7 Time Management Mistakes You Might Be Making

Time Management, like any other skill, requires proper implementation. Too often, we learn a time management tool and implement it incorrectly. We then think that the system is faulty. It isn’t. We just implemented it incorrectly. Here are 7 time management mistakes you may be making:

1. Making your To-Do List in the morning

The To-Do List is the ultimate symbol of Time Management. Every time management book stresses the importance of To-Do Lists. Yet many people struggle with them.

One major cause of such a struggle is trying to make a To-Do List every morning. Mornings are usually busy and rushed, and barely anybody has time to make a To-Do list when rushing off to work. Furthermore, the brain is still tired and cannot recall every task for the day.

What you should be doing instead: Make your To-Do List every evening as you wrap up your work for the day. Get into the habit of making your To-Do list the day before, so that you start the day knowing exactly what needs to get done that day. And so that there is no rush or confusion.

2. Answering emails first thing in the morning

NOTE: If answering emails is YOUR JOB, then this doesn’t apply to you. Please focus on your job.

The latest research indicates that most productive people answer their emails later in the day. This serves multiple benefits. For one, it allows you to get some creative work done before getting bogged down by email.

Another benefit is that your early morning mood isn’t spoiled by a nasty email. Finally, you are not distracted from your core work by unnecessary emails.

What you should be doing instead: Answer your emails in batches at set times, preferably at 10am and 2pm daily.

3. Setting Tasks for the wrong time of the day

Continuing on the same theme, we must choose the best time of the day for each task we do. Generally, our daily tasks include some high concentration work and some low concentration work. Many of us start our days with low concentration work and don’t have the energy (or time) for high concentration work later.

What you should be doing instead: Figure out your optimal times. Do your high concentration tasks only during peak times of the day. Leave low concentration tasks for times of the day when you feel weak or lazy.

4. Overlooking Family Time

Time Management is not about work, work, work!

It is about attaining life balance. This means you need to schedule in family time. Make time for your spouse, your kids, your parents and anybody else that matters.

It is easy to get carried away with new time management tools and to use them to work all day long. However, this is not wise. Make time for family, or you may risk losing them.

What you should be doing instead: Scheduling in family time as needed to maintain balance and keep your relationships strong.

5. Overlooking ‘Me Time’

On the same theme as above, you need to maintain work/life balance. This means making time to take care of yourself. You need time to rest, sleep, enjoy Halal fun, and recharge daily.

Failure to do so that lead to health complications. Overworking also generally leads to burn out and abandoning your goals all together.

What you should be doing instead: Schedule in ‘me time’ especially when you feel your productivity levels slipping. Take care of yourself to maintain momentum throughout the year.

6. Piling on too much at once

We get it. You are excited to have learned some new time management principles and want to accomplish all your life long dreams at once.

But you are not a superhero. You must recognize your human limitations and be realistic about your daily To-Do List. Don’t pile on too much every day, be realistic and focus on what is possible.

What you should be doing instead: Schedule in enough tasks to get done per day, with some breathing room for things that may go wrong.

7. Not having a long term goal

Even if you have learned all the famous time management tools and tips, you may not be able to maintain momentum without a long term vision. Short term goals are good and part of living a productive life. However, long term change requires a long term reason.

If you do not have any long term goals, you may lose momentum and stop applying your time management tactics after a few months.

What you should be doing instead: Decide on where you would like to be in 10 years. Set goals that align with that vision. Your daily tasks should be such that they take you one inch closer to that vision every day.

So there you have it. These are 7 common time management mistakes. Avoid them to achieve maximum productivity!

Are you ready to take the next step in your time management journey?
Choose below between our online course and eBook to continue!

Why can’t I manage my time?

Time Management seems so easy for some people, yet so hard for others. I often get frustrated emails from readers asking me “Why can’t I manage my time?”. For these readers, I usually take them through my private coaching program, or suggest they enroll in our Time Management course.

However, I have noticed that they tend to have similar reasons. There are four primary reasons why many people are unable to manage their time. Once you identify your reason, it is easier to overcome it and master the art of time management.

1. Lack of motivation/Long Term Goals

This is the common trend I have found among people who are unable to manage time. Changing one’s lifestyle to be more productive requires great effort. Nobody can make great effort at anything without real motivation. Therefore, having motivation is essential for learning time management.

I am not talking about short term goals like completing this semester of study, or complete reading this book. I am referring here to long term motivation like “I want to establish a means through wish I can help the orphans in my country,” and “I want to build an Islamic center that focuses on helping young Muslims.”

It is a strong noble long term goal that will propel you to manage your time better.

2. Bad Habits

The second obstacle to managing time are bad habits. In my book, Getting The Barakah, an entire chapter is dedicated to this topic. As overcoming bad habits is crucial for learning effective time management. Here is an extract from the book:

The Habit Trap

As time management is primarily about forming new habits, the toughest thing in the beginning is maintaining the new habits until they become a part of who you are.
Bad habits are hard to quit, but not impossible. The key is to have a clear reason to quit and a good habit to replace it with. In terms of time management, this would mean replacing the habit of procrastination with the habits of planning, chunking and working in advance.

However, without determination and commitment, it is difficult to maintain momentum so it is important to be awareness of this and take measures to avoid falling back into bad habits.
Here are some methods you can use to stop yourself from falling back into bad habits:

(Click Here to Purchase the eBook to read the full chapter)

3. Not realizing the priorities in your life

Another common cause about which an entire chapter has been written in my eBook. Too many of us don’t understand what our daily priorities should be. Here are few examples:

1. Are the five daily Salah a priority in your life?
2. Is reciting Quran on a daily basis a priority to you?
3. Have you made time for your children a priority?
4. Is personal development a priority to you? 

You know something is priority if you are willing to spend both time and money on it. There is simple proverb in Time Management: “If you make time for the big things, you will find time for the small things.”

4. You just haven’t studied Time Management yet

If this is the case, then you simply need to study one of our time management resources. At Islamic Self Help, we offer two methods to learn time management:

1. Join our online course for $44
2. Purchase our eBook for $9.99

But we are making you a special offer today on our eBook.

If you use this link to purchase our eBook Bundle for $13.99, you will get our Time Management eBook and our Goal Setting Workbook, along with two FREE eBooks worth $10! 

Click here to get this special offer now!