In the pursuit of productivity, keep an eye out for dumbass advice in sheep’s clothing. Here are twelve common time management myths that we simply do not need, as well as some real, actionable advice to help you truly control your time.
Time Management Myths
These aren’t real!!! Wake up, sheeple!!!
1. More Hours = More Productive
It feels like the more hours we work, the more productive we are, but the opposite is usually true.
Productivity decreases with fatigue. The more we work, the less effective that work becomes. We don’t actually increase our productivity the same amount per hour. Working for single, focused hours with substantial breaks in between will usually give you more output than if you worked the same amount of hours straight through.
You could be working on irrelevant tasks. Not all tasks are equally important or valuable. The 80/20 principle tells us that only 20% of our effort gives us 80% of results. Only focusing on working more hours could mean that you’re putting in 80% of your effort to only accomplish 20%.
2. Multitasking is Efficient
The myth of multitasking suggests that handling multiple tasks simultaneously lets you get more done. In reality, multitasking reduces the quality of work and increases time taken because of unfocused work and switching costs.
It’s much more efficient to focus on one task and complete it before moving on to the next, as with the Ivy Lee Method.
3. Time Management = Scheduling Every Minute
Some people think that effective time management means meticulously planning every second of their day.
Planning IS important, but so is flexibility. To handle unexpected events, there needs to be some wiggle room. Plus, shoving every minute full of activity can quickly lead to burnout.
4. Being Busy = Being Productive
You know those kids in college who would brag about how they stayed up all night cramming for the exam? Ever ask them their GPA? Find them on Instagram to see what they’re doing, because they’re probably prematurely balding while they do it.
Being busy doesn’t mean you’re productive, and overworking yourself doesn’t mean you’re effectively doing your job. It’s important to focus on completing meaningful, high-priority tasks and allowing enough time and space for rest and mindfulness.
5. Breaks are optional
Breaks are imperative. And multiple kinds of breaks. Learn about the productive benefits of rest.
The myth that highly successful people work non-stop just isn’t true. Breaks are essential for maintaining focus, creativity, and well-being. Ultimately, taking regular and appropriate breaks will enhance your productivity.
6. Technology makes everything easier
While there are apps and tools that can increase productivity and streamline your work, relying too heavily on technology can sometimes lead to distractions, decreased productivity, and long-term damage to your creativity and problem-solving skills. Use technology wisely and give yourself enough screenless quiet time to keep your brain functional.
7. You have to stick to your plan
Consistency is a requirement, but so is adaptability. Sticking rigidly to a plan that no longer serves you, just because it’s already planned, doesn’t make sense. Your plan should be adaptable to new priorities and changes.
Forcing yourself to rigidly follow the first plan you make can lead to stress, burnout, and missed opportunities.
Let your productivity strategies be evolving things, and set regular times to check in and make sure your process still aligns with your goals.
8. You can do it all
Trying to accomplish every to-do that occurs to you isn’t realistic. It’s important to set grounded goals and give yourself grace if you take longer than you expected, or even if you fail to complete the task entirely.
Believing yourself to be made of inorganic super material will not make it true.
9. One system can work for anyone
There is no universal time management system that works for every single person. It’s important to find a personalized approach that suits your needs, goals, preferences, and circumstances. Even two colleagues in the same field and company will have entirely different time management needs from the other.
Read up on time management techniques, experiment, and tweak them to best fit you and your work style.
10. Procrastinating means you’re lazy
Everyone procrastinates. There are many reasons for procrastination, and it’s good to notice and address those issues, but expecting yourself to never procrastinate, or punishing yourself when you do, is unreasonable.
If you find yourself procrastinating a lot, try to find the deeper reason for it, or use the two-minute rule.
11. Productivity = Morality
If a person doesn’t work, neither should they eat, amiright?
No! iamwrong!
Your productivity does not directly correlate to your moral worth or your value as a person. The concept of a good “work ethic” is the product of the upper classes creating a self-indoctrinating prophecy in working classes to make them feel like suffering to build wealth for someone else is noble.
While your personal convictions might compel you toward productivity, try to stay cognizant of the differences between your true desires, the things you do to survive, and social programming.
12. Buying [product] will fix your time management!
There’s no one-size-fits-all product that can fix your life or productivity. There are many free tools and strategies to improve your productivity, but be careful of taking recommendations from people trying to sell you something.
Also, most items can be bought secondhand or refurbished, so always check out your options before impulse buying a well-marketed, unuseful product.
Actually Valuable Time Management Strategies
Here are the basic categories you can look at to improve your time and task management in real ways.
1. Task prioritization
Knowing which tasks to prioritize is a huge part of time management. To get the most out of your work hours, learn where your effort will have the most value for you.
Strategies to prioritize tasks:
2. Work routines
Building routines takes the guesswork out of planning your day. Creating a logical flow of tasks helps you avoid decision fatigue and switching costs, leading to a more productive day, every day.
This could include a morning routine, a night routine, and/or an end-of-day routine. Even planning a little section of your day (like a quick, 10-minute morning routine) can be a huge improvement to your effectiveness at work.
The routine of mise en place can center and focus your entire day in just a few minutes and help you to actually finish projects in a reasonable timeframe.
Try out routines and see how they affect your productivity!
3. Work environment optimization
The environment around us affects our focus, comfort, time between task switching, and productivity.
Avoid distractions by setting aside a particular workplace if you haven’t already, turn your phone to Do Not Disturb, and grab some sound-proof headphones or a white noise machine. Look into optimizing your workspace for comfort and ergonomics.
Further, a well-organized space (both digital and physical) will streamline your processes, increase your comfort, and boost productivity.
When you receive advice of any nature, it’s good to approach it with a bit of skepticism. Sniff it out for bullshit, and be sure to measure it against your own life and goals, because sometimes good advice for one person is stupid for someone else.
