Mastering Time: Effective Strategies to Boost Productivity and Achieve More
by Anika Srivastava, 2024–2025 Miss CEO Ambassador
The day consists of 24 hours for everyone around the world. However, at the end of the day, some people accomplish more than others. A key factor to utilizing your time adequately so you are fulfilled is time management. Time management is crucial for success and using time wisely.
One significant step into maximizing your time is to identify potential time wasters that are meaningless to your schedule. For many, time wasters can include excessive social media scrolling, binge-watching TV, procrastination, not using work or study time efficiently, etc. Properly identifying these habits and decreasing your time to them, can free up space in your schedule to finish work to make you feel like the most productive version of yourself! If needed, you can also utilize time-tracking tools, which can consist of apps such as Toggl Track.
One of the biggest time-wasters is not studying or working efficiently, which can significantly impact the quality of how you complete tasks. Using study and work techniques can optimize your time productively. For instance, you can utilize the Pomodoro Technique, where you work for twenty-five focused minute intervals, followed by a five-minute break. After four pomodoros, take a longer, fifteen to thirty-minute break. If you are a student, some other study techniques include. The Feynman Technique and spaced repetition. To leverage your time while working, make sure to limit distractions, have a dedicated workspace, and take care of your health, which consists of sleeping and eating well.
Moreover, a great way to use your time productively is by prioritizing your tasks from most to least urgent and important. This tactic is commonly known as the Eisenhower Matrix where you divide your tasks into four quadrants. Quadrant 1 consists of the most urgent and important tasks that require immediate attention, Quadrant 2 consists of non-urgent but important tasks, such as planning or focusing on long-term goals, Quadrant 3 consists of urgent but not important tasks that can be delegated to others, and Quadrant 4 are tasks that are neither urgent nor important, aka unnecessary tasks.
Time blocking is another great way to manage your time. You can schedule specific chunks of time for specific tasks, which is efficient for planning your day and avoiding time wasting. Time blocking in advance can give you an idea of how your day is going to occur and how you can maximize productivity. For instance, you can block one period of time for work, another for lunch or breaks, and another for time with loved ones.
Make sure to always take time to rest and reflect! Breaks and time away from electronic devices can help recharge your brain to sustain greater productivity. Additionally, at the end of the day, reflect on your day and your accomplishments, while also planning out the next day.
These are some effective time management skills that can help reach peak productivity, and make every hour of your day count. Consistently utilizing time management skills can reduce potential stress and better use of your time. Take time to try various methods and see which one works the best for you. If you continue to practice these skills, time management will be integrated into your schedule and you can become the most productive version of yourself!
About the author:
Anika Srivastava is a sophomore at American High School in Fremont, California, and is looking forward to being a Miss CEO ambassador for the second year. She first learned about Miss CEO through her mom’s company and has been involved ever since she attended her first leadership lab in 2022! In the future, Anika hopes to pursue law. She is part of her school’s Mock Trial Team and interns at a local law firm. She also has officer positions in various clubs and organizations, such as Key Club at her school. Additionally, she is the executive blog director at Illuminate Business, an organization where she gets to write blogs for teens interested in business, entrepreneurship, and finance, and manages a team of blog writers. She loves tutoring kids, especially in abacus, and hopes to teach more students in the future. Anika is also a Taekwondo black belt and is part of a Bollywood dance team, where she’s had the opportunity to perform at NBA and NHL halftimes. In her free time, Anika loves watching Bollywood movies, listening to music, and spending time with her family and friends. Overall, Anika advocates for mental health awareness and female empowerment. Anika is incredibly excited to be part of the Miss CEO ambassador class again and hopes to empower and help women become their own Miss CEO.
