Time seems to slip away faster than ever these days and managing it feels like a never-ending challenge. But it doesn’t have to be. There are actually some wild & unconventional tricks that’ll help you make the most of every second. Here are twelve of the best time management tricks you can try. Even though they might sound impossible at first, these strategies will help you get back control of your day. Let’s squeeze more out of your 24 hours!
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Sleep Less with Polyphasic Sleep
You can cut down your sleep to just a few hours without feeling tired. Polyphasic sleep involves taking several short naps spread out over the day instead of one long sleep at night and some people manage to get by on as little as two hours of sleep using this method! We admit that it does sound crazy and won’t work for everyone. Still, trying it might free up a lot of time for other things as you squeeze more hours out of your day.
Sneak in Short Naps
If polyphasic sleep doesn’t work for you, try grabbing a quick nap during the day as it may improve your productivity. A 20-minute power nap refreshes your mind & improves your alertness. Best of all, it helps you tackle tasks more effectively. If you can find a quiet spot & the time, include naps in your routine to drastically improve your energy levels.
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Schedule Every Minute
Planning out every minute is rather intense—but by mapping out your whole day in detail, you’ll see exactly where your time goes. It forces you to waste less time on random distractions and focus more on what you need to get done. Essentially, you’ve given yourself a personal roadmap for the day. It will take a bit of effort to set up yet it’s worth it. You’ll stay on track & make the most out of every hour!
Check Email Only Once a Day
Checking email just once a day is almost impossible these days. However, limiting yourself to one email session cuts down on constant interruptions so that you can focus on bigger tasks without getting sidetracked every time a new message pops up. It certainly feels weird at first! Eventually, though, you’ll have way more time to get stuff done because you’re not glued to your inbox.
Work Just Four Days a Week
Many people get more done by cutting the workweek down to four days. Squeezing your tasks into fewer days makes you more efficient & focused since you have limited time to complete your tasks. Better yet, you have an extra day off to relax or handle personal stuff—what could be better than that? Improving our productivity and work-life balance at the same time sounds like a win to us!
Wear the Same Style Every Day
Picking out outfits each day takes more time than you think so try sticking to a simple, uniform wardrobe. This way, you remove the daily decision of what to wear—and you have one less thing to worry about in the morning. It’ll save you both time & mental energy. Many successful people swear by this trick to streamline their routines because it leaves them time to focus on more important decisions throughout the day.
Keep Meetings Short and Sweet
Meetings use more time than you realize and especially those that drag on for no reason. To avoid this, set strict time limits—say, 15 minutes—to force everyone to get to the point quickly. You might even skip meetings altogether when possible. Instead of wasting your time in unnecessary meetings, you’ll have freed up hours each week that you’ll spend on actual work.
Limit Yourself to a Single Browser Tab at a Time
Keeping only one browser tab open sounds unthinkable since most of us multitask so often. Yet focusing on one webpage at a time reduces distractions and improves concentration, which will help you work more efficiently. You’ll be able to finish tasks quicker with a bit of discipline! Really, it feels good to not be overwhelmed by juggling too many things at once.
Use Lucid Dreaming for Problem-Solving
You can also tap into your dreams to solve real-life problems. Lucid dreaming involves being aware that you’re dreaming & potentially controlling the dream—some people induce lucid dreams to work through complex issues. Essentially, you’re using your subconscious mind during sleep. This could save you valuable time during the day.
Adopt a 100% Paperless Lifestyle
Going completely paperless is difficult for anyone who’s used to jotting down notes or handling physical documents. However, digitizing everything saves you time searching for papers and reduces clutter since you can, quite literally, just search on your computer. Try using digital tools for notes, calendars & filing. It takes time but you’ll be grateful since it’ll streamline your workflow and make information accessible anytime, anywhere.
Schedule All Personal Appointments on One Day
Booking all personal appointments on a single day is exhausting but consolidating them minimizes disruptions to your workweek. Whether it’s doctor visits or haircuts, you’ll be able to focus on your personal tasks all at once so that you have time on other days for uninterrupted work. Plan ahead to be more efficient with your time overall.
Eliminate All Unnecessary Communication
Cutting out small talk & non-essential conversations is a little harsh yet being more concise in your communications saves you a lot of time. It doesn’t have to involve being rude. Rather, you’re keeping emails & conversations focused—and to the point. Over time, these saved minutes will add up to hours that you can use elsewhere.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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