theory helps you figure out what is useful and what is not useful in your daily life. It allows you to plan tasks with time to spare and set priorities for your day.
How it works:
Imagine a pickle jar full of sand, pebbles, and rocks. The sand is at the bottom and the rocks sit at the top.
The sand: This represents disrupting elements of your day, such as phone calls, text messages, emails, social media, etc.
The pebbles: This represents tasks that need to be completed, but can be done on another day or by someone else.
The rocks: These are the most important tasks that need to get done today.
Begin by thinking about how your tasks for the day would fit into the above categories. Then make a task list starting with the rocks and ending with sand (if time permits). Include an honest time estimate next to each. Try not to plan more than six hours of an eight-hour working day. This will leave buffer time for the pebbles and sand.
Types of people who will benefit from the Pickle Jar theory:
Visual people
Concrete thinkers
9. Eat That Frog Technique
This technique is named after a Mark Twain quote: “Eat a live frog the first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” Start your day by doing the most onerous tasks first and getting them out of the way.
How it works:
Get clear on a goal. What do you want to achieve most?
Write it down.
Set a deadline.
Compile a list of things you need to do to achieve your goal.
Organize this list in order of priority. The most important items are probably the most difficult. These are your “frogs.”
Take action. If you have more than one frog on your plate, eat the nastiest one first.
Repeat this cycle every day so that you’re always doing something that will push you toward your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eat That Frog technique:
Abstract thinkers
People with long-term goals
Choosing a Time Management Technique That Works for You
Whether you’re a full-time student, a working student or a parent going back to school, better time management skills are vital to living a balanced life. If you have a habit of leaving things until the last minute, try using Parkinson’s Law or the eat that frog method. If you have a hard time focusing on the task at hand, try the Pomodoro technique of working more intensely in short intervals.
Mastering time management will set you up for success in all areas of your life and will help you avoid test anxiety when finals roll around. At USAHS, we emphasize supporting our students in their personal and professional lives. We help you develop the tools and additional resources you need to succeed in our graduate degree programs.
Text:Time management—how we choose to use and organize our time—is something many of us struggle with. Effective time management allows us to make the most of our day, accomplishing tasks more quickly and prioritizing those that will make the most impact.
Different people need different effective time management strategies. If you’re a graduate student, you may choose to manage your time in a different way than someone who is a working mother. If you’re a visual person, you may prefer a color-coded calendar over a written to do list.
Figuring out a process that works for you, whatever that may be, is key to creating your most efficient life. To help you improve poor time management, we’ve explored nine popular techniques, from the 80/20 rule to the “eat that frog” method. We’ve outlined what they are, how to implement them, and the types of people who most benefit from them. And, check out our infographic below that includes a flowchart to help you decide which time management process will work the best for you.
9 Types of Time Management Techniques
Achieving work life balance is possible with effective time management. Learning time management tips will not only help you manage your time better but also boost personal productivity. With that said, here are some time management strategies you can try:
1. Pareto Analysis (a.k.a., the 80/20 rule)
The 80/20 rule is a technique created by the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto. It’s the idea that 20% of actions are responsible for 80% of outcomes. The goal of Pareto analysis is to help you prioritize tasks that are most effective at solving problems.
How it works:
List some of the problems you are facing. For example, maybe your grades are slipping.
Identify the root cause of each problem. Maybe your grades are slipping because you spend too much time on social media or any other sort of distraction.
Assign a score to each problem: Assign higher numbers to more important problems
Group problems together by cause: Group together all the problems caused by spending too much time on social media.
Add up the score of each group: The group with the highest score is the issue you should work on first.
Take action.
Types of people who will benefit from Pareto Analysis:
Problem solvers
Analytical thinkers
2. Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique was created by entrepreneur and author Francesco Cirillo. This technique uses a timer to break down your work into intervals. Each interval is known as a Pomodoro, named after the tomato-shaped timer that Cirillo created.
How it works:
Choose a task you need to get done.
Set a timer (e.g., for 25 mins).
Focus on the task at hand.
When the timer rings, put a checkmark on a piece of paper.
Take a short break: Take a break for about three to five minutes. Go for a walk, grab a cup of coffee, do something non-work-related to give your brain a break.
Repeat steps two to five: Once you have completed this process four times, you can begin to take longer breaks (20–30 mins).
Types of people that will benefit from the Pomodoro Technique:
Creative thinkers
Those who feel burnt out from work/school
The Pomodoro technique doesn’t just teach your time management; it also teaches you in setting goals and how to achieve them. You’ll be able to better stick to your daily schedule and weekly schedule.
3. Eisenhower Matrix
Before Dwight Eisenhower became president in 1953, he served in the U.S. Army as an Allied Forces Commander during World War II. He was faced with difficult decisions every day that led him to invent what is now called the Eisenhower matrix, or the urgent-important matrix.
How it works:
Organize your task list into four separate quadrants, sorting them by important vs. unimportant and urgent vs. not urgent, as shown in the graphic below. Urgent tasks are those we feel need to get done immediately. Important tasks are those that contribute to your long term goals or values. Ideally, you should only work on tasks in the top two quadrants—the other tasks, you should delegate or delete.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eisenhower Matrix:
People in leadership positions
Critical thinkers
4. Parkinson’s Law
British historian Cyril Northcote Parkinson became famous for the phrase “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” In other words, the amount of time you give yourself to complete a specific task is the amount of time it will take you to complete that task.
How it works:
This is not a time management technique per se. It’s a law that, when understood, can be applied as one of the most beneficial time management methods out there—but you will have to put in the work. That means working more efficiently in shorter bursts of time. Here are some time management tips:
Try working without a computer charger. This will force you to finish a project before your computer dies.
Get it done early. Instead of finishing an essay by midnight, try to get it done by noon.
Set a deadline. Give yourself a set time to do something—and then cut it in half.
Limit time for tasks. Give yourself only 20 minutes in the morning to answer emails.
Types of people this works for:
Procrastinators
People who work well under pressure
5. Time Blocking Method
Inventor Elon Musk is known for being productive. He manages his time so efficiently that he can work over 80 hours a week and still make time for himself. What’s his secret? Time blocking.
How it works:
From the moment you wake up, assign each time block in your day to a task. These tasks can be anything from eating breakfast to studying for a test. Below are the steps Elon Musk uses to block his time:
Divide a piece of paper into two columns. On the left, write down each hour of the day and create blocks of time such as half-hour or hour chunks.
Estimate the time it’s going to take to complete each of your tasks and fit them into your time blocks.
Add buffer times in between each time block to allow for adjustments during the day.
Types of people this works for:
Working students or parents
Analytical thinkers
6. Getting Things Done (GTD) Method
Created by author David Allen, this process helps you get things done by recording tasks on paper and then breaking them down into actionable work items.
How it works:
Capture the actions that have your attention: These actions are tasks that can relate to anything from work to school to your personal life.
Clarify what they mean: Decide whether the tasks that have your attention are actionable or not. If an item is not actionable, ignore it for now. If the item is actionable, do it, delegate it, or set it aside.
Organize your actions: Prioritize your to do list according to what you need to get done when.
Reflect: Review your list of actions frequently to determine your next priority. Cross off tasks you have accomplished and update your list.
Engage: Take the actions or smaller tasks you can complete right now.
Types of people who will benefit from the GTD method:
People who struggle to focus on one thing at a time
People who feel overwhelmed in their daily lives
7. Rapid Planning Method (RPM)
“RPM” stands for “rapid planning method” or “result, purpose, and massive action plan.” It was developed by motivational speaker Tony Robbins as a way to train your brain to focus on a vision of what you want so you can make it real.
How it works:
Capturing: Write down all the tasks you need to accomplish this week.
Chunking: “Chunk” your tasks together by commonalities. Which items are personal? School-related? Career-focused?
Create your own RPM blocks: On the top of a new sheet of paper, make three columns: the task, the result you want from completing that task, and your purpose for completing it. Next, list the actions you can take to get there.
Create an empowering role for yourself: If you’re a student, you might call yourself the “Study Queen.” Anything that will get you jazzed about completing your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the RPM:
Working students or parents
People who have long-term goals
8. Pickle Jar Theory
This theory helps you figure out what is useful and what is not useful in your daily life. It allows you to plan tasks with time to spare and set priorities for your day.
How it works:
Imagine a pickle jar full of sand, pebbles, and rocks. The sand is at the bottom and the rocks sit at the top.
The sand: This represents disrupting elements of your day, such as phone calls, text messages, emails, social media, etc.
The pebbles: This represents tasks that need to be completed, but can be done on another day or by someone else.
The rocks: These are the most important tasks that need to get done today.
Begin by thinking about how your tasks for the day would fit into the above categories. Then make a task list starting with the rocks and ending with sand (if time permits). Include an honest time estimate next to each. Try not to plan more than six hours of an eight-hour working day. This will leave buffer time for the pebbles and sand.
Types of people who will benefit from the Pickle Jar theory:
Visual people
Concrete thinkers
9. Eat That Frog Technique
This technique is named after a Mark Twain quote: “Eat a live frog the first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” Start your day by doing the most onerous tasks first and getting them out of the way.
How it works:
Get clear on a goal. What do you want to achieve most?
Write it down.
Set a deadline.
Compile a list of things you need to do to achieve your goal.
Organize this list in order of priority. The most important items are probably the most difficult. These are your “frogs.”
Take action. If you have more than one frog on your plate, eat the nastiest one first.
Repeat this cycle every day so that you’re always doing something that will push you toward your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eat That Frog technique:
Abstract thinkers
People with long-term goals
Choosing a Time Management Technique That Works for You
Whether you’re a full-time student, a working student or a parent going back to school, better time management skills are vital to living a balanced life. If you have a habit of leaving things until the last minute, try using Parkinson’s Law or the eat that frog method. If you have a hard time focusing on the task at hand, try the Pomodoro technique of working more intensely in short intervals.
Mastering time management will set you up for success in all areas of your life and will help you avoid test anxiety when finals roll around. At USAHS, we emphasize supporting our students in their personal and professional lives. We help you develop the tools and additional resources you need to succeed in our graduate degree programs.
Text:Time management—how we choose to use and organize our time—is something many of us struggle with. Effective time management allows us to make the most of our day, accomplishing tasks more quickly and prioritizing those that will make the most impact.
Different people need different effective time management strategies. If you’re a graduate student, you may choose to manage your time in a different way than someone who is a working mother. If you’re a visual person, you may prefer a color-coded calendar over a written to do list.
Figuring out a process that works for you, whatever that may be, is key to creating your most efficient life. To help you improve poor time management, we’ve explored nine popular techniques, from the 80/20 rule to the “eat that frog” method. We’ve outlined what they are, how to implement them, and the types of people who most benefit from them. And, check out our infographic below that includes a flowchart to help you decide which time management process will work the best for you.
9 Types of Time Management Techniques
Achieving work life balance is possible with effective time management. Learning time management tips will not only help you manage your time better but also boost personal productivity. With that said, here are some time management strategies you can try:
1. Pareto Analysis (a.k.a., the 80/20 rule)
The 80/20 rule is a technique created by the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto. It’s the idea that 20% of actions are responsible for 80% of outcomes. The goal of Pareto analysis is to help you prioritize tasks that are most effective at solving problems.
How it works:
List some of the problems you are facing. For example, maybe your grades are slipping.
Identify the root cause of each problem. Maybe your grades are slipping because you spend too much time on social media or any other sort of distraction.
Assign a score to each problem: Assign higher numbers to more important problems
Group problems together by cause: Group together all the problems caused by spending too much time on social media.
Add up the score of each group: The group with the highest score is the issue you should work on first.
Take action.
Types of people who will benefit from Pareto Analysis:
Problem solvers
Analytical thinkers
2. Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique was created by entrepreneur and author Francesco Cirillo. This technique uses a timer to break down your work into intervals. Each interval is known as a Pomodoro, named after the tomato-shaped timer that Cirillo created.
How it works:
Choose a task you need to get done.
Set a timer (e.g., for 25 mins).
Focus on the task at hand.
When the timer rings, put a checkmark on a piece of paper.
Take a short break: Take a break for about three to five minutes. Go for a walk, grab a cup of coffee, do something non-work-related to give your brain a break.
Repeat steps two to five: Once you have completed this process four times, you can begin to take longer breaks (20–30 mins).
Types of people that will benefit from the Pomodoro Technique:
Creative thinkers
Those who feel burnt out from work/school
The Pomodoro technique doesn’t just teach your time management; it also teaches you in setting goals and how to achieve them. You’ll be able to better stick to your daily schedule and weekly schedule.
3. Eisenhower Matrix
Before Dwight Eisenhower became president in 1953, he served in the U.S. Army as an Allied Forces Commander during World War II. He was faced with difficult decisions every day that led him to invent what is now called the Eisenhower matrix, or the urgent-important matrix.
How it works:
Organize your task list into four separate quadrants, sorting them by important vs. unimportant and urgent vs. not urgent, as shown in the graphic below. Urgent tasks are those we feel need to get done immediately. Important tasks are those that contribute to your long term goals or values. Ideally, you should only work on tasks in the top two quadrants—the other tasks, you should delegate or delete.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eisenhower Matrix:
People in leadership positions
Critical thinkers
4. Parkinson’s Law
British historian Cyril Northcote Parkinson became famous for the phrase “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” In other words, the amount of time you give yourself to complete a specific task is the amount of time it will take you to complete that task.
How it works:
This is not a time management technique per se. It’s a law that, when understood, can be applied as one of the most beneficial time management methods out there—but you will have to put in the work. That means working more efficiently in shorter bursts of time. Here are some time management tips:
Try working without a computer charger. This will force you to finish a project before your computer dies.
Get it done early. Instead of finishing an essay by midnight, try to get it done by noon.
Set a deadline. Give yourself a set time to do something—and then cut it in half.
Limit time for tasks. Give yourself only 20 minutes in the morning to answer emails.
Types of people this works for:
Procrastinators
People who work well under pressure
5. Time Blocking Method
Inventor Elon Musk is known for being productive. He manages his time so efficiently that he can work over 80 hours a week and still make time for himself. What’s his secret? Time blocking.
How it works:
From the moment you wake up, assign each time block in your day to a task. These tasks can be anything from eating breakfast to studying for a test. Below are the steps Elon Musk uses to block his time:
Divide a piece of paper into two columns. On the left, write down each hour of the day and create blocks of time such as half-hour or hour chunks.
Estimate the time it’s going to take to complete each of your tasks and fit them into your time blocks.
Add buffer times in between each time block to allow for adjustments during the day.
Types of people this works for:
Working students or parents
Analytical thinkers
6. Getting Things Done (GTD) Method
Created by author David Allen, this process helps you get things done by recording tasks on paper and then breaking them down into actionable work items.
How it works:
Capture the actions that have your attention: These actions are tasks that can relate to anything from work to school to your personal life.
Clarify what they mean: Decide whether the tasks that have your attention are actionable or not. If an item is not actionable, ignore it for now. If the item is actionable, do it, delegate it, or set it aside.
Organize your actions: Prioritize your to do list according to what you need to get done when.
Reflect: Review your list of actions frequently to determine your next priority. Cross off tasks you have accomplished and update your list.
Engage: Take the actions or smaller tasks you can complete right now.
Types of people who will benefit from the GTD method:
People who struggle to focus on one thing at a time
People who feel overwhelmed in their daily lives
7. Rapid Planning Method (RPM)
“RPM” stands for “rapid planning method” or “result, purpose, and massive action plan.” It was developed by motivational speaker Tony Robbins as a way to train your brain to focus on a vision of what you want so you can make it real.
How it works:
Capturing: Write down all the tasks you need to accomplish this week.
Chunking: “Chunk” your tasks together by commonalities. Which items are personal? School-related? Career-focused?
Create your own RPM blocks: On the top of a new sheet of paper, make three columns: the task, the result you want from completing that task, and your purpose for completing it. Next, list the actions you can take to get there.
Create an empowering role for yourself: If you’re a student, you might call yourself the “Study Queen.” Anything that will get you jazzed about completing your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the RPM:
Working students or parents
People who have long-term goals
8. Pickle Jar Theory
This theory helps you figure out what is useful and what is not useful in your daily life. It allows you to plan tasks with time to spare and set priorities for your day.
How it works:
Imagine a pickle jar full of sand, pebbles, and rocks. The sand is at the bottom and the rocks sit at the top.
The sand: This represents disrupting elements of your day, such as phone calls, text messages, emails, social media, etc.
The pebbles: This represents tasks that need to be completed, but can be done on another day or by someone else.
The rocks: These are the most important tasks that need to get done today.
Begin by thinking about how your tasks for the day would fit into the above categories. Then make a task list starting with the rocks and ending with sand (if time permits). Include an honest time estimate next to each. Try not to plan more than six hours of an eight-hour working day. This will leave buffer time for the pebbles and sand.
Types of people who will benefit from the Pickle Jar theory:
Visual people
Concrete thinkers
9. Eat That Frog Technique
This technique is named after a Mark Twain quote: “Eat a live frog the first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” Start your day by doing the most onerous tasks first and getting them out of the way.
How it works:
Get clear on a goal. What do you want to achieve most?
Write it down.
Set a deadline.
Compile a list of things you need to do to achieve your goal.
Organize this list in order of priority. The most important items are probably the most difficult. These are your “frogs.”
Take action. If you have more than one frog on your plate, eat the nastiest one first.
Repeat this cycle every day so that you’re always doing something that will push you toward your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eat That Frog technique:
Abstract thinkers
People with long-term goals
Choosing a Time Management Technique That Works for You
Whether you’re a full-time student, a working student or a parent going back to school, better time management skills are vital to living a balanced life. If you have a habit of leaving things until the last minute, try using Parkinson’s Law or the eat that frog method. If you have a hard time focusing on the task at hand, try the Pomodoro technique of working more intensely in short intervals.
Mastering time management will set you up for success in all areas of your life and will help you avoid test anxiety when finals roll around. At USAHS, we emphasize supporting our students in their personal and professional lives. We help you develop the tools and additional resources you need to succeed in our graduate degree programs.
Text:Time management—how we choose to use and organize our time—is something many of us struggle with. Effective time management allows us to make the most of our day, accomplishing tasks more quickly and prioritizing those that will make the most impact.
Different people need different effective time management strategies. If you’re a graduate student, you may choose to manage your time in a different way than someone who is a working mother. If you’re a visual person, you may prefer a color-coded calendar over a written to do list.
Figuring out a process that works for you, whatever that may be, is key to creating your most efficient life. To help you improve poor time management, we’ve explored nine popular techniques, from the 80/20 rule to the “eat that frog” method. We’ve outlined what they are, how to implement them, and the types of people who most benefit from them. And, check out our infographic below that includes a flowchart to help you decide which time management process will work the best for you.
9 Types of Time Management Techniques
Achieving work life balance is possible with effective time management. Learning time management tips will not only help you manage your time better but also boost personal productivity. With that said, here are some time management strategies you can try:
1. Pareto Analysis (a.k.a., the 80/20 rule)
The 80/20 rule is a technique created by the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto. It’s the idea that 20% of actions are responsible for 80% of outcomes. The goal of Pareto analysis is to help you prioritize tasks that are most effective at solving problems.
How it works:
List some of the problems you are facing. For example, maybe your grades are slipping.
Identify the root cause of each problem. Maybe your grades are slipping because you spend too much time on social media or any other sort of distraction.
Assign a score to each problem: Assign higher numbers to more important problems
Group problems together by cause: Group together all the problems caused by spending too much time on social media.
Add up the score of each group: The group with the highest score is the issue you should work on first.
Take action.
Types of people who will benefit from Pareto Analysis:
Problem solvers
Analytical thinkers
2. Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique was created by entrepreneur and author Francesco Cirillo. This technique uses a timer to break down your work into intervals. Each interval is known as a Pomodoro, named after the tomato-shaped timer that Cirillo created.
How it works:
Choose a task you need to get done.
Set a timer (e.g., for 25 mins).
Focus on the task at hand.
When the timer rings, put a checkmark on a piece of paper.
Take a short break: Take a break for about three to five minutes. Go for a walk, grab a cup of coffee, do something non-work-related to give your brain a break.
Repeat steps two to five: Once you have completed this process four times, you can begin to take longer breaks (20–30 mins).
Types of people that will benefit from the Pomodoro Technique:
Creative thinkers
Those who feel burnt out from work/school
The Pomodoro technique doesn’t just teach your time management; it also teaches you in setting goals and how to achieve them. You’ll be able to better stick to your daily schedule and weekly schedule.
3. Eisenhower Matrix
Before Dwight Eisenhower became president in 1953, he served in the U.S. Army as an Allied Forces Commander during World War II. He was faced with difficult decisions every day that led him to invent what is now called the Eisenhower matrix, or the urgent-important matrix.
How it works:
Organize your task list into four separate quadrants, sorting them by important vs. unimportant and urgent vs. not urgent, as shown in the graphic below. Urgent tasks are those we feel need to get done immediately. Important tasks are those that contribute to your long term goals or values. Ideally, you should only work on tasks in the top two quadrants—the other tasks, you should delegate or delete.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eisenhower Matrix:
People in leadership positions
Critical thinkers
4. Parkinson’s Law
British historian Cyril Northcote Parkinson became famous for the phrase “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” In other words, the amount of time you give yourself to complete a specific task is the amount of time it will take you to complete that task.
How it works:
This is not a time management technique per se. It’s a law that, when understood, can be applied as one of the most beneficial time management methods out there—but you will have to put in the work. That means working more efficiently in shorter bursts of time. Here are some time management tips:
Try working without a computer charger. This will force you to finish a project before your computer dies.
Get it done early. Instead of finishing an essay by midnight, try to get it done by noon.
Set a deadline. Give yourself a set time to do something—and then cut it in half.
Limit time for tasks. Give yourself only 20 minutes in the morning to answer emails.
Types of people this works for:
Procrastinators
People who work well under pressure
5. Time Blocking Method
Inventor Elon Musk is known for being productive. He manages his time so efficiently that he can work over 80 hours a week and still make time for himself. What’s his secret? Time blocking.
How it works:
From the moment you wake up, assign each time block in your day to a task. These tasks can be anything from eating breakfast to studying for a test. Below are the steps Elon Musk uses to block his time:
Divide a piece of paper into two columns. On the left, write down each hour of the day and create blocks of time such as half-hour or hour chunks.
Estimate the time it’s going to take to complete each of your tasks and fit them into your time blocks.
Add buffer times in between each time block to allow for adjustments during the day.
Types of people this works for:
Working students or parents
Analytical thinkers
6. Getting Things Done (GTD) Method
Created by author David Allen, this process helps you get things done by recording tasks on paper and then breaking them down into actionable work items.
How it works:
Capture the actions that have your attention: These actions are tasks that can relate to anything from work to school to your personal life.
Clarify what they mean: Decide whether the tasks that have your attention are actionable or not. If an item is not actionable, ignore it for now. If the item is actionable, do it, delegate it, or set it aside.
Organize your actions: Prioritize your to do list according to what you need to get done when.
Reflect: Review your list of actions frequently to determine your next priority. Cross off tasks you have accomplished and update your list.
Engage: Take the actions or smaller tasks you can complete right now.
Types of people who will benefit from the GTD method:
People who struggle to focus on one thing at a time
People who feel overwhelmed in their daily lives
7. Rapid Planning Method (RPM)
“RPM” stands for “rapid planning method” or “result, purpose, and massive action plan.” It was developed by motivational speaker Tony Robbins as a way to train your brain to focus on a vision of what you want so you can make it real.
How it works:
Capturing: Write down all the tasks you need to accomplish this week.
Chunking: “Chunk” your tasks together by commonalities. Which items are personal? School-related? Career-focused?
Create your own RPM blocks: On the top of a new sheet of paper, make three columns: the task, the result you want from completing that task, and your purpose for completing it. Next, list the actions you can take to get there.
Create an empowering role for yourself: If you’re a student, you might call yourself the “Study Queen.” Anything that will get you jazzed about completing your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the RPM:
Working students or parents
People who have long-term goals
8. Pickle Jar Theory
This theory helps you figure out what is useful and what is not useful in your daily life. It allows you to plan tasks with time to spare and set priorities for your day.
How it works:
Imagine a pickle jar full of sand, pebbles, and rocks. The sand is at the bottom and the rocks sit at the top.
The sand: This represents disrupting elements of your day, such as phone calls, text messages, emails, social media, etc.
The pebbles: This represents tasks that need to be completed, but can be done on another day or by someone else.
The rocks: These are the most important tasks that need to get done today.
Begin by thinking about how your tasks for the day would fit into the above categories. Then make a task list starting with the rocks and ending with sand (if time permits). Include an honest time estimate next to each. Try not to plan more than six hours of an eight-hour working day. This will leave buffer time for the pebbles and sand.
Types of people who will benefit from the Pickle Jar theory:
Visual people
Concrete thinkers
9. Eat That Frog Technique
This technique is named after a Mark Twain quote: “Eat a live frog the first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” Start your day by doing the most onerous tasks first and getting them out of the way.
How it works:
Get clear on a goal. What do you want to achieve most?
Write it down.
Set a deadline.
Compile a list of things you need to do to achieve your goal.
Organize this list in order of priority. The most important items are probably the most difficult. These are your “frogs.”
Take action. If you have more than one frog on your plate, eat the nastiest one first.
Repeat this cycle every day so that you’re always doing something that will push you toward your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eat That Frog technique:
Abstract thinkers
People with long-term goals
Choosing a Time Management Technique That Works for You
Whether you’re a full-time student, a working student or a parent going back to school, better time management skills are vital to living a balanced life. If you have a habit of leaving things until the last minute, try using Parkinson’s Law or the eat that frog method. If you have a hard time focusing on the task at hand, try the Pomodoro technique of working more intensely in short intervals.
Mastering time management will set you up for success in all areas of your life and will help you avoid test anxiety when finals roll around. At USAHS, we emphasize supporting our students in their personal and professional lives. We help you develop the tools and additional resources you need to succeed in our graduate degree programs.
Text:Time management—how we choose to use and organize our time—is something many of us struggle with. Effective time management allows us to make the most of our day, accomplishing tasks more quickly and prioritizing those that will make the most impact.
Different people need different effective time management strategies. If you’re a graduate student, you may choose to manage your time in a different way than someone who is a working mother. If you’re a visual person, you may prefer a color-coded calendar over a written to do list.
Figuring out a process that works for you, whatever that may be, is key to creating your most efficient life. To help you improve poor time management, we’ve explored nine popular techniques, from the 80/20 rule to the “eat that frog” method. We’ve outlined what they are, how to implement them, and the types of people who most benefit from them. And, check out our infographic below that includes a flowchart to help you decide which time management process will work the best for you.
9 Types of Time Management Techniques
Achieving work life balance is possible with effective time management. Learning time management tips will not only help you manage your time better but also boost personal productivity. With that said, here are some time management strategies you can try:
1. Pareto Analysis (a.k.a., the 80/20 rule)
The 80/20 rule is a technique created by the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto. It’s the idea that 20% of actions are responsible for 80% of outcomes. The goal of Pareto analysis is to help you prioritize tasks that are most effective at solving problems.
How it works:
List some of the problems you are facing. For example, maybe your grades are slipping.
Identify the root cause of each problem. Maybe your grades are slipping because you spend too much time on social media or any other sort of distraction.
Assign a score to each problem: Assign higher numbers to more important problems
Group problems together by cause: Group together all the problems caused by spending too much time on social media.
Add up the score of each group: The group with the highest score is the issue you should work on first.
Take action.
Types of people who will benefit from Pareto Analysis:
Problem solvers
Analytical thinkers
2. Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique was created by entrepreneur and author Francesco Cirillo. This technique uses a timer to break down your work into intervals. Each interval is known as a Pomodoro, named after the tomato-shaped timer that Cirillo created.
How it works:
Choose a task you need to get done.
Set a timer (e.g., for 25 mins).
Focus on the task at hand.
When the timer rings, put a checkmark on a piece of paper.
Take a short break: Take a break for about three to five minutes. Go for a walk, grab a cup of coffee, do something non-work-related to give your brain a break.
Repeat steps two to five: Once you have completed this process four times, you can begin to take longer breaks (20–30 mins).
Types of people that will benefit from the Pomodoro Technique:
Creative thinkers
Those who feel burnt out from work/school
The Pomodoro technique doesn’t just teach your time management; it also teaches you in setting goals and how to achieve them. You’ll be able to better stick to your daily schedule and weekly schedule.
3. Eisenhower Matrix
Before Dwight Eisenhower became president in 1953, he served in the U.S. Army as an Allied Forces Commander during World War II. He was faced with difficult decisions every day that led him to invent what is now called the Eisenhower matrix, or the urgent-important matrix.
How it works:
Organize your task list into four separate quadrants, sorting them by important vs. unimportant and urgent vs. not urgent, as shown in the graphic below. Urgent tasks are those we feel need to get done immediately. Important tasks are those that contribute to your long term goals or values. Ideally, you should only work on tasks in the top two quadrants—the other tasks, you should delegate or delete.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eisenhower Matrix:
People in leadership positions
Critical thinkers
4. Parkinson’s Law
British historian Cyril Northcote Parkinson became famous for the phrase “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” In other words, the amount of time you give yourself to complete a specific task is the amount of time it will take you to complete that task.
How it works:
This is not a time management technique per se. It’s a law that, when understood, can be applied as one of the most beneficial time management methods out there—but you will have to put in the work. That means working more efficiently in shorter bursts of time. Here are some time management tips:
Try working without a computer charger. This will force you to finish a project before your computer dies.
Get it done early. Instead of finishing an essay by midnight, try to get it done by noon.
Set a deadline. Give yourself a set time to do something—and then cut it in half.
Limit time for tasks. Give yourself only 20 minutes in the morning to answer emails.
Types of people this works for:
Procrastinators
People who work well under pressure
5. Time Blocking Method
Inventor Elon Musk is known for being productive. He manages his time so efficiently that he can work over 80 hours a week and still make time for himself. What’s his secret? Time blocking.
How it works:
From the moment you wake up, assign each time block in your day to a task. These tasks can be anything from eating breakfast to studying for a test. Below are the steps Elon Musk uses to block his time:
Divide a piece of paper into two columns. On the left, write down each hour of the day and create blocks of time such as half-hour or hour chunks.
Estimate the time it’s going to take to complete each of your tasks and fit them into your time blocks.
Add buffer times in between each time block to allow for adjustments during the day.
Types of people this works for:
Working students or parents
Analytical thinkers
6. Getting Things Done (GTD) Method
Created by author David Allen, this process helps you get things done by recording tasks on paper and then breaking them down into actionable work items.
How it works:
Capture the actions that have your attention: These actions are tasks that can relate to anything from work to school to your personal life.
Clarify what they mean: Decide whether the tasks that have your attention are actionable or not. If an item is not actionable, ignore it for now. If the item is actionable, do it, delegate it, or set it aside.
Organize your actions: Prioritize your to do list according to what you need to get done when.
Reflect: Review your list of actions frequently to determine your next priority. Cross off tasks you have accomplished and update your list.
Engage: Take the actions or smaller tasks you can complete right now.
Types of people who will benefit from the GTD method:
People who struggle to focus on one thing at a time
People who feel overwhelmed in their daily lives
7. Rapid Planning Method (RPM)
“RPM” stands for “rapid planning method” or “result, purpose, and massive action plan.” It was developed by motivational speaker Tony Robbins as a way to train your brain to focus on a vision of what you want so you can make it real.
How it works:
Capturing: Write down all the tasks you need to accomplish this week.
Chunking: “Chunk” your tasks together by commonalities. Which items are personal? School-related? Career-focused?
Create your own RPM blocks: On the top of a new sheet of paper, make three columns: the task, the result you want from completing that task, and your purpose for completing it. Next, list the actions you can take to get there.
Create an empowering role for yourself: If you’re a student, you might call yourself the “Study Queen.” Anything that will get you jazzed about completing your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the RPM:
Working students or parents
People who have long-term goals
8. Pickle Jar Theory
This theory helps you figure out what is useful and what is not useful in your daily life. It allows you to plan tasks with time to spare and set priorities for your day.
How it works:
Imagine a pickle jar full of sand, pebbles, and rocks. The sand is at the bottom and the rocks sit at the top.
The sand: This represents disrupting elements of your day, such as phone calls, text messages, emails, social media, etc.
The pebbles: This represents tasks that need to be completed, but can be done on another day or by someone else.
The rocks: These are the most important tasks that need to get done today.
Begin by thinking about how your tasks for the day would fit into the above categories. Then make a task list starting with the rocks and ending with sand (if time permits). Include an honest time estimate next to each. Try not to plan more than six hours of an eight-hour working day. This will leave buffer time for the pebbles and sand.
Types of people who will benefit from the Pickle Jar theory:
Visual people
Concrete thinkers
9. Eat That Frog Technique
This technique is named after a Mark Twain quote: “Eat a live frog the first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” Start your day by doing the most onerous tasks first and getting them out of the way.
How it works:
Get clear on a goal. What do you want to achieve most?
Write it down.
Set a deadline.
Compile a list of things you need to do to achieve your goal.
Organize this list in order of priority. The most important items are probably the most difficult. These are your “frogs.”
Take action. If you have more than one frog on your plate, eat the nastiest one first.
Repeat this cycle every day so that you’re always doing something that will push you toward your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eat That Frog technique:
Abstract thinkers
People with long-term goals
Choosing a Time Management Technique That Works for You
Whether you’re a full-time student, a working student or a parent going back to school, better time management skills are vital to living a balanced life. If you have a habit of leaving things until the last minute, try using Parkinson’s Law or the eat that frog method. If you have a hard time focusing on the task at hand, try the Pomodoro technique of working more intensely in short intervals.
Mastering time management will set you up for success in all areas of your life and will help you avoid test anxiety when finals roll around. At USAHS, we emphasize supporting our students in their personal and professional lives. We help you develop the tools and additional resources you need to succeed in our graduate degree programs.
Text:Time management—how we choose to use and organize our time—is something many of us struggle with. Effective time management allows us to make the most of our day, accomplishing tasks more quickly and prioritizing those that will make the most impact.
Different people need different effective time management strategies. If you’re a graduate student, you may choose to manage your time in a different way than someone who is a working mother. If you’re a visual person, you may prefer a color-coded calendar over a written to do list.
Figuring out a process that works for you, whatever that may be, is key to creating your most efficient life. To help you improve poor time management, we’ve explored nine popular techniques, from the 80/20 rule to the “eat that frog” method. We’ve outlined what they are, how to implement them, and the types of people who most benefit from them. And, check out our infographic below that includes a flowchart to help you decide which time management process will work the best for you.
9 Types of Time Management Techniques
Achieving work life balance is possible with effective time management. Learning time management tips will not only help you manage your time better but also boost personal productivity. With that said, here are some time management strategies you can try:
1. Pareto Analysis (a.k.a., the 80/20 rule)
The 80/20 rule is a technique created by the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto. It’s the idea that 20% of actions are responsible for 80% of outcomes. The goal of Pareto analysis is to help you prioritize tasks that are most effective at solving problems.
How it works:
List some of the problems you are facing. For example, maybe your grades are slipping.
Identify the root cause of each problem. Maybe your grades are slipping because you spend too much time on social media or any other sort of distraction.
Assign a score to each problem: Assign higher numbers to more important problems
Group problems together by cause: Group together all the problems caused by spending too much time on social media.
Add up the score of each group: The group with the highest score is the issue you should work on first.
Take action.
Types of people who will benefit from Pareto Analysis:
Problem solvers
Analytical thinkers
2. Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique was created by entrepreneur and author Francesco Cirillo. This technique uses a timer to break down your work into intervals. Each interval is known as a Pomodoro, named after the tomato-shaped timer that Cirillo created.
How it works:
Choose a task you need to get done.
Set a timer (e.g., for 25 mins).
Focus on the task at hand.
When the timer rings, put a checkmark on a piece of paper.
Take a short break: Take a break for about three to five minutes. Go for a walk, grab a cup of coffee, do something non-work-related to give your brain a break.
Repeat steps two to five: Once you have completed this process four times, you can begin to take longer breaks (20–30 mins).
Types of people that will benefit from the Pomodoro Technique:
Creative thinkers
Those who feel burnt out from work/school
The Pomodoro technique doesn’t just teach your time management; it also teaches you in setting goals and how to achieve them. You’ll be able to better stick to your daily schedule and weekly schedule.
3. Eisenhower Matrix
Before Dwight Eisenhower became president in 1953, he served in the U.S. Army as an Allied Forces Commander during World War II. He was faced with difficult decisions every day that led him to invent what is now called the Eisenhower matrix, or the urgent-important matrix.
How it works:
Organize your task list into four separate quadrants, sorting them by important vs. unimportant and urgent vs. not urgent, as shown in the graphic below. Urgent tasks are those we feel need to get done immediately. Important tasks are those that contribute to your long term goals or values. Ideally, you should only work on tasks in the top two quadrants—the other tasks, you should delegate or delete.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eisenhower Matrix:
People in leadership positions
Critical thinkers
4. Parkinson’s Law
British historian Cyril Northcote Parkinson became famous for the phrase “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” In other words, the amount of time you give yourself to complete a specific task is the amount of time it will take you to complete that task.
How it works:
This is not a time management technique per se. It’s a law that, when understood, can be applied as one of the most beneficial time management methods out there—but you will have to put in the work. That means working more efficiently in shorter bursts of time. Here are some time management tips:
Try working without a computer charger. This will force you to finish a project before your computer dies.
Get it done early. Instead of finishing an essay by midnight, try to get it done by noon.
Set a deadline. Give yourself a set time to do something—and then cut it in half.
Limit time for tasks. Give yourself only 20 minutes in the morning to answer emails.
Types of people this works for:
Procrastinators
People who work well under pressure
5. Time Blocking Method
Inventor Elon Musk is known for being productive. He manages his time so efficiently that he can work over 80 hours a week and still make time for himself. What’s his secret? Time blocking.
How it works:
From the moment you wake up, assign each time block in your day to a task. These tasks can be anything from eating breakfast to studying for a test. Below are the steps Elon Musk uses to block his time:
Divide a piece of paper into two columns. On the left, write down each hour of the day and create blocks of time such as half-hour or hour chunks.
Estimate the time it’s going to take to complete each of your tasks and fit them into your time blocks.
Add buffer times in between each time block to allow for adjustments during the day.
Types of people this works for:
Working students or parents
Analytical thinkers
6. Getting Things Done (GTD) Method
Created by author David Allen, this process helps you get things done by recording tasks on paper and then breaking them down into actionable work items.
How it works:
Capture the actions that have your attention: These actions are tasks that can relate to anything from work to school to your personal life.
Clarify what they mean: Decide whether the tasks that have your attention are actionable or not. If an item is not actionable, ignore it for now. If the item is actionable, do it, delegate it, or set it aside.
Organize your actions: Prioritize your to do list according to what you need to get done when.
Reflect: Review your list of actions frequently to determine your next priority. Cross off tasks you have accomplished and update your list.
Engage: Take the actions or smaller tasks you can complete right now.
Types of people who will benefit from the GTD method:
People who struggle to focus on one thing at a time
People who feel overwhelmed in their daily lives
7. Rapid Planning Method (RPM)
“RPM” stands for “rapid planning method” or “result, purpose, and massive action plan.” It was developed by motivational speaker Tony Robbins as a way to train your brain to focus on a vision of what you want so you can make it real.
How it works:
Capturing: Write down all the tasks you need to accomplish this week.
Chunking: “Chunk” your tasks together by commonalities. Which items are personal? School-related? Career-focused?
Create your own RPM blocks: On the top of a new sheet of paper, make three columns: the task, the result you want from completing that task, and your purpose for completing it. Next, list the actions you can take to get there.
Create an empowering role for yourself: If you’re a student, you might call yourself the “Study Queen.” Anything that will get you jazzed about completing your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the RPM:
Working students or parents
People who have long-term goals
8. Pickle Jar Theory
This theory helps you figure out what is useful and what is not useful in your daily life. It allows you to plan tasks with time to spare and set priorities for your day.
How it works:
Imagine a pickle jar full of sand, pebbles, and rocks. The sand is at the bottom and the rocks sit at the top.
The sand: This represents disrupting elements of your day, such as phone calls, text messages, emails, social media, etc.
The pebbles: This represents tasks that need to be completed, but can be done on another day or by someone else.
The rocks: These are the most important tasks that need to get done today.
Begin by thinking about how your tasks for the day would fit into the above categories. Then make a task list starting with the rocks and ending with sand (if time permits). Include an honest time estimate next to each. Try not to plan more than six hours of an eight-hour working day. This will leave buffer time for the pebbles and sand.
Types of people who will benefit from the Pickle Jar theory:
Visual people
Concrete thinkers
9. Eat That Frog Technique
This technique is named after a Mark Twain quote: “Eat a live frog the first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” Start your day by doing the most onerous tasks first and getting them out of the way.
How it works:
Get clear on a goal. What do you want to achieve most?
Write it down.
Set a deadline.
Compile a list of things you need to do to achieve your goal.
Organize this list in order of priority. The most important items are probably the most difficult. These are your “frogs.”
Take action. If you have more than one frog on your plate, eat the nastiest one first.
Repeat this cycle every day so that you’re always doing something that will push you toward your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eat That Frog technique:
Abstract thinkers
People with long-term goals
Choosing a Time Management Technique That Works for You
Whether you’re a full-time student, a working student or a parent going back to school, better time management skills are vital to living a balanced life. If you have a habit of leaving things until the last minute, try using Parkinson’s Law or the eat that frog method. If you have a hard time focusing on the task at hand, try the Pomodoro technique of working more intensely in short intervals.
Mastering time management will set you up for success in all areas of your life and will help you avoid test anxiety when finals roll around. At USAHS, we emphasize supporting our students in their personal and professional lives. We help you develop the tools and additional resources you need to succeed in our graduate degree programs.
Different people need different effective time management strategies. If you’re a graduate student, you may choose to manage your time in a different way than someone who is a working mother. If you’re a visual person, you may prefer a color-coded calendar over a written to do list.
Figuring out a process that works for you, whatever that may be, is key to creating your most efficient life. To help you improve poor time management, we’ve explored nine popular techniques, from the 80/20 rule to the “eat that frog” method. We’ve outlined what they are, how to implement them, and the types of people who most benefit from them. And, check out our infographic below that includes a flowchart to help you decide which time management process will work the best for you.
9 Types of Time Management Techniques
Achieving work life balance is possible with effective time management. Learning time management tips will not only help you manage your time better but also boost personal productivity. With that said, here are some time management strategies you can try:
1. Pareto Analysis (a.k.a., the 80/20 rule)
The 80/20 rule is a technique created by the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto. It’s the idea that 20% of actions are responsible for 80% of outcomes. The goal of Pareto analysis is to help you prioritize tasks that are most effective at solving problems.
How it works:
List some of the problems you are facing. For example, maybe your grades are slipping.
Identify the root cause of each problem. Maybe your grades are slipping because you spend too much time on social media or any other sort of distraction.
Assign a score to each problem: Assign higher numbers to more important problems
Group problems together by cause: Group together all the problems caused by spending too much time on social media.
Add up the score of each group: The group with the highest score is the issue you should work on first.
Take action.
Types of people who will benefit from Pareto Analysis:
Problem solvers
Analytical thinkers
2. Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique was created by entrepreneur and author Francesco Cirillo. This technique uses a timer to break down your work into intervals. Each interval is known as a Pomodoro, named after the tomato-shaped timer that Cirillo created.
How it works:
Choose a task you need to get done.
Set a timer (e.g., for 25 mins).
Focus on the task at hand.
When the timer rings, put a checkmark on a piece of paper.
Take a short break: Take a break for about three to five minutes. Go for a walk, grab a cup of coffee, do something non-work-related to give your brain a break.
Repeat steps two to five: Once you have completed this process four times, you can begin to take longer breaks (20–30 mins).
Types of people that will benefit from the Pomodoro Technique:
Creative thinkers
Those who feel burnt out from work/school
The Pomodoro technique doesn’t just teach your time management; it also teaches you in setting goals and how to achieve them. You’ll be able to better stick to your daily schedule and weekly schedule.
3. Eisenhower Matrix
Before Dwight Eisenhower became president in 1953, he served in the U.S. Army as an Allied Forces Commander during World War II. He was faced with difficult decisions every day that led him to invent what is now called the Eisenhower matrix, or the urgent-important matrix.
How it works:
Organize your task list into four separate quadrants, sorting them by important vs. unimportant and urgent vs. not urgent, as shown in the graphic below. Urgent tasks are those we feel need to get done immediately. Important tasks are those that contribute to your long term goals or values. Ideally, you should only work on tasks in the top two quadrants—the other tasks, you should delegate or delete.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eisenhower Matrix:
People in leadership positions
Critical thinkers
4. Parkinson’s Law
British historian Cyril Northcote Parkinson became famous for the phrase “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” In other words, the amount of time you give yourself to complete a specific task is the amount of time it will take you to complete that task.
How it works:
This is not a time management technique per se. It’s a law that, when understood, can be applied as one of the most beneficial time management methods out there—but you will have to put in the work. That means working more efficiently in shorter bursts of time. Here are some time management tips:
Try working without a computer charger. This will force you to finish a project before your computer dies.
Get it done early. Instead of finishing an essay by midnight, try to get it done by noon.
Set a deadline. Give yourself a set time to do something—and then cut it in half.
Limit time for tasks. Give yourself only 20 minutes in the morning to answer emails.
Types of people this works for:
Procrastinators
People who work well under pressure
5. Time Blocking Method
Inventor Elon Musk is known for being productive. He manages his time so efficiently that he can work over 80 hours a week and still make time for himself. What’s his secret? Time blocking.
How it works:
From the moment you wake up, assign each time block in your day to a task. These tasks can be anything from eating breakfast to studying for a test. Below are the steps Elon Musk uses to block his time:
Divide a piece of paper into two columns. On the left, write down each hour of the day and create blocks of time such as half-hour or hour chunks.
Estimate the time it’s going to take to complete each of your tasks and fit them into your time blocks.
Add buffer times in between each time block to allow for adjustments during the day.
Types of people this works for:
Working students or parents
Analytical thinkers
6. Getting Things Done (GTD) Method
Created by author David Allen, this process helps you get things done by recording tasks on paper and then breaking them down into actionable work items.
How it works:
Capture the actions that have your attention: These actions are tasks that can relate to anything from work to school to your personal life.
Clarify what they mean: Decide whether the tasks that have your attention are actionable or not. If an item is not actionable, ignore it for now. If the item is actionable, do it, delegate it, or set it aside.
Organize your actions: Prioritize your to do list according to what you need to get done when.
Reflect: Review your list of actions frequently to determine your next priority. Cross off tasks you have accomplished and update your list.
Engage: Take the actions or smaller tasks you can complete right now.
Types of people who will benefit from the GTD method:
People who struggle to focus on one thing at a time
People who feel overwhelmed in their daily lives
7. Rapid Planning Method (RPM)
“RPM” stands for “rapid planning method” or “result, purpose, and massive action plan.” It was developed by motivational speaker Tony Robbins as a way to train your brain to focus on a vision of what you want so you can make it real.
How it works:
Capturing: Write down all the tasks you need to accomplish this week.
Chunking: “Chunk” your tasks together by commonalities. Which items are personal? School-related? Career-focused?
Create your own RPM blocks: On the top of a new sheet of paper, make three columns: the task, the result you want from completing that task, and your purpose for completing it. Next, list the actions you can take to get there.
Create an empowering role for yourself: If you’re a student, you might call yourself the “Study Queen.” Anything that will get you jazzed about completing your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the RPM:
Working students or parents
People who have long-term goals
8. Pickle Jar Theory
This theory helps you figure out what is useful and what is not useful in your daily life. It allows you to plan tasks with time to spare and set priorities for your day.
How it works:
Imagine a pickle jar full of sand, pebbles, and rocks. The sand is at the bottom and the rocks sit at the top.
The sand: This represents disrupting elements of your day, such as phone calls, text messages, emails, social media, etc.
The pebbles: This represents tasks that need to be completed, but can be done on another day or by someone else.
The rocks: These are the most important tasks that need to get done today.
Begin by thinking about how your tasks for the day would fit into the above categories. Then make a task list starting with the rocks and ending with sand (if time permits). Include an honest time estimate next to each. Try not to plan more than six hours of an eight-hour working day. This will leave buffer time for the pebbles and sand.
Types of people who will benefit from the Pickle Jar theory:
Visual people
Concrete thinkers
9. Eat That Frog Technique
This technique is named after a Mark Twain quote: “Eat a live frog the first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” Start your day by doing the most onerous tasks first and getting them out of the way.
How it works:
Get clear on a goal. What do you want to achieve most?
Write it down.
Set a deadline.
Compile a list of things you need to do to achieve your goal.
Organize this list in order of priority. The most important items are probably the most difficult. These are your “frogs.”
Take action. If you have more than one frog on your plate, eat the nastiest one first.
Repeat this cycle every day so that you’re always doing something that will push you toward your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eat That Frog technique:
Abstract thinkers
People with long-term goals
Choosing a Time Management Technique That Works for You
Whether you’re a full-time student, a working student or a parent going back to school, better time management skills are vital to living a balanced life. If you have a habit of leaving things until the last minute, try using Parkinson’s Law or the eat that frog method. If you have a hard time focusing on the task at hand, try the Pomodoro technique of working more intensely in short intervals.
Mastering time management will set you up for success in all areas of your life and will help you avoid test anxiety when finals roll around. At USAHS, we emphasize supporting our students in their personal and professional lives. We help you develop the tools and additional resources you need to succeed in our graduate degree programs.
Text:Time management—how we choose to use and organize our time—is something many of us struggle with. Effective time management allows us to make the most of our day, accomplishing tasks more quickly and prioritizing those that will make the most impact.
Different people need different effective time management strategies. If you’re a graduate student, you may choose to manage your time in a different way than someone who is a working mother. If you’re a visual person, you may prefer a color-coded calendar over a written to do list.
Figuring out a process that works for you, whatever that may be, is key to creating your most efficient life. To help you improve poor time management, we’ve explored nine popular techniques, from the 80/20 rule to the “eat that frog” method. We’ve outlined what they are, how to implement them, and the types of people who most benefit from them. And, check out our infographic below that includes a flowchart to help you decide which time management process will work the best for you.
9 Types of Time Management Techniques
Achieving work life balance is possible with effective time management. Learning time management tips will not only help you manage your time better but also boost personal productivity. With that said, here are some time management strategies you can try:
1. Pareto Analysis (a.k.a., the 80/20 rule)
The 80/20 rule is a technique created by the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto. It’s the idea that 20% of actions are responsible for 80% of outcomes. The goal of Pareto analysis is to help you prioritize tasks that are most effective at solving problems.
How it works:
List some of the problems you are facing. For example, maybe your grades are slipping.
Identify the root cause of each problem. Maybe your grades are slipping because you spend too much time on social media or any other sort of distraction.
Assign a score to each problem: Assign higher numbers to more important problems
Group problems together by cause: Group together all the problems caused by spending too much time on social media.
Add up the score of each group: The group with the highest score is the issue you should work on first.
Take action.
Types of people who will benefit from Pareto Analysis:
Problem solvers
Analytical thinkers
2. Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique was created by entrepreneur and author Francesco Cirillo. This technique uses a timer to break down your work into intervals. Each interval is known as a Pomodoro, named after the tomato-shaped timer that Cirillo created.
How it works:
Choose a task you need to get done.
Set a timer (e.g., for 25 mins).
Focus on the task at hand.
When the timer rings, put a checkmark on a piece of paper.
Take a short break: Take a break for about three to five minutes. Go for a walk, grab a cup of coffee, do something non-work-related to give your brain a break.
Repeat steps two to five: Once you have completed this process four times, you can begin to take longer breaks (20–30 mins).
Types of people that will benefit from the Pomodoro Technique:
Creative thinkers
Those who feel burnt out from work/school
The Pomodoro technique doesn’t just teach your time management; it also teaches you in setting goals and how to achieve them. You’ll be able to better stick to your daily schedule and weekly schedule.
3. Eisenhower Matrix
Before Dwight Eisenhower became president in 1953, he served in the U.S. Army as an Allied Forces Commander during World War II. He was faced with difficult decisions every day that led him to invent what is now called the Eisenhower matrix, or the urgent-important matrix.
How it works:
Organize your task list into four separate quadrants, sorting them by important vs. unimportant and urgent vs. not urgent, as shown in the graphic below. Urgent tasks are those we feel need to get done immediately. Important tasks are those that contribute to your long term goals or values. Ideally, you should only work on tasks in the top two quadrants—the other tasks, you should delegate or delete.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eisenhower Matrix:
People in leadership positions
Critical thinkers
4. Parkinson’s Law
British historian Cyril Northcote Parkinson became famous for the phrase “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” In other words, the amount of time you give yourself to complete a specific task is the amount of time it will take you to complete that task.
How it works:
This is not a time management technique per se. It’s a law that, when understood, can be applied as one of the most beneficial time management methods out there—but you will have to put in the work. That means working more efficiently in shorter bursts of time. Here are some time management tips:
Try working without a computer charger. This will force you to finish a project before your computer dies.
Get it done early. Instead of finishing an essay by midnight, try to get it done by noon.
Set a deadline. Give yourself a set time to do something—and then cut it in half.
Limit time for tasks. Give yourself only 20 minutes in the morning to answer emails.
Types of people this works for:
Procrastinators
People who work well under pressure
5. Time Blocking Method
Inventor Elon Musk is known for being productive. He manages his time so efficiently that he can work over 80 hours a week and still make time for himself. What’s his secret? Time blocking.
How it works:
From the moment you wake up, assign each time block in your day to a task. These tasks can be anything from eating breakfast to studying for a test. Below are the steps Elon Musk uses to block his time:
Divide a piece of paper into two columns. On the left, write down each hour of the day and create blocks of time such as half-hour or hour chunks.
Estimate the time it’s going to take to complete each of your tasks and fit them into your time blocks.
Add buffer times in between each time block to allow for adjustments during the day.
Types of people this works for:
Working students or parents
Analytical thinkers
6. Getting Things Done (GTD) Method
Created by author David Allen, this process helps you get things done by recording tasks on paper and then breaking them down into actionable work items.
How it works:
Capture the actions that have your attention: These actions are tasks that can relate to anything from work to school to your personal life.
Clarify what they mean: Decide whether the tasks that have your attention are actionable or not. If an item is not actionable, ignore it for now. If the item is actionable, do it, delegate it, or set it aside.
Organize your actions: Prioritize your to do list according to what you need to get done when.
Reflect: Review your list of actions frequently to determine your next priority. Cross off tasks you have accomplished and update your list.
Engage: Take the actions or smaller tasks you can complete right now.
Types of people who will benefit from the GTD method:
People who struggle to focus on one thing at a time
People who feel overwhelmed in their daily lives
7. Rapid Planning Method (RPM)
“RPM” stands for “rapid planning method” or “result, purpose, and massive action plan.” It was developed by motivational speaker Tony Robbins as a way to train your brain to focus on a vision of what you want so you can make it real.
How it works:
Capturing: Write down all the tasks you need to accomplish this week.
Chunking: “Chunk” your tasks together by commonalities. Which items are personal? School-related? Career-focused?
Create your own RPM blocks: On the top of a new sheet of paper, make three columns: the task, the result you want from completing that task, and your purpose for completing it. Next, list the actions you can take to get there.
Create an empowering role for yourself: If you’re a student, you might call yourself the “Study Queen.” Anything that will get you jazzed about completing your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the RPM:
Working students or parents
People who have long-term goals
8. Pickle Jar Theory
This theory helps you figure out what is useful and what is not useful in your daily life. It allows you to plan tasks with time to spare and set priorities for your day.
How it works:
Imagine a pickle jar full of sand, pebbles, and rocks. The sand is at the bottom and the rocks sit at the top.
The sand: This represents disrupting elements of your day, such as phone calls, text messages, emails, social media, etc.
The pebbles: This represents tasks that need to be completed, but can be done on another day or by someone else.
The rocks: These are the most important tasks that need to get done today.
Begin by thinking about how your tasks for the day would fit into the above categories. Then make a task list starting with the rocks and ending with sand (if time permits). Include an honest time estimate next to each. Try not to plan more than six hours of an eight-hour working day. This will leave buffer time for the pebbles and sand.
Types of people who will benefit from the Pickle Jar theory:
Visual people
Concrete thinkers
9. Eat That Frog Technique
This technique is named after a Mark Twain quote: “Eat a live frog the first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” Start your day by doing the most onerous tasks first and getting them out of the way.
How it works:
Get clear on a goal. What do you want to achieve most?
Write it down.
Set a deadline.
Compile a list of things you need to do to achieve your goal.
Organize this list in order of priority. The most important items are probably the most difficult. These are your “frogs.”
Take action. If you have more than one frog on your plate, eat the nastiest one first.
Repeat this cycle every day so that you’re always doing something that will push you toward your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eat That Frog technique:
Abstract thinkers
People with long-term goals
Choosing a Time Management Technique That Works for You
Whether you’re a full-time student, a working student or a parent going back to school, better time management skills are vital to living a balanced life. If you have a habit of leaving things until the last minute, try using Parkinson’s Law or the eat that frog method. If you have a hard time focusing on the task at hand, try the Pomodoro technique of working more intensely in short intervals.
Mastering time management will set you up for success in all areas of your life and will help you avoid test anxiety when finals roll around. At USAHS, we emphasize supporting our students in their personal and professional lives. We help you develop the tools and additional resources you need to succeed in our graduate degree programs.
Text:Time management—how we choose to use and organize our time—is something many of us struggle with. Effective time management allows us to make the most of our day, accomplishing tasks more quickly and prioritizing those that will make the most impact.
Different people need different effective time management strategies. If you’re a graduate student, you may choose to manage your time in a different way than someone who is a working mother. If you’re a visual person, you may prefer a color-coded calendar over a written to do list.
Figuring out a process that works for you, whatever that may be, is key to creating your most efficient life. To help you improve poor time management, we’ve explored nine popular techniques, from the 80/20 rule to the “eat that frog” method. We’ve outlined what they are, how to implement them, and the types of people who most benefit from them. And, check out our infographic below that includes a flowchart to help you decide which time management process will work the best for you.
9 Types of Time Management Techniques
Achieving work life balance is possible with effective time management. Learning time management tips will not only help you manage your time better but also boost personal productivity. With that said, here are some time management strategies you can try:
1. Pareto Analysis (a.k.a., the 80/20 rule)
The 80/20 rule is a technique created by the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto. It’s the idea that 20% of actions are responsible for 80% of outcomes. The goal of Pareto analysis is to help you prioritize tasks that are most effective at solving problems.
How it works:
List some of the problems you are facing. For example, maybe your grades are slipping.
Identify the root cause of each problem. Maybe your grades are slipping because you spend too much time on social media or any other sort of distraction.
Assign a score to each problem: Assign higher numbers to more important problems
Group problems together by cause: Group together all the problems caused by spending too much time on social media.
Add up the score of each group: The group with the highest score is the issue you should work on first.
Take action.
Types of people who will benefit from Pareto Analysis:
Problem solvers
Analytical thinkers
2. Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique was created by entrepreneur and author Francesco Cirillo. This technique uses a timer to break down your work into intervals. Each interval is known as a Pomodoro, named after the tomato-shaped timer that Cirillo created.
How it works:
Choose a task you need to get done.
Set a timer (e.g., for 25 mins).
Focus on the task at hand.
When the timer rings, put a checkmark on a piece of paper.
Take a short break: Take a break for about three to five minutes. Go for a walk, grab a cup of coffee, do something non-work-related to give your brain a break.
Repeat steps two to five: Once you have completed this process four times, you can begin to take longer breaks (20–30 mins).
Types of people that will benefit from the Pomodoro Technique:
Creative thinkers
Those who feel burnt out from work/school
The Pomodoro technique doesn’t just teach your time management; it also teaches you in setting goals and how to achieve them. You’ll be able to better stick to your daily schedule and weekly schedule.
3. Eisenhower Matrix
Before Dwight Eisenhower became president in 1953, he served in the U.S. Army as an Allied Forces Commander during World War II. He was faced with difficult decisions every day that led him to invent what is now called the Eisenhower matrix, or the urgent-important matrix.
How it works:
Organize your task list into four separate quadrants, sorting them by important vs. unimportant and urgent vs. not urgent, as shown in the graphic below. Urgent tasks are those we feel need to get done immediately. Important tasks are those that contribute to your long term goals or values. Ideally, you should only work on tasks in the top two quadrants—the other tasks, you should delegate or delete.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eisenhower Matrix:
People in leadership positions
Critical thinkers
4. Parkinson’s Law
British historian Cyril Northcote Parkinson became famous for the phrase “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” In other words, the amount of time you give yourself to complete a specific task is the amount of time it will take you to complete that task.
How it works:
This is not a time management technique per se. It’s a law that, when understood, can be applied as one of the most beneficial time management methods out there—but you will have to put in the work. That means working more efficiently in shorter bursts of time. Here are some time management tips:
Try working without a computer charger. This will force you to finish a project before your computer dies.
Get it done early. Instead of finishing an essay by midnight, try to get it done by noon.
Set a deadline. Give yourself a set time to do something—and then cut it in half.
Limit time for tasks. Give yourself only 20 minutes in the morning to answer emails.
Types of people this works for:
Procrastinators
People who work well under pressure
5. Time Blocking Method
Inventor Elon Musk is known for being productive. He manages his time so efficiently that he can work over 80 hours a week and still make time for himself. What’s his secret? Time blocking.
How it works:
From the moment you wake up, assign each time block in your day to a task. These tasks can be anything from eating breakfast to studying for a test. Below are the steps Elon Musk uses to block his time:
Divide a piece of paper into two columns. On the left, write down each hour of the day and create blocks of time such as half-hour or hour chunks.
Estimate the time it’s going to take to complete each of your tasks and fit them into your time blocks.
Add buffer times in between each time block to allow for adjustments during the day.
Types of people this works for:
Working students or parents
Analytical thinkers
6. Getting Things Done (GTD) Method
Created by author David Allen, this process helps you get things done by recording tasks on paper and then breaking them down into actionable work items.
How it works:
Capture the actions that have your attention: These actions are tasks that can relate to anything from work to school to your personal life.
Clarify what they mean: Decide whether the tasks that have your attention are actionable or not. If an item is not actionable, ignore it for now. If the item is actionable, do it, delegate it, or set it aside.
Organize your actions: Prioritize your to do list according to what you need to get done when.
Reflect: Review your list of actions frequently to determine your next priority. Cross off tasks you have accomplished and update your list.
Engage: Take the actions or smaller tasks you can complete right now.
Types of people who will benefit from the GTD method:
People who struggle to focus on one thing at a time
People who feel overwhelmed in their daily lives
7. Rapid Planning Method (RPM)
“RPM” stands for “rapid planning method” or “result, purpose, and massive action plan.” It was developed by motivational speaker Tony Robbins as a way to train your brain to focus on a vision of what you want so you can make it real.
How it works:
Capturing: Write down all the tasks you need to accomplish this week.
Chunking: “Chunk” your tasks together by commonalities. Which items are personal? School-related? Career-focused?
Create your own RPM blocks: On the top of a new sheet of paper, make three columns: the task, the result you want from completing that task, and your purpose for completing it. Next, list the actions you can take to get there.
Create an empowering role for yourself: If you’re a student, you might call yourself the “Study Queen.” Anything that will get you jazzed about completing your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the RPM:
Working students or parents
People who have long-term goals
8. Pickle Jar Theory
This theory helps you figure out what is useful and what is not useful in your daily life. It allows you to plan tasks with time to spare and set priorities for your day.
How it works:
Imagine a pickle jar full of sand, pebbles, and rocks. The sand is at the bottom and the rocks sit at the top.
The sand: This represents disrupting elements of your day, such as phone calls, text messages, emails, social media, etc.
The pebbles: This represents tasks that need to be completed, but can be done on another day or by someone else.
The rocks: These are the most important tasks that need to get done today.
Begin by thinking about how your tasks for the day would fit into the above categories. Then make a task list starting with the rocks and ending with sand (if time permits). Include an honest time estimate next to each. Try not to plan more than six hours of an eight-hour working day. This will leave buffer time for the pebbles and sand.
Types of people who will benefit from the Pickle Jar theory:
Visual people
Concrete thinkers
9. Eat That Frog Technique
This technique is named after a Mark Twain quote: “Eat a live frog the first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” Start your day by doing the most onerous tasks first and getting them out of the way.
How it works:
Get clear on a goal. What do you want to achieve most?
Write it down.
Set a deadline.
Compile a list of things you need to do to achieve your goal.
Organize this list in order of priority. The most important items are probably the most difficult. These are your “frogs.”
Take action. If you have more than one frog on your plate, eat the nastiest one first.
Repeat this cycle every day so that you’re always doing something that will push you toward your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eat That Frog technique:
Abstract thinkers
People with long-term goals
Choosing a Time Management Technique That Works for You
Whether you’re a full-time student, a working student or a parent going back to school, better time management skills are vital to living a balanced life. If you have a habit of leaving things until the last minute, try using Parkinson’s Law or the eat that frog method. If you have a hard time focusing on the task at hand, try the Pomodoro technique of working more intensely in short intervals.
Mastering time management will set you up for success in all areas of your life and will help you avoid test anxiety when finals roll around. At USAHS, we emphasize supporting our students in their personal and professional lives. We help you develop the tools and additional resources you need to succeed in our graduate degree programs.
Text:Time management—how we choose to use and organize our time—is something many of us struggle with. Effective time management allows us to make the most of our day, accomplishing tasks more quickly and prioritizing those that will make the most impact.
Different people need different effective time management strategies. If you’re a graduate student, you may choose to manage your time in a different way than someone who is a working mother. If you’re a visual person, you may prefer a color-coded calendar over a written to do list.
Figuring out a process that works for you, whatever that may be, is key to creating your most efficient life. To help you improve poor time management, we’ve explored nine popular techniques, from the 80/20 rule to the “eat that frog” method. We’ve outlined what they are, how to implement them, and the types of people who most benefit from them. And, check out our infographic below that includes a flowchart to help you decide which time management process will work the best for you.
9 Types of Time Management Techniques
Achieving work life balance is possible with effective time management. Learning time management tips will not only help you manage your time better but also boost personal productivity. With that said, here are some time management strategies you can try:
1. Pareto Analysis (a.k.a., the 80/20 rule)
The 80/20 rule is a technique created by the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto. It’s the idea that 20% of actions are responsible for 80% of outcomes. The goal of Pareto analysis is to help you prioritize tasks that are most effective at solving problems.
How it works:
List some of the problems you are facing. For example, maybe your grades are slipping.
Identify the root cause of each problem. Maybe your grades are slipping because you spend too much time on social media or any other sort of distraction.
Assign a score to each problem: Assign higher numbers to more important problems
Group problems together by cause: Group together all the problems caused by spending too much time on social media.
Add up the score of each group: The group with the highest score is the issue you should work on first.
Take action.
Types of people who will benefit from Pareto Analysis:
Problem solvers
Analytical thinkers
2. Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique was created by entrepreneur and author Francesco Cirillo. This technique uses a timer to break down your work into intervals. Each interval is known as a Pomodoro, named after the tomato-shaped timer that Cirillo created.
How it works:
Choose a task you need to get done.
Set a timer (e.g., for 25 mins).
Focus on the task at hand.
When the timer rings, put a checkmark on a piece of paper.
Take a short break: Take a break for about three to five minutes. Go for a walk, grab a cup of coffee, do something non-work-related to give your brain a break.
Repeat steps two to five: Once you have completed this process four times, you can begin to take longer breaks (20–30 mins).
Types of people that will benefit from the Pomodoro Technique:
Creative thinkers
Those who feel burnt out from work/school
The Pomodoro technique doesn’t just teach your time management; it also teaches you in setting goals and how to achieve them. You’ll be able to better stick to your daily schedule and weekly schedule.
3. Eisenhower Matrix
Before Dwight Eisenhower became president in 1953, he served in the U.S. Army as an Allied Forces Commander during World War II. He was faced with difficult decisions every day that led him to invent what is now called the Eisenhower matrix, or the urgent-important matrix.
How it works:
Organize your task list into four separate quadrants, sorting them by important vs. unimportant and urgent vs. not urgent, as shown in the graphic below. Urgent tasks are those we feel need to get done immediately. Important tasks are those that contribute to your long term goals or values. Ideally, you should only work on tasks in the top two quadrants—the other tasks, you should delegate or delete.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eisenhower Matrix:
People in leadership positions
Critical thinkers
4. Parkinson’s Law
British historian Cyril Northcote Parkinson became famous for the phrase “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” In other words, the amount of time you give yourself to complete a specific task is the amount of time it will take you to complete that task.
How it works:
This is not a time management technique per se. It’s a law that, when understood, can be applied as one of the most beneficial time management methods out there—but you will have to put in the work. That means working more efficiently in shorter bursts of time. Here are some time management tips:
Try working without a computer charger. This will force you to finish a project before your computer dies.
Get it done early. Instead of finishing an essay by midnight, try to get it done by noon.
Set a deadline. Give yourself a set time to do something—and then cut it in half.
Limit time for tasks. Give yourself only 20 minutes in the morning to answer emails.
Types of people this works for:
Procrastinators
People who work well under pressure
5. Time Blocking Method
Inventor Elon Musk is known for being productive. He manages his time so efficiently that he can work over 80 hours a week and still make time for himself. What’s his secret? Time blocking.
How it works:
From the moment you wake up, assign each time block in your day to a task. These tasks can be anything from eating breakfast to studying for a test. Below are the steps Elon Musk uses to block his time:
Divide a piece of paper into two columns. On the left, write down each hour of the day and create blocks of time such as half-hour or hour chunks.
Estimate the time it’s going to take to complete each of your tasks and fit them into your time blocks.
Add buffer times in between each time block to allow for adjustments during the day.
Types of people this works for:
Working students or parents
Analytical thinkers
6. Getting Things Done (GTD) Method
Created by author David Allen, this process helps you get things done by recording tasks on paper and then breaking them down into actionable work items.
How it works:
Capture the actions that have your attention: These actions are tasks that can relate to anything from work to school to your personal life.
Clarify what they mean: Decide whether the tasks that have your attention are actionable or not. If an item is not actionable, ignore it for now. If the item is actionable, do it, delegate it, or set it aside.
Organize your actions: Prioritize your to do list according to what you need to get done when.
Reflect: Review your list of actions frequently to determine your next priority. Cross off tasks you have accomplished and update your list.
Engage: Take the actions or smaller tasks you can complete right now.
Types of people who will benefit from the GTD method:
People who struggle to focus on one thing at a time
People who feel overwhelmed in their daily lives
7. Rapid Planning Method (RPM)
“RPM” stands for “rapid planning method” or “result, purpose, and massive action plan.” It was developed by motivational speaker Tony Robbins as a way to train your brain to focus on a vision of what you want so you can make it real.
How it works:
Capturing: Write down all the tasks you need to accomplish this week.
Chunking: “Chunk” your tasks together by commonalities. Which items are personal? School-related? Career-focused?
Create your own RPM blocks: On the top of a new sheet of paper, make three columns: the task, the result you want from completing that task, and your purpose for completing it. Next, list the actions you can take to get there.
Create an empowering role for yourself: If you’re a student, you might call yourself the “Study Queen.” Anything that will get you jazzed about completing your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the RPM:
Working students or parents
People who have long-term goals
8. Pickle Jar Theory
This theory helps you figure out what is useful and what is not useful in your daily life. It allows you to plan tasks with time to spare and set priorities for your day.
How it works:
Imagine a pickle jar full of sand, pebbles, and rocks. The sand is at the bottom and the rocks sit at the top.
The sand: This represents disrupting elements of your day, such as phone calls, text messages, emails, social media, etc.
The pebbles: This represents tasks that need to be completed, but can be done on another day or by someone else.
The rocks: These are the most important tasks that need to get done today.
Begin by thinking about how your tasks for the day would fit into the above categories. Then make a task list starting with the rocks and ending with sand (if time permits). Include an honest time estimate next to each. Try not to plan more than six hours of an eight-hour working day. This will leave buffer time for the pebbles and sand.
Types of people who will benefit from the Pickle Jar theory:
Visual people
Concrete thinkers
9. Eat That Frog Technique
This technique is named after a Mark Twain quote: “Eat a live frog the first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” Start your day by doing the most onerous tasks first and getting them out of the way.
How it works:
Get clear on a goal. What do you want to achieve most?
Write it down.
Set a deadline.
Compile a list of things you need to do to achieve your goal.
Organize this list in order of priority. The most important items are probably the most difficult. These are your “frogs.”
Take action. If you have more than one frog on your plate, eat the nastiest one first.
Repeat this cycle every day so that you’re always doing something that will push you toward your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eat That Frog technique:
Abstract thinkers
People with long-term goals
Choosing a Time Management Technique That Works for You
Whether you’re a full-time student, a working student or a parent going back to school, better time management skills are vital to living a balanced life. If you have a habit of leaving things until the last minute, try using Parkinson’s Law or the eat that frog method. If you have a hard time focusing on the task at hand, try the Pomodoro technique of working more intensely in short intervals.
Mastering time management will set you up for success in all areas of your life and will help you avoid test anxiety when finals roll around. At USAHS, we emphasize supporting our students in their personal and professional lives. We help you develop the tools and additional resources you need to succeed in our graduate degree programs.
Text:Time management—how we choose to use and organize our time—is something many of us struggle with. Effective time management allows us to make the most of our day, accomplishing tasks more quickly and prioritizing those that will make the most impact.
Different people need different effective time management strategies. If you’re a graduate student, you may choose to manage your time in a different way than someone who is a working mother. If you’re a visual person, you may prefer a color-coded calendar over a written to do list.
Figuring out a process that works for you, whatever that may be, is key to creating your most efficient life. To help you improve poor time management, we’ve explored nine popular techniques, from the 80/20 rule to the “eat that frog” method. We’ve outlined what they are, how to implement them, and the types of people who most benefit from them. And, check out our infographic below that includes a flowchart to help you decide which time management process will work the best for you.
9 Types of Time Management Techniques
Achieving work life balance is possible with effective time management. Learning time management tips will not only help you manage your time better but also boost personal productivity. With that said, here are some time management strategies you can try:
1. Pareto Analysis (a.k.a., the 80/20 rule)
The 80/20 rule is a technique created by the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto. It’s the idea that 20% of actions are responsible for 80% of outcomes. The goal of Pareto analysis is to help you prioritize tasks that are most effective at solving problems.
How it works:
List some of the problems you are facing. For example, maybe your grades are slipping.
Identify the root cause of each problem. Maybe your grades are slipping because you spend too much time on social media or any other sort of distraction.
Assign a score to each problem: Assign higher numbers to more important problems
Group problems together by cause: Group together all the problems caused by spending too much time on social media.
Add up the score of each group: The group with the highest score is the issue you should work on first.
Take action.
Types of people who will benefit from Pareto Analysis:
Problem solvers
Analytical thinkers
2. Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique was created by entrepreneur and author Francesco Cirillo. This technique uses a timer to break down your work into intervals. Each interval is known as a Pomodoro, named after the tomato-shaped timer that Cirillo created.
How it works:
Choose a task you need to get done.
Set a timer (e.g., for 25 mins).
Focus on the task at hand.
When the timer rings, put a checkmark on a piece of paper.
Take a short break: Take a break for about three to five minutes. Go for a walk, grab a cup of coffee, do something non-work-related to give your brain a break.
Repeat steps two to five: Once you have completed this process four times, you can begin to take longer breaks (20–30 mins).
Types of people that will benefit from the Pomodoro Technique:
Creative thinkers
Those who feel burnt out from work/school
The Pomodoro technique doesn’t just teach your time management; it also teaches you in setting goals and how to achieve them. You’ll be able to better stick to your daily schedule and weekly schedule.
3. Eisenhower Matrix
Before Dwight Eisenhower became president in 1953, he served in the U.S. Army as an Allied Forces Commander during World War II. He was faced with difficult decisions every day that led him to invent what is now called the Eisenhower matrix, or the urgent-important matrix.
How it works:
Organize your task list into four separate quadrants, sorting them by important vs. unimportant and urgent vs. not urgent, as shown in the graphic below. Urgent tasks are those we feel need to get done immediately. Important tasks are those that contribute to your long term goals or values. Ideally, you should only work on tasks in the top two quadrants—the other tasks, you should delegate or delete.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eisenhower Matrix:
People in leadership positions
Critical thinkers
4. Parkinson’s Law
British historian Cyril Northcote Parkinson became famous for the phrase “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” In other words, the amount of time you give yourself to complete a specific task is the amount of time it will take you to complete that task.
How it works:
This is not a time management technique per se. It’s a law that, when understood, can be applied as one of the most beneficial time management methods out there—but you will have to put in the work. That means working more efficiently in shorter bursts of time. Here are some time management tips:
Try working without a computer charger. This will force you to finish a project before your computer dies.
Get it done early. Instead of finishing an essay by midnight, try to get it done by noon.
Set a deadline. Give yourself a set time to do something—and then cut it in half.
Limit time for tasks. Give yourself only 20 minutes in the morning to answer emails.
Types of people this works for:
Procrastinators
People who work well under pressure
5. Time Blocking Method
Inventor Elon Musk is known for being productive. He manages his time so efficiently that he can work over 80 hours a week and still make time for himself. What’s his secret? Time blocking.
How it works:
From the moment you wake up, assign each time block in your day to a task. These tasks can be anything from eating breakfast to studying for a test. Below are the steps Elon Musk uses to block his time:
Divide a piece of paper into two columns. On the left, write down each hour of the day and create blocks of time such as half-hour or hour chunks.
Estimate the time it’s going to take to complete each of your tasks and fit them into your time blocks.
Add buffer times in between each time block to allow for adjustments during the day.
Types of people this works for:
Working students or parents
Analytical thinkers
6. Getting Things Done (GTD) Method
Created by author David Allen, this process helps you get things done by recording tasks on paper and then breaking them down into actionable work items.
How it works:
Capture the actions that have your attention: These actions are tasks that can relate to anything from work to school to your personal life.
Clarify what they mean: Decide whether the tasks that have your attention are actionable or not. If an item is not actionable, ignore it for now. If the item is actionable, do it, delegate it, or set it aside.
Organize your actions: Prioritize your to do list according to what you need to get done when.
Reflect: Review your list of actions frequently to determine your next priority. Cross off tasks you have accomplished and update your list.
Engage: Take the actions or smaller tasks you can complete right now.
Types of people who will benefit from the GTD method:
People who struggle to focus on one thing at a time
People who feel overwhelmed in their daily lives
7. Rapid Planning Method (RPM)
“RPM” stands for “rapid planning method” or “result, purpose, and massive action plan.” It was developed by motivational speaker Tony Robbins as a way to train your brain to focus on a vision of what you want so you can make it real.
How it works:
Capturing: Write down all the tasks you need to accomplish this week.
Chunking: “Chunk” your tasks together by commonalities. Which items are personal? School-related? Career-focused?
Create your own RPM blocks: On the top of a new sheet of paper, make three columns: the task, the result you want from completing that task, and your purpose for completing it. Next, list the actions you can take to get there.
Create an empowering role for yourself: If you’re a student, you might call yourself the “Study Queen.” Anything that will get you jazzed about completing your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the RPM:
Working students or parents
People who have long-term goals
8. Pickle Jar Theory
This theory helps you figure out what is useful and what is not useful in your daily life. It allows you to plan tasks with time to spare and set priorities for your day.
How it works:
Imagine a pickle jar full of sand, pebbles, and rocks. The sand is at the bottom and the rocks sit at the top.
The sand: This represents disrupting elements of your day, such as phone calls, text messages, emails, social media, etc.
The pebbles: This represents tasks that need to be completed, but can be done on another day or by someone else.
The rocks: These are the most important tasks that need to get done today.
Begin by thinking about how your tasks for the day would fit into the above categories. Then make a task list starting with the rocks and ending with sand (if time permits). Include an honest time estimate next to each. Try not to plan more than six hours of an eight-hour working day. This will leave buffer time for the pebbles and sand.
Types of people who will benefit from the Pickle Jar theory:
Visual people
Concrete thinkers
9. Eat That Frog Technique
This technique is named after a Mark Twain quote: “Eat a live frog the first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” Start your day by doing the most onerous tasks first and getting them out of the way.
How it works:
Get clear on a goal. What do you want to achieve most?
Write it down.
Set a deadline.
Compile a list of things you need to do to achieve your goal.
Organize this list in order of priority. The most important items are probably the most difficult. These are your “frogs.”
Take action. If you have more than one frog on your plate, eat the nastiest one first.
Repeat this cycle every day so that you’re always doing something that will push you toward your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eat That Frog technique:
Abstract thinkers
People with long-term goals
Choosing a Time Management Technique That Works for You
Whether you’re a full-time student, a working student or a parent going back to school, better time management skills are vital to living a balanced life. If you have a habit of leaving things until the last minute, try using Parkinson’s Law or the eat that frog method. If you have a hard time focusing on the task at hand, try the Pomodoro technique of working more intensely in short intervals.
Mastering time management will set you up for success in all areas of your life and will help you avoid test anxiety when finals roll around. At USAHS, we emphasize supporting our students in their personal and professional lives. We help you develop the tools and additional resources you need to succeed in our graduate degree programs.
Text:Time management—how we choose to use and organize our time—is something many of us struggle with. Effective time management allows us to make the most of our day, accomplishing tasks more quickly and prioritizing those that will make the most impact.
Different people need different effective time management strategies. If you’re a graduate student, you may choose to manage your time in a different way than someone who is a working mother. If you’re a visual person, you may prefer a color-coded calendar over a written to do list.
Figuring out a process that works for you, whatever that may be, is key to creating your most efficient life. To help you improve poor time management, we’ve explored nine popular techniques, from the 80/20 rule to the “eat that frog” method. We’ve outlined what they are, how to implement them, and the types of people who most benefit from them. And, check out our infographic below that includes a flowchart to help you decide which time management process will work the best for you.
9 Types of Time Management Techniques
Achieving work life balance is possible with effective time management. Learning time management tips will not only help you manage your time better but also boost personal productivity. With that said, here are some time management strategies you can try:
1. Pareto Analysis (a.k.a., the 80/20 rule)
The 80/20 rule is a technique created by the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto. It’s the idea that 20% of actions are responsible for 80% of outcomes. The goal of Pareto analysis is to help you prioritize tasks that are most effective at solving problems.
How it works:
List some of the problems you are facing. For example, maybe your grades are slipping.
Identify the root cause of each problem. Maybe your grades are slipping because you spend too much time on social media or any other sort of distraction.
Assign a score to each problem: Assign higher numbers to more important problems
Group problems together by cause: Group together all the problems caused by spending too much time on social media.
Add up the score of each group: The group with the highest score is the issue you should work on first.
Take action.
Types of people who will benefit from Pareto Analysis:
Problem solvers
Analytical thinkers
2. Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique was created by entrepreneur and author Francesco Cirillo. This technique uses a timer to break down your work into intervals. Each interval is known as a Pomodoro, named after the tomato-shaped timer that Cirillo created.
How it works:
Choose a task you need to get done.
Set a timer (e.g., for 25 mins).
Focus on the task at hand.
When the timer rings, put a checkmark on a piece of paper.
Take a short break: Take a break for about three to five minutes. Go for a walk, grab a cup of coffee, do something non-work-related to give your brain a break.
Repeat steps two to five: Once you have completed this process four times, you can begin to take longer breaks (20–30 mins).
Types of people that will benefit from the Pomodoro Technique:
Creative thinkers
Those who feel burnt out from work/school
The Pomodoro technique doesn’t just teach your time management; it also teaches you in setting goals and how to achieve them. You’ll be able to better stick to your daily schedule and weekly schedule.
3. Eisenhower Matrix
Before Dwight Eisenhower became president in 1953, he served in the U.S. Army as an Allied Forces Commander during World War II. He was faced with difficult decisions every day that led him to invent what is now called the Eisenhower matrix, or the urgent-important matrix.
How it works:
Organize your task list into four separate quadrants, sorting them by important vs. unimportant and urgent vs. not urgent, as shown in the graphic below. Urgent tasks are those we feel need to get done immediately. Important tasks are those that contribute to your long term goals or values. Ideally, you should only work on tasks in the top two quadrants—the other tasks, you should delegate or delete.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eisenhower Matrix:
People in leadership positions
Critical thinkers
4. Parkinson’s Law
British historian Cyril Northcote Parkinson became famous for the phrase “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” In other words, the amount of time you give yourself to complete a specific task is the amount of time it will take you to complete that task.
How it works:
This is not a time management technique per se. It’s a law that, when understood, can be applied as one of the most beneficial time management methods out there—but you will have to put in the work. That means working more efficiently in shorter bursts of time. Here are some time management tips:
Try working without a computer charger. This will force you to finish a project before your computer dies.
Get it done early. Instead of finishing an essay by midnight, try to get it done by noon.
Set a deadline. Give yourself a set time to do something—and then cut it in half.
Limit time for tasks. Give yourself only 20 minutes in the morning to answer emails.
Types of people this works for:
Procrastinators
People who work well under pressure
5. Time Blocking Method
Inventor Elon Musk is known for being productive. He manages his time so efficiently that he can work over 80 hours a week and still make time for himself. What’s his secret? Time blocking.
How it works:
From the moment you wake up, assign each time block in your day to a task. These tasks can be anything from eating breakfast to studying for a test. Below are the steps Elon Musk uses to block his time:
Divide a piece of paper into two columns. On the left, write down each hour of the day and create blocks of time such as half-hour or hour chunks.
Estimate the time it’s going to take to complete each of your tasks and fit them into your time blocks.
Add buffer times in between each time block to allow for adjustments during the day.
Types of people this works for:
Working students or parents
Analytical thinkers
6. Getting Things Done (GTD) Method
Created by author David Allen, this process helps you get things done by recording tasks on paper and then breaking them down into actionable work items.
How it works:
Capture the actions that have your attention: These actions are tasks that can relate to anything from work to school to your personal life.
Clarify what they mean: Decide whether the tasks that have your attention are actionable or not. If an item is not actionable, ignore it for now. If the item is actionable, do it, delegate it, or set it aside.
Organize your actions: Prioritize your to do list according to what you need to get done when.
Reflect: Review your list of actions frequently to determine your next priority. Cross off tasks you have accomplished and update your list.
Engage: Take the actions or smaller tasks you can complete right now.
Types of people who will benefit from the GTD method:
People who struggle to focus on one thing at a time
People who feel overwhelmed in their daily lives
7. Rapid Planning Method (RPM)
“RPM” stands for “rapid planning method” or “result, purpose, and massive action plan.” It was developed by motivational speaker Tony Robbins as a way to train your brain to focus on a vision of what you want so you can make it real.
How it works:
Capturing: Write down all the tasks you need to accomplish this week.
Chunking: “Chunk” your tasks together by commonalities. Which items are personal? School-related? Career-focused?
Create your own RPM blocks: On the top of a new sheet of paper, make three columns: the task, the result you want from completing that task, and your purpose for completing it. Next, list the actions you can take to get there.
Create an empowering role for yourself: If you’re a student, you might call yourself the “Study Queen.” Anything that will get you jazzed about completing your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the RPM:
Working students or parents
People who have long-term goals
8. Pickle Jar Theory
This theory helps you figure out what is useful and what is not useful in your daily life. It allows you to plan tasks with time to spare and set priorities for your day.
How it works:
Imagine a pickle jar full of sand, pebbles, and rocks. The sand is at the bottom and the rocks sit at the top.
The sand: This represents disrupting elements of your day, such as phone calls, text messages, emails, social media, etc.
The pebbles: This represents tasks that need to be completed, but can be done on another day or by someone else.
The rocks: These are the most important tasks that need to get done today.
Begin by thinking about how your tasks for the day would fit into the above categories. Then make a task list starting with the rocks and ending with sand (if time permits). Include an honest time estimate next to each. Try not to plan more than six hours of an eight-hour working day. This will leave buffer time for the pebbles and sand.
Types of people who will benefit from the Pickle Jar theory:
Visual people
Concrete thinkers
9. Eat That Frog Technique
This technique is named after a Mark Twain quote: “Eat a live frog the first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” Start your day by doing the most onerous tasks first and getting them out of the way.
How it works:
Get clear on a goal. What do you want to achieve most?
Write it down.
Set a deadline.
Compile a list of things you need to do to achieve your goal.
Organize this list in order of priority. The most important items are probably the most difficult. These are your “frogs.”
Take action. If you have more than one frog on your plate, eat the nastiest one first.
Repeat this cycle every day so that you’re always doing something that will push you toward your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eat That Frog technique:
Abstract thinkers
People with long-term goals
Choosing a Time Management Technique That Works for You
Whether you’re a full-time student, a working student or a parent going back to school, better time management skills are vital to living a balanced life. If you have a habit of leaving things until the last minute, try using Parkinson’s Law or the eat that frog method. If you have a hard time focusing on the task at hand, try the Pomodoro technique of working more intensely in short intervals.
Mastering time management will set you up for success in all areas of your life and will help you avoid test anxiety when finals roll around. At USAHS, we emphasize supporting our students in their personal and professional lives. We help you develop the tools and additional resources you need to succeed in our graduate degree programs.
Text:Time management—how we choose to use and organize our time—is something many of us struggle with. Effective time management allows us to make the most of our day, accomplishing tasks more quickly and prioritizing those that will make the most impact.
Different people need different effective time management strategies. If you’re a graduate student, you may choose to manage your time in a different way than someone who is a working mother. If you’re a visual person, you may prefer a color-coded calendar over a written to do list.
Figuring out a process that works for you, whatever that may be, is key to creating your most efficient life. To help you improve poor time management, we’ve explored nine popular techniques, from the 80/20 rule to the “eat that frog” method. We’ve outlined what they are, how to implement them, and the types of people who most benefit from them. And, check out our infographic below that includes a flowchart to help you decide which time management process will work the best for you.
9 Types of Time Management Techniques
Achieving work life balance is possible with effective time management. Learning time management tips will not only help you manage your time better but also boost personal productivity. With that said, here are some time management strategies you can try:
1. Pareto Analysis (a.k.a., the 80/20 rule)
The 80/20 rule is a technique created by the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto. It’s the idea that 20% of actions are responsible for 80% of outcomes. The goal of Pareto analysis is to help you prioritize tasks that are most effective at solving problems.
How it works:
List some of the problems you are facing. For example, maybe your grades are slipping.
Identify the root cause of each problem. Maybe your grades are slipping because you spend too much time on social media or any other sort of distraction.
Assign a score to each problem: Assign higher numbers to more important problems
Group problems together by cause: Group together all the problems caused by spending too much time on social media.
Add up the score of each group: The group with the highest score is the issue you should work on first.
Take action.
Types of people who will benefit from Pareto Analysis:
Problem solvers
Analytical thinkers
2. Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique was created by entrepreneur and author Francesco Cirillo. This technique uses a timer to break down your work into intervals. Each interval is known as a Pomodoro, named after the tomato-shaped timer that Cirillo created.
How it works:
Choose a task you need to get done.
Set a timer (e.g., for 25 mins).
Focus on the task at hand.
When the timer rings, put a checkmark on a piece of paper.
Take a short break: Take a break for about three to five minutes. Go for a walk, grab a cup of coffee, do something non-work-related to give your brain a break.
Repeat steps two to five: Once you have completed this process four times, you can begin to take longer breaks (20–30 mins).
Types of people that will benefit from the Pomodoro Technique:
Creative thinkers
Those who feel burnt out from work/school
The Pomodoro technique doesn’t just teach your time management; it also teaches you in setting goals and how to achieve them. You’ll be able to better stick to your daily schedule and weekly schedule.
3. Eisenhower Matrix
Before Dwight Eisenhower became president in 1953, he served in the U.S. Army as an Allied Forces Commander during World War II. He was faced with difficult decisions every day that led him to invent what is now called the Eisenhower matrix, or the urgent-important matrix.
How it works:
Organize your task list into four separate quadrants, sorting them by important vs. unimportant and urgent vs. not urgent, as shown in the graphic below. Urgent tasks are those we feel need to get done immediately. Important tasks are those that contribute to your long term goals or values. Ideally, you should only work on tasks in the top two quadrants—the other tasks, you should delegate or delete.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eisenhower Matrix:
People in leadership positions
Critical thinkers
4. Parkinson’s Law
British historian Cyril Northcote Parkinson became famous for the phrase “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” In other words, the amount of time you give yourself to complete a specific task is the amount of time it will take you to complete that task.
How it works:
This is not a time management technique per se. It’s a law that, when understood, can be applied as one of the most beneficial time management methods out there—but you will have to put in the work. That means working more efficiently in shorter bursts of time. Here are some time management tips:
Try working without a computer charger. This will force you to finish a project before your computer dies.
Get it done early. Instead of finishing an essay by midnight, try to get it done by noon.
Set a deadline. Give yourself a set time to do something—and then cut it in half.
Limit time for tasks. Give yourself only 20 minutes in the morning to answer emails.
Types of people this works for:
Procrastinators
People who work well under pressure
5. Time Blocking Method
Inventor Elon Musk is known for being productive. He manages his time so efficiently that he can work over 80 hours a week and still make time for himself. What’s his secret? Time blocking.
How it works:
From the moment you wake up, assign each time block in your day to a task. These tasks can be anything from eating breakfast to studying for a test. Below are the steps Elon Musk uses to block his time:
Divide a piece of paper into two columns. On the left, write down each hour of the day and create blocks of time such as half-hour or hour chunks.
Estimate the time it’s going to take to complete each of your tasks and fit them into your time blocks.
Add buffer times in between each time block to allow for adjustments during the day.
Types of people this works for:
Working students or parents
Analytical thinkers
6. Getting Things Done (GTD) Method
Created by author David Allen, this process helps you get things done by recording tasks on paper and then breaking them down into actionable work items.
How it works:
Capture the actions that have your attention: These actions are tasks that can relate to anything from work to school to your personal life.
Clarify what they mean: Decide whether the tasks that have your attention are actionable or not. If an item is not actionable, ignore it for now. If the item is actionable, do it, delegate it, or set it aside.
Organize your actions: Prioritize your to do list according to what you need to get done when.
Reflect: Review your list of actions frequently to determine your next priority. Cross off tasks you have accomplished and update your list.
Engage: Take the actions or smaller tasks you can complete right now.
Types of people who will benefit from the GTD method:
People who struggle to focus on one thing at a time
People who feel overwhelmed in their daily lives
7. Rapid Planning Method (RPM)
“RPM” stands for “rapid planning method” or “result, purpose, and massive action plan.” It was developed by motivational speaker Tony Robbins as a way to train your brain to focus on a vision of what you want so you can make it real.
How it works:
Capturing: Write down all the tasks you need to accomplish this week.
Chunking: “Chunk” your tasks together by commonalities. Which items are personal? School-related? Career-focused?
Create your own RPM blocks: On the top of a new sheet of paper, make three columns: the task, the result you want from completing that task, and your purpose for completing it. Next, list the actions you can take to get there.
Create an empowering role for yourself: If you’re a student, you might call yourself the “Study Queen.” Anything that will get you jazzed about completing your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the RPM:
Working students or parents
People who have long-term goals
8. Pickle Jar Theory
This theory helps you figure out what is useful and what is not useful in your daily life. It allows you to plan tasks with time to spare and set priorities for your day.
How it works:
Imagine a pickle jar full of sand, pebbles, and rocks. The sand is at the bottom and the rocks sit at the top.
The sand: This represents disrupting elements of your day, such as phone calls, text messages, emails, social media, etc.
The pebbles: This represents tasks that need to be completed, but can be done on another day or by someone else.
The rocks: These are the most important tasks that need to get done today.
Begin by thinking about how your tasks for the day would fit into the above categories. Then make a task list starting with the rocks and ending with sand (if time permits). Include an honest time estimate next to each. Try not to plan more than six hours of an eight-hour working day. This will leave buffer time for the pebbles and sand.
Types of people who will benefit from the Pickle Jar theory:
Visual people
Concrete thinkers
9. Eat That Frog Technique
This technique is named after a Mark Twain quote: “Eat a live frog the first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” Start your day by doing the most onerous tasks first and getting them out of the way.
How it works:
Get clear on a goal. What do you want to achieve most?
Write it down.
Set a deadline.
Compile a list of things you need to do to achieve your goal.
Organize this list in order of priority. The most important items are probably the most difficult. These are your “frogs.”
Take action. If you have more than one frog on your plate, eat the nastiest one first.
Repeat this cycle every day so that you’re always doing something that will push you toward your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eat That Frog technique:
Abstract thinkers
People with long-term goals
Choosing a Time Management Technique That Works for You
Whether you’re a full-time student, a working student or a parent going back to school, better time management skills are vital to living a balanced life. If you have a habit of leaving things until the last minute, try using Parkinson’s Law or the eat that frog method. If you have a hard time focusing on the task at hand, try the Pomodoro technique of working more intensely in short intervals.
Mastering time management will set you up for success in all areas of your life and will help you avoid test anxiety when finals roll around. At USAHS, we emphasize supporting our students in their personal and professional lives. We help you develop the tools and additional resources you need to succeed in our graduate degree programs.
Posted by: Venturit Super Admin
Disciplinary Content
Posted on: #iteachmsu
Article with Large text + table + URL in it's description
Text:Time management—how we choose to use and organize our time—is something many of us struggle with. Effective time management allows us to make the most of our day, accomplishing tasks more quickly and prioritizing those that will make the most impact.
Different people need different effective time management strategies. If you’re a graduate student, you may choose to manage your time in a different way than someone who is a working mother. If you’re a visual person, you may prefer a color-coded calendar over a written to do list.
Figuring out a process that works for you, whatever that may be, is key to creating your most efficient life. To help you improve poor time management, we’ve explored nine popular techniques, from the 80/20 rule to the “eat that frog” method. We’ve outlined what they are, how to implement them, and the types of people who most benefit from them. And, check out our infographic below that includes a flowchart to help you decide which time management process will work the best for you.
9 Types of Time Management Techniques
Achieving work life balance is possible with effective time management. Learning time management tips will not only help you manage your time better but also boost personal productivity. With that said, here are some time management strategies you can try:
1. Pareto Analysis (a.k.a., the 80/20 rule)
The 80/20 rule is a technique created by the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto. It’s the idea that 20% of actions are responsible for 80% of outcomes. The goal of Pareto analysis is to help you prioritize tasks that are most effective at solving problems.
How it works:
List some of the problems you are facing. For example, maybe your grades are slipping.
Identify the root cause of each problem. Maybe your grades are slipping because you spend too much time on social media or any other sort of distraction.
Assign a score to each problem: Assign higher numbers to more important problems
Group problems together by cause: Group together all the problems caused by spending too much time on social media.
Add up the score of each group: The group with the highest score is the issue you should work on first.
Take action.
Types of people who will benefit from Pareto Analysis:
Problem solvers
Analytical thinkers
2. Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique was created by entrepreneur and author Francesco Cirillo. This technique uses a timer to break down your work into intervals. Each interval is known as a Pomodoro, named after the tomato-shaped timer that Cirillo created.
How it works:
Choose a task you need to get done.
Set a timer (e.g., for 25 mins).
Focus on the task at hand.
When the timer rings, put a checkmark on a piece of paper.
Take a short break: Take a break for about three to five minutes. Go for a walk, grab a cup of coffee, do something non-work-related to give your brain a break.
Repeat steps two to five: Once you have completed this process four times, you can begin to take longer breaks (20–30 mins).
Types of people that will benefit from the Pomodoro Technique:
Creative thinkers
Those who feel burnt out from work/school
The Pomodoro technique doesn’t just teach your time management; it also teaches you in setting goals and how to achieve them. You’ll be able to better stick to your daily schedule and weekly schedule.
3. Eisenhower Matrix
Before Dwight Eisenhower became president in 1953, he served in the U.S. Army as an Allied Forces Commander during World War II. He was faced with difficult decisions every day that led him to invent what is now called the Eisenhower matrix, or the urgent-important matrix.
How it works:
Organize your task list into four separate quadrants, sorting them by important vs. unimportant and urgent vs. not urgent, as shown in the graphic below. Urgent tasks are those we feel need to get done immediately. Important tasks are those that contribute to your long term goals or values. Ideally, you should only work on tasks in the top two quadrants—the other tasks, you should delegate or delete.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eisenhower Matrix:
People in leadership positions
Critical thinkers
4. Parkinson’s Law
British historian Cyril Northcote Parkinson became famous for the phrase “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” In other words, the amount of time you give yourself to complete a specific task is the amount of time it will take you to complete that task.
How it works:
This is not a time management technique per se. It’s a law that, when understood, can be applied as one of the most beneficial time management methods out there—but you will have to put in the work. That means working more efficiently in shorter bursts of time. Here are some time management tips:
Try working without a computer charger. This will force you to finish a project before your computer dies.
Get it done early. Instead of finishing an essay by midnight, try to get it done by noon.
Set a deadline. Give yourself a set time to do something—and then cut it in half.
Limit time for tasks. Give yourself only 20 minutes in the morning to answer emails.
Types of people this works for:
Procrastinators
People who work well under pressure
5. Time Blocking Method
Inventor Elon Musk is known for being productive. He manages his time so efficiently that he can work over 80 hours a week and still make time for himself. What’s his secret? Time blocking.
How it works:
From the moment you wake up, assign each time block in your day to a task. These tasks can be anything from eating breakfast to studying for a test. Below are the steps Elon Musk uses to block his time:
Divide a piece of paper into two columns. On the left, write down each hour of the day and create blocks of time such as half-hour or hour chunks.
Estimate the time it’s going to take to complete each of your tasks and fit them into your time blocks.
Add buffer times in between each time block to allow for adjustments during the day.
Types of people this works for:
Working students or parents
Analytical thinkers
6. Getting Things Done (GTD) Method
Created by author David Allen, this process helps you get things done by recording tasks on paper and then breaking them down into actionable work items.
How it works:
Capture the actions that have your attention: These actions are tasks that can relate to anything from work to school to your personal life.
Clarify what they mean: Decide whether the tasks that have your attention are actionable or not. If an item is not actionable, ignore it for now. If the item is actionable, do it, delegate it, or set it aside.
Organize your actions: Prioritize your to do list according to what you need to get done when.
Reflect: Review your list of actions frequently to determine your next priority. Cross off tasks you have accomplished and update your list.
Engage: Take the actions or smaller tasks you can complete right now.
Types of people who will benefit from the GTD method:
People who struggle to focus on one thing at a time
People who feel overwhelmed in their daily lives
7. Rapid Planning Method (RPM)
“RPM” stands for “rapid planning method” or “result, purpose, and massive action plan.” It was developed by motivational speaker Tony Robbins as a way to train your brain to focus on a vision of what you want so you can make it real.
How it works:
Capturing: Write down all the tasks you need to accomplish this week.
Chunking: “Chunk” your tasks together by commonalities. Which items are personal? School-related? Career-focused?
Create your own RPM blocks: On the top of a new sheet of paper, make three columns: the task, the result you want from completing that task, and your purpose for completing it. Next, list the actions you can take to get there.
Create an empowering role for yourself: If you’re a student, you might call yourself the “Study Queen.” Anything that will get you jazzed about completing your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the RPM:
Working students or parents
People who have long-term goals
8. Pickle Jar Theory
This theory helps you figure out what is useful and what is not useful in your daily life. It allows you to plan tasks with time to spare and set priorities for your day.
How it works:
Imagine a pickle jar full of sand, pebbles, and rocks. The sand is at the bottom and the rocks sit at the top.
The sand: This represents disrupting elements of your day, such as phone calls, text messages, emails, social media, etc.
The pebbles: This represents tasks that need to be completed, but can be done on another day or by someone else.
The rocks: These are the most important tasks that need to get done today.
Begin by thinking about how your tasks for the day would fit into the above categories. Then make a task list starting with the rocks and ending with sand (if time permits). Include an honest time estimate next to each. Try not to plan more than six hours of an eight-hour working day. This will leave buffer time for the pebbles and sand.
Types of people who will benefit from the Pickle Jar theory:
Visual people
Concrete thinkers
9. Eat That Frog Technique
This technique is named after a Mark Twain quote: “Eat a live frog the first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” Start your day by doing the most onerous tasks first and getting them out of the way.
How it works:
Get clear on a goal. What do you want to achieve most?
Write it down.
Set a deadline.
Compile a list of things you need to do to achieve your goal.
Organize this list in order of priority. The most important items are probably the most difficult. These are your “frogs.”
Take action. If you have more than one frog on your plate, eat the nastiest one first.
Repeat this cycle every day so that you’re always doing something that will push you toward your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eat That Frog technique:
Abstract thinkers
People with long-term goals
Choosing a Time Management Technique That Works for You
Whether you’re a full-time student, a working student or a parent going back to school, better time management skills are vital to living a balanced life. If you have a habit of leaving things until the last minute, try using Parkinson’s Law or the eat that frog method. If you have a hard time focusing on the task at hand, try the Pomodoro technique of working more intensely in short intervals.
Mastering time management will set you up for success in all areas of your life and will help you avoid test anxiety when finals roll around. At USAHS, we emphasize supporting our students in their personal and professional lives. We help you develop the tools and additional resources you need to succeed in our graduate degree programs.Table:
Name
Role
Rohit
Developer
Chathuri
Manager
Vijaya
QA
URL: https://www.usa.edu/blog/time-management-techniques/https://youtu.be/iONDebHX9qk?si=Pevl6sZNfq0i3x9y
Different people need different effective time management strategies. If you’re a graduate student, you may choose to manage your time in a different way than someone who is a working mother. If you’re a visual person, you may prefer a color-coded calendar over a written to do list.
Figuring out a process that works for you, whatever that may be, is key to creating your most efficient life. To help you improve poor time management, we’ve explored nine popular techniques, from the 80/20 rule to the “eat that frog” method. We’ve outlined what they are, how to implement them, and the types of people who most benefit from them. And, check out our infographic below that includes a flowchart to help you decide which time management process will work the best for you.
9 Types of Time Management Techniques
Achieving work life balance is possible with effective time management. Learning time management tips will not only help you manage your time better but also boost personal productivity. With that said, here are some time management strategies you can try:
1. Pareto Analysis (a.k.a., the 80/20 rule)
The 80/20 rule is a technique created by the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto. It’s the idea that 20% of actions are responsible for 80% of outcomes. The goal of Pareto analysis is to help you prioritize tasks that are most effective at solving problems.
How it works:
List some of the problems you are facing. For example, maybe your grades are slipping.
Identify the root cause of each problem. Maybe your grades are slipping because you spend too much time on social media or any other sort of distraction.
Assign a score to each problem: Assign higher numbers to more important problems
Group problems together by cause: Group together all the problems caused by spending too much time on social media.
Add up the score of each group: The group with the highest score is the issue you should work on first.
Take action.
Types of people who will benefit from Pareto Analysis:
Problem solvers
Analytical thinkers
2. Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique was created by entrepreneur and author Francesco Cirillo. This technique uses a timer to break down your work into intervals. Each interval is known as a Pomodoro, named after the tomato-shaped timer that Cirillo created.
How it works:
Choose a task you need to get done.
Set a timer (e.g., for 25 mins).
Focus on the task at hand.
When the timer rings, put a checkmark on a piece of paper.
Take a short break: Take a break for about three to five minutes. Go for a walk, grab a cup of coffee, do something non-work-related to give your brain a break.
Repeat steps two to five: Once you have completed this process four times, you can begin to take longer breaks (20–30 mins).
Types of people that will benefit from the Pomodoro Technique:
Creative thinkers
Those who feel burnt out from work/school
The Pomodoro technique doesn’t just teach your time management; it also teaches you in setting goals and how to achieve them. You’ll be able to better stick to your daily schedule and weekly schedule.
3. Eisenhower Matrix
Before Dwight Eisenhower became president in 1953, he served in the U.S. Army as an Allied Forces Commander during World War II. He was faced with difficult decisions every day that led him to invent what is now called the Eisenhower matrix, or the urgent-important matrix.
How it works:
Organize your task list into four separate quadrants, sorting them by important vs. unimportant and urgent vs. not urgent, as shown in the graphic below. Urgent tasks are those we feel need to get done immediately. Important tasks are those that contribute to your long term goals or values. Ideally, you should only work on tasks in the top two quadrants—the other tasks, you should delegate or delete.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eisenhower Matrix:
People in leadership positions
Critical thinkers
4. Parkinson’s Law
British historian Cyril Northcote Parkinson became famous for the phrase “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” In other words, the amount of time you give yourself to complete a specific task is the amount of time it will take you to complete that task.
How it works:
This is not a time management technique per se. It’s a law that, when understood, can be applied as one of the most beneficial time management methods out there—but you will have to put in the work. That means working more efficiently in shorter bursts of time. Here are some time management tips:
Try working without a computer charger. This will force you to finish a project before your computer dies.
Get it done early. Instead of finishing an essay by midnight, try to get it done by noon.
Set a deadline. Give yourself a set time to do something—and then cut it in half.
Limit time for tasks. Give yourself only 20 minutes in the morning to answer emails.
Types of people this works for:
Procrastinators
People who work well under pressure
5. Time Blocking Method
Inventor Elon Musk is known for being productive. He manages his time so efficiently that he can work over 80 hours a week and still make time for himself. What’s his secret? Time blocking.
How it works:
From the moment you wake up, assign each time block in your day to a task. These tasks can be anything from eating breakfast to studying for a test. Below are the steps Elon Musk uses to block his time:
Divide a piece of paper into two columns. On the left, write down each hour of the day and create blocks of time such as half-hour or hour chunks.
Estimate the time it’s going to take to complete each of your tasks and fit them into your time blocks.
Add buffer times in between each time block to allow for adjustments during the day.
Types of people this works for:
Working students or parents
Analytical thinkers
6. Getting Things Done (GTD) Method
Created by author David Allen, this process helps you get things done by recording tasks on paper and then breaking them down into actionable work items.
How it works:
Capture the actions that have your attention: These actions are tasks that can relate to anything from work to school to your personal life.
Clarify what they mean: Decide whether the tasks that have your attention are actionable or not. If an item is not actionable, ignore it for now. If the item is actionable, do it, delegate it, or set it aside.
Organize your actions: Prioritize your to do list according to what you need to get done when.
Reflect: Review your list of actions frequently to determine your next priority. Cross off tasks you have accomplished and update your list.
Engage: Take the actions or smaller tasks you can complete right now.
Types of people who will benefit from the GTD method:
People who struggle to focus on one thing at a time
People who feel overwhelmed in their daily lives
7. Rapid Planning Method (RPM)
“RPM” stands for “rapid planning method” or “result, purpose, and massive action plan.” It was developed by motivational speaker Tony Robbins as a way to train your brain to focus on a vision of what you want so you can make it real.
How it works:
Capturing: Write down all the tasks you need to accomplish this week.
Chunking: “Chunk” your tasks together by commonalities. Which items are personal? School-related? Career-focused?
Create your own RPM blocks: On the top of a new sheet of paper, make three columns: the task, the result you want from completing that task, and your purpose for completing it. Next, list the actions you can take to get there.
Create an empowering role for yourself: If you’re a student, you might call yourself the “Study Queen.” Anything that will get you jazzed about completing your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the RPM:
Working students or parents
People who have long-term goals
8. Pickle Jar Theory
This theory helps you figure out what is useful and what is not useful in your daily life. It allows you to plan tasks with time to spare and set priorities for your day.
How it works:
Imagine a pickle jar full of sand, pebbles, and rocks. The sand is at the bottom and the rocks sit at the top.
The sand: This represents disrupting elements of your day, such as phone calls, text messages, emails, social media, etc.
The pebbles: This represents tasks that need to be completed, but can be done on another day or by someone else.
The rocks: These are the most important tasks that need to get done today.
Begin by thinking about how your tasks for the day would fit into the above categories. Then make a task list starting with the rocks and ending with sand (if time permits). Include an honest time estimate next to each. Try not to plan more than six hours of an eight-hour working day. This will leave buffer time for the pebbles and sand.
Types of people who will benefit from the Pickle Jar theory:
Visual people
Concrete thinkers
9. Eat That Frog Technique
This technique is named after a Mark Twain quote: “Eat a live frog the first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” Start your day by doing the most onerous tasks first and getting them out of the way.
How it works:
Get clear on a goal. What do you want to achieve most?
Write it down.
Set a deadline.
Compile a list of things you need to do to achieve your goal.
Organize this list in order of priority. The most important items are probably the most difficult. These are your “frogs.”
Take action. If you have more than one frog on your plate, eat the nastiest one first.
Repeat this cycle every day so that you’re always doing something that will push you toward your goal.
Types of people who will benefit from the Eat That Frog technique:
Abstract thinkers
People with long-term goals
Choosing a Time Management Technique That Works for You
Whether you’re a full-time student, a working student or a parent going back to school, better time management skills are vital to living a balanced life. If you have a habit of leaving things until the last minute, try using Parkinson’s Law or the eat that frog method. If you have a hard time focusing on the task at hand, try the Pomodoro technique of working more intensely in short intervals.
Mastering time management will set you up for success in all areas of your life and will help you avoid test anxiety when finals roll around. At USAHS, we emphasize supporting our students in their personal and professional lives. We help you develop the tools and additional resources you need to succeed in our graduate degree programs.Table:
Name
Role
Rohit
Developer
Chathuri
Manager
Vijaya
QA
URL: https://www.usa.edu/blog/time-management-techniques/https://youtu.be/iONDebHX9qk?si=Pevl6sZNfq0i3x9y
Posted by: Venturit Super Admin
Navigating Context
Posted on: #iteachmsu
Cooperative Learning
Carefully structured cooperative learning groups in which each student is assigned a role and has clear expectations for desired outcomes are very helpful for students with ADHD. The more structured the cooperative activity, the more likely it is that these students will succeed.
Sharing Strategies
Think, Pair, Share/Square Share/Group Share: Using this
approach, students work with peer partners to discuss the lesson, check each other’s
work, and share strategies.
Carefully structured cooperative learning groups in which each student is assigned a role and has clear expectations for desired outcomes are very helpful for students with ADHD. The more structured the cooperative activity, the more likely it is that these students will succeed.
Sharing Strategies
Think, Pair, Share/Square Share/Group Share: Using this
approach, students work with peer partners to discuss the lesson, check each other’s
work, and share strategies.
Posted by: Scarlet Ethan Edien
Disciplinary Content
Posted on: Smoke test group on...
Smoke test --- 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiv
A Jyotirlinga or Jyotirling or Jyotirlingam (Sanskrit: ज्योतिर्लिङ्ग) are shrines where Lord Shiva, is worshipped in the form of a Jyotirlingam. ‘Jyothi’ means ‘Radiance’ and Lingam, the Shiva Lingam-‘the mark or sign’ of The Almighty or the phallus symbol. Jyotir Lingam means the The Radiant sign of The Almighty. There are twelve traditional Jyotirlinga shrines in India.
Lord Shiva first manifested himself as a Jyotirlinga on the night of the, Aridra Nakshatra thus the special reverence for the Jyotirlinga. There is nothing to distinguish the appearance, but it is believed that a person can see these lingas as columns of fire piercing through the earth after he reaches a higher level of spiritual attainment. There are twelve Jyotirlingas in India and they are spread all over India.
As per Shiv Mahapuran, once Brahma (the God of creation) and Vishnu (the God of Preservation) had an argument in terms of supremacy of creation. To test them, Shiva pierced the three worlds as a huge endless pillar of light, the jyotirlinga. Vishnu and Brahma split their ways to downwards and upwards respectively to find the end of the light in either directions. Brahma lied that he found out the end, while Vishnu conceded his defeat. Shiva appeared as a second pillar of light and cursed Brahma that he would have no place in ceremonies while Vishnu would be worshipped till the end of eternity.
A Jyotirlinga or Jyotirling or Jyotirlingam (Sanskrit: ज्योतिर्लिङ्ग) are shrines where Lord Shiva, is worshipped in the form of a Jyotirlingam. ‘Jyothi’ means ‘Radiance’ and Lingam, the Shiva Lingam-‘the mark or sign’ of The Almighty or the phallus symbol. Jyotir Lingam means the The Radiant sign of The Almighty. There are twelve traditional Jyotirlinga shrines in India.
Lord Shiva first manifested himself as a Jyotirlinga on the night of the, Aridra Nakshatra thus the special reverence for the Jyotirlinga. There is nothing to distinguish the appearance, but it is believed that a person can see these lingas as columns of fire piercing through the earth after he reaches a higher level of spiritual attainment. There are twelve Jyotirlingas in India and they are spread all over India.
As per Shiv Mahapuran, once Brahma (the God of creation) and Vishnu (the God of Preservation) had an argument in terms of supremacy of creation. To test them, Shiva pierced the three worlds as a huge endless pillar of light, the jyotirlinga. Vishnu and Brahma split their ways to downwards and upwards respectively to find the end of the light in either directions. Brahma lied that he found out the end, while Vishnu conceded his defeat. Shiva appeared as a second pillar of light and cursed Brahma that he would have no place in ceremonies while Vishnu would be worshipped till the end of eternity.
Posted by: Swara mhetre
Justice and Belonging
Posted on: 12 Best API Testing...
Child group content by Chathu: “Start an adopt-a-tree program. This allows farmers to do what they do best—grow things. To start, you’ll need to have a simple website. But if you run a farm, you should have one anyway. The next thing you’ll need are the actual trees and the tools to plant them. Invest in a good-quality camera to take pictures of the trees for the people adopting them. Take pictures when you plant them and as they grow to use as proof that you planted the trees. Finally, have certificates printed up to show adoption of the trees and ones that are to be given as a gift or memorial.”
Posted by: Chathuri Hewapathirana 1
Justice and Belonging
Posted on: #iteachmsu
By chathu:
“Start an adopt-a-tree program. This allows farmers to do what they do best—grow things. To start, you’ll need to have a simple website. But if you run a farm, you should have one anyway. The next thing you’ll need are the actual trees and the tools to plant them. Invest in a good quality camera to take pictures of the trees for the people adopting them. Take pictures when you plant them and as they grow to use as proof that you planted the trees. Finally, have certificates printed up to show adoption of the trees and ones that are to be given as a gift or memorial.”
“Start an adopt-a-tree program. This allows farmers to do what they do best—grow things. To start, you’ll need to have a simple website. But if you run a farm, you should have one anyway. The next thing you’ll need are the actual trees and the tools to plant them. Invest in a good quality camera to take pictures of the trees for the people adopting them. Take pictures when you plant them and as they grow to use as proof that you planted the trees. Finally, have certificates printed up to show adoption of the trees and ones that are to be given as a gift or memorial.”
Posted by: Chathuri Hewapathirana 1
Assessing Learning
Posted on: #iteachmsu
Edited The government has so far introduced schemes whereby the Aadhar can be linked to a bank account and LPG connection so individuals can receive their LPG subsidy directly into their bank accounts. This also negates the possibility of the funds being misappropriated or of individuals making fraudulent claims in order to claim benefits.
Ease of Availability
The Aadhaar card is the only government-issued ID that can be used anywhere in the country. An online application for an Aadhaar card is available. This digital version of the physical copy of Aadhaar is known as an e-Aadhaar and may be viewed anywhere, at any time. .
Individuals can always have a duplicate copy of the card as a result of this. Because the Aadhaar can be downloaded onto any device and presented when needed, the chance of an original document being stolen or misplaced is reduced.
Benefits of Aadhaar Card for Government Process
An Aadhaar Card is an essential document when it comes to KYC, verification, and identification purposes. Following are the benefits of Aadhaar Card which can be used to speed up government and bureaucratic processes:
https://www.bankbazaar.com/aadhar-card/benefits-of-aadhar-card-govt.html#:~:text=Importance%20of%20Aadhaar%20Card&text=For%20example%2C%20an%20Aadhaar%20card,government%20related%20services%20and%20programme.
Ease of Availability
The Aadhaar card is the only government-issued ID that can be used anywhere in the country. An online application for an Aadhaar card is available. This digital version of the physical copy of Aadhaar is known as an e-Aadhaar and may be viewed anywhere, at any time. .
Individuals can always have a duplicate copy of the card as a result of this. Because the Aadhaar can be downloaded onto any device and presented when needed, the chance of an original document being stolen or misplaced is reduced.
Benefits of Aadhaar Card for Government Process
An Aadhaar Card is an essential document when it comes to KYC, verification, and identification purposes. Following are the benefits of Aadhaar Card which can be used to speed up government and bureaucratic processes:
https://www.bankbazaar.com/aadhar-card/benefits-of-aadhar-card-govt.html#:~:text=Importance%20of%20Aadhaar%20Card&text=For%20example%2C%20an%20Aadhaar%20card,government%20related%20services%20and%20programme.
Posted by: Venturit Super Admin
Disciplinary Content
Host: CTLI
No Surprises: Designing Assignments Students Understand
This workshop introduces the Transparency in Learning and Teaching (TILT) framework as a tool for designing clear, equity-minded assignments. Participants will explore how transparency supports student success, reduce confusion and grading time, and learn how to structure assignments using the Transparent Assignment Design (TAD) model. The session includes strategies to improve student motivation, performance, and clarity around expectations.
Upon completion of this learning experience, participants will be able to:
understand the history of the TILT and it’s related research findings
describe how the TAD framework relates to equitable learning
define transparent assignment design and its key elements (purpose, task, criteria)
apply TAD best practices
identify resources for implementing the TAD framework.
Navigating Context
EXPIRED
Host: CTLI
Start with the End in Mind: Backward Design for Better Assessment
This workshop introduces the concept of alignment as a foundation for effective course and assessment design. Participants will learn how to write clear, measurable learning objectives, identify course materials and assessments that align with those objectives, and evaluate the overall coherence of course elements. The session emphasizes backward design as a practical approach to creating intentional, goal-driven learning experiences.
Upon completion of this learning experience, participants will be able to:
define the concept of alignment as it pertains to curriculum design and development
write appropriately stated learning objectives using best practices (e.g., learning taxonomy)
suggest course materials and assessments that are aligned with learning objectives
evaluate various parts of a course for alignment.
Navigating Context
EXPIRED
Host: CTLI
Educators as Researchers: The SoTL Approach to Innovative Teaching
Curious about conducting research in your classroom as a means to improve student outcomes? Join us for an informative workshop that introduces the fundamentals of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), which involves the systematic study of teaching and learning in higher education to improve student success. In this session, you'll discover how SoTL can transform your teaching and contribute to your professional growth. We'll guide you through the key steps of a SoTL inquiry, from formulating research questions to sharing your findings. Plus, you'll explore examples of impactful SoTL projects and learn about resources available to help you get started. Whether you're new to SoTL or looking to refine your approach, this session offers valuable insights into the research-based approach to improving student learning.
Upon completion of this learning experience, participants will be able to:
define SoTL and describe its core principles
explain the importance of SoTL in enhancing student learning and improving teaching practices
identify differences between SOTL and traditional research in higher education
describe how SoTL can contribute to professional development, tenure, and promotion in higher education
outline the key steps involved in a SoTL inquiry, from formulating a question to dissemination
explore examples of SoTL projects in various disciplines
identify institutional and external resources available for faculty interested in SoTL (funding, mentorship, workshops)
describe ethical considerations when conducting SoTL research, including the use of student data, informed consent, IRB, etc.
Navigating Context
EXPIRED
Host: MSU Libraries
We Need You in the Locker Room: Book Talk and Signing with Dr. David Kaufman
Kick off Spartan football season with a talk and book signing by Dr. David Kaufman, author of We Need You in the Locker Room, which provides a fascinating, unique, and immensely readable perspective on a game we only think we know. A page-turner about a championship season, this book is also a smart, sensitive argument for how football can be preserved.
Dr. Kaufman served as the on-field embedded neurologist for the Michigan State University football team for 13 years. Dr. Kaufman currently serves as the Assistant Vice President of Clinical Affairs, he is a tenured Professor and Founding Chair of the Department of Neurology and Ophthalmology at MSU.
"Kaufman's perspective as a neurologist assigned to the Michigan State Spartans football team makes him an intimate witness to both the drama, teamwork, and courage of young athletes-and the toll this violent game exacts on their bodies.” Samuel G. Freedman
Copies of Dr. Kaufman’s book will be available for purchase and signing, with all proceeds going directly to the following two charitable funds:
· The Father John (Jake) Foglio Endowed Chair of Spirituality in the MSU College of Arts & Letters
· The George Webster Memorial Scholarship in MSU Athletics
Navigating Context
EXPIRED