It’s time to focus: Time management strategies to help you stay on track

It happens to the best of us. We have every intention to dive into that big project we’ve had on the back burner, and then…oh look, a squirrel!

The reasons why we get distracted vary from person to person, from day to day, and even from moment to moment. Are you checking social media during an online class? Texting a friend while watching YouTube? Science has shown us that media multitasking absolutely contributes to distraction and forgetfulness.

Other things that contribute to distraction are stress, anxiety, loneliness, or boredom. We lose focus when we are trying to escape discomfort.

So, what can we do to take back control of our time? The answer lies in committing to a time management strategy.

What is a time management strategy?

Simply put, a time management strategy is a planned approach to how you spend your time. It involves consciously organizing and prioritizing your daily tasks to make the most of your available hours, complete important projects, and meet deadlines. Effective time management is about being intentional and selective with your time to balance your personal, professional, and educational obligations successfully.

Popular time management strategies to try

Ready to take control? Here are some popular time management strategies that can help you boost your productivity and reduce stress:

Eat the Frog

Developed by Brian Tracey and inspired by a quote credited to Mark Twain that says if you eat a live frog first thing in the morning, nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.

As the name suggests, this method involves starting your day by tackling the most difficult or least appealing task on your agenda. By doing so, all other projects you work on afterward will feel easy in comparison.

Eat the Frog is a great option if you struggle with prioritization, procrastination, and effective planning. The most challenging part of the process will likely be ranking your projects by priority and knowing when to delegate. But don’t worry, this will get easier with time. Completing your most important task first thing in the morning can give you a significant sense of accomplishment, provide motivation, and set a productive tone for the rest of your day.

Time Blocking

This strategy involves becoming more aware of how you spend your time during the day to help improve efficiency and productivity.

To get started:

1. Divide each 24-hour day into small blocks of time.
2. Estimate the amount of time required to complete each of your daily tasks and assign them to time blocks in a planner or calendar app.
3. Schedule in breaks between the start and end of each task.
4. Work your way through your daily schedule.
5. Adjust your schedule accordingly if certain tasks take more or less time than anticipated.

Time blocking is an excellent strategy if you often get sidetracked by distractions, forget to take breaks, or juggle multiple projects at once. If you’re willing to put in the effort to create detailed daily schedules (and stick to them!), you can see major improvements in your performance.

The Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule)

The Pareto Principle is the idea that 80% of achieved impact or results come from 20% of work or effort. Discovered by Vilfredo Pareto way back in 1896, it’s a theory that is believed to be true to this day, which is why it’s applied across many disciplines in different ways.

Here are four steps to apply the Pareto Principle:

1. List all your daily or weekly tasks in one place. Opting for a weekly list means you must repeat the process once a week, making it more efficient and minimizing stress.
2. Find the 20% of tasks that carry the greatest impact. Go through your list, one by one, and prioritize them to identify your top 20% tasks—your “impact tasks.” This is the most challenging part, as making the right selection is crucial for achieving that 80% impact.
3. Schedule your priority impact tasks during your peak focus time. Don’t just pick any time! Use your most productive time slots when you feel most energized and engaged.
4. Deal with the remaining 80% of tasks. The final step is to ensure the remaining 80% of tasks are either scheduled as secondary tasks or delegated. This step helps you regularly sift, shift, and even eliminate tasks that aren’t contributing significantly to your goals.

By implementing one or more of these time management strategies, you can minimize distractions, maximize your focus, and ultimately achieve more of what truly matters to you, instead of chasing squirrels.

Looking for more time management tips? Join us for our free “Let’s Chat” webinar series for an informative webinar on time management strategies on September 9, 2025, at 6:30. Our host, Alex Webb, a digital marketing, data, and technology freelancer, will share how she uses time management techniques to balance her personal and professional goals.