Time Management

Time management becomes more than just a talent in the hectic world of work, when obligations are heavy and deadlines are looming. I find myself at a crossroads where I must strike a balance between my personal goals and society expectations as a single person navigating this complicated landscape.

Today I would share how as a single person I navigate through time management metrics that has helped me evaluate how effectively I am using my time and identify areas for improvement. Here are 5 key metrics to consider:

1. Task completion rate : I have improvised in my task completion in a day my setting realistic goals for the given day and month, I never think beyond the month at hand. I plan through any to-do-list available for last two years make sure that I have 3 task for the day that make my day 80% achieved, and out of these 3 the difficult most is what I do first thing in morning.
2. Time Spent on Key Activities : For almost 10 years now i have been using Eisenhower Matrix on Urgent & Important. I believe this is the most effective tool that has kept me operating effectively at large.
3. Breaks & downtime : I keep ample room for breaks and downtime as I am an emotional person so sometimes my mood swings take a toll on me, thus i plan that time too.
4. Task Overlap Index : It is when u have to to multitasking, Time boxing is the most effective tool to manage the same and get best productivity.
5. Time Budget Deviation : Its a tool for introspecting and further time management. Most important tool to keep clarity towards your goals consistently.

(Reference Project Management Institute’s PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge), Agile methodologies.)

Interpretation of Time budget deviation:

Positive Deviation (Overestimate): Indicates that tasks are taking longer than expected. This may suggest underestimation of task complexity, inefficiencies, or unexpected issues.

Negative Deviation (Underestimate): Indicates that tasks are taking less time than expected. This could mean overestimation of task difficulty, efficient work processes, or higher-than-expected productivity.

These tools have been majorly helping me in increasing my efficiency and giving me work-life balance and ample time for consistent self-growth.