Productivity & Time Management

Time Blocking

Time blocking is a time management method that asks you to divide your day into blocks of time. Each block is dedicated to accomplishing a specific task, or group of tasks, and only those specific tasks. Instead of keeping an open-ended to-do list of things you’ll get to as you’re able, you’ll start each day with a concrete schedule that lays out what you’ll work on and when.

The key to this method is prioritising your task list in advance — a dedicated weekly review is a must. Take stock of what’s coming up for the week ahead and make a rough sketch of your time blocks for each day. At the end of every workday, review any tasks you didn’t finish — as well as any new tasks that have come in — and adjust your time blocks for the rest of the week accordingly. With days that are time blocked in advance, you won’t have to constantly make choices about what to focus on. All you need to do is follow your time blocked schedule. If you get off-task or distracted, simply look at your schedule and get back to whichever task you blocked off time for.

Eat the frog technique

Eat the frog got its name from a Mark Twain quote: “If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first.” The productivity consultant Brian Tracy is credited for creating the technique. To do it, identify the most important or most difficult task on your to-do list and complete it before starting anything else. If you think a task will take multiple days to complete, you can divide it into steps. Then, make the first step your ‘frog’ for the day. The Eat the Frog productivity technique is for people who have difficulty prioritising tasks — and anyone who struggles with procrastination.

Source: https://todoist.com/productivity-methods