Technique 1: Eat that frog
As an employee, you have a number of tasks to do every day. You often start with the enjoyable and simple tasks because there's nothing better than ticking tasks off your list. But of course, there are also difficult, complex, and less enjoyable tasks. Ticking off those tasks feels even better, but the journey to get there holds you back. The 'Eat that Frog' technique helps you break through this barrier.
'If you eat a live frog every morning, nothing worse will happen to you for the rest of the day,' said the world-famous American writer Mark Twain. With the 'Eat that Frog' technique, you're guided to start the day with the metaphorical 'frog.' The technique is very simple. When your workday begins, choose the most difficult and crucial task for that day. Give this task the highest priority. Your goal is to complete this task first.
The 'Eat that frog' technique is great for procrastinators because it forces them to complete that one task before anything else can be done.
For more information, read Brian Tracy's book, available at www.bol.com.
Technique 2: The Eisenhower Matrix
Sometimes you have a list of tasks or things you feel you need to do today. The Eisenhower Matrix helps you prioritize these tasks. You do this by filtering the tasks based on 2 questions. Is the task important? Is the task urgent? Answer yes or no to both questions. In short, with this technique, you divide your tasks into four different quadrants. Each quadrant has its priority and action.
Prio 1: Do - Tasks that are important and urgent.
Prio 2: Decide - Tasks that are important but not urgent.
Prio 3: Delegate - Tasks that are not important but urgent.
Prio 4: Don't do - Tasks that are not important and not urgent.
The Eisenhower Matrix is a great technique to apply if you struggle to prioritize. It's perfect to use when dealing with many varied tasks.
For more information, read the book by Sapere Tool (in English).
Technique 3: Time Blocking
The Time Blocking technique helps increase your productivity by working systematically with specific scheduled periods for tasks, also known as time blocks.
To apply this technique, you can use your favorite planning software or calendar. For example, vPlan is perfectly suited for this technique. Here's a brief explanation of how to proceed:
- Start by listing all your tasks and estimate how long each one will take. Each task becomes a time block.
- Now prioritize each block. Add the blocks to your favorite calendar app or planning tool.
- Put the block with the highest priority at the top.
With this technique, you make efficient and effective use of your time and focus. A small tip: use blocks that last a maximum of 20 minutes. Research has shown that the average employee can only be productive for 20 minutes at a time.
The Time Blocking technique is specifically for those who often stray from the path due to being easily distracted. They need direction to remain focused on their tasks. Ultimately, time blocks force you into a more structured workday.
Conclusion
There are many time management techniques, but ultimately it all comes down to your own ability to distinguish which tasks are important and which are not. If you struggle to apply the technique, you can find online tools, including vPlan.
We at vPlan have a mission to make companies more productive. vPlan is a planning tool with a lot of flexibility. vPlan provides you with insights to make the right choices