[2024] 10 Ways To Manage Time, Hit Goals & Still have a Life.

A goal without a timeline is just a dream but a deadline without a productive schedule is just a wish.

Schedules are tough to get right, so we decided to put together some top tips to help you nail your time management and schedule to make sure you do hit those goals!

Focus on the practice not the performance

So you wrote down your goals with a timeline and action plan. The most important step is now done, tick!

Your action plan now includes milestones or steps to get you there, great but the real challenge (and opportunity) is how you weave those goal actions into your everyday life.

Here are some tips and their sources to help stick to a schedule:

1. Start small. Don't try to schedule every minute of your day from the start. Build up your schedule gradually as the habits stick.

   • "How to Create a Productive Daily Routine" from James Clear: https://jamesclear.com/daily-routines
     

2. Prioritise important tasks. Make sure to schedule things that align with your goals and priorities first before filling in other tasks.

   • "Eat That Frog! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time" by Brian Tracy
     

3. Build in flexibility. Leave some wiggle room in your schedule for unexpected events or tasks that take longer than expected.

   • "The Importance of Scheduling Flex Time" from Harvard Business Review: https://hbr.org/2021/01/the-importance-of-scheduling-flex-time
     

4. Make a realistic schedule. Make sure your schedule is achievable based on your natural energy levels and responsibilities. Don't overschedule.

   • "How to Make a Schedule You Can Realistically Keep" from The Muse: https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-make-a-schedule-you-can-realistically-stick-to
     

5. Use reminders and alerts. Set phone alerts, calendar reminders, or use apps to prompt you about upcoming events or tasks.

   • https://www.lifehack.org/articles/technology/8-useful-apps-stick-your-schedule.html
     

6. Start your day by looking at your schedule. Review your schedule first thing so you know what's ahead and can mentally prepare.

   • https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/time-management/art-20046362
     

7. Schedule rewards and breaks. Block off time for fun activities or breaks so you have things to look forward to.

   • https://www.npr.org/2019/11/04/776163853/the-productivity-paradox-tracking-your-time-makes-you-less-productive
     

8. Identify roadblocks. If you keep failing to stick to your schedule, look at why and problem solve solutions.

   • https://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2021/02/08/schedule-failure/
     

9. Be accountable to someone. Share your schedule and have check-ins with a friend or productivity partner.

   • https://www.mindtools.com/a1u71m6/how-to-develop-personal-accountability-video
     

10. Evaluate and update your schedule frequently. As your circumstances change, you may need to tweak your schedule.

    • https://www.paycom.com/resources/articles/schedule-how-often-should-it-be-reviewed

Summary:

Mastery grows through daily care, not instant brilliance. By gently nurturing skills over time, we achieve grand dreams. Speak a new language by steadily drilling vocabulary. Learn an instrument through progressive finger exercises. The loftiest redwood was once a seedling. With focused persistence, you craft excellence. Daily effort accumulates into achievement. You already hold the seeds of success within you. With dedication and grit, your goals await.