Where to start with time management: a practical guide for beginners
The day I got lost in a park (and what it taught me about time management)
I’ll never forget the day I got lost in a park - as an adult, I might add!
I had set-up home temporarily in Glasgow for the duration of a summer placement at a nearby pharmaceutical company, and had decided to join my then boyfriend (now ex-husband) for an evening run.
Things started off smoothly, but before I knew it, he’d sped off leaving me behind. By the time I had crested the hill and got to the bottom he was nowhere to be seen.
The path in front of me forked into three… there was no sign of said boyfriend… and I had no idea which way to go.
So I did what I was taught as a little kid: stay put and wait. Surely he’d come back for me… right?
But the minutes passed, and there I was, still standing alone, lost and unsure of what to do next.
I eventually realised that waiting wasn’t the solution. I had to take matters into my own hands. After a few wrong turns and a little wandering, I finally found myself at the edge of the park and back at the main road… feeling relieved and somewhat frustrated.
It’s dawned on me that time management can feel exactly like this.
You’re moving forward, thinking you know what you’re doing but suddenly you’re at a crossroads with no idea which path to take. You might be waiting for someone else, or the “right moment”, which only leaves you feeling more lost.
If you're feeling overwhelmed and wondering how to start with time management, you're not alone.
In this blog post I’m going to share how you can stop feeling lost when it comes to managing your time - and how, just like finding my way out of that park - you can regain control and navigate your schedule with confidence.
Step 1: Build awareness
It all starts with awareness. In fact, I was recently asked on Instagram where to even begin when you're swamped with work and feeling overwhelmed. The first step is recognising that something needs to change. You’ve already taken the crucial step by acknowledging that things are not working as they are.
Remember, no-one is coming to save you - whether you're lost in a park or lost in your workload. You’re responsible for making the change.
But before you dive into solutions, it’s also beneficial to think about the language you're using, and bring some awareness to this also. Are you beating yourself up for falling behind? Shaming yourself for not being more organised?
Be kind to yourself. Negative self-talk will only add to your overwhelm. I've written before about the power of our language and mindset, and how crucial it is to approach challenges with self-compassion. It's not going to be helpful to beat yourself up… you were doing the best you could with the knowledge that you had at the time.
Aside from mindset, building awareness around how you spend your time is critical. A time audit is an impactful exercise that I do with all my clients. If you’re ready to get started you can download your free time audit workbook to get you started here.
Step 2: Create a master to-do list
Let’s face it - our brains are terrible places to store information. If you’re keeping track of tasks in your head, it’s no wonder you feel overwhelmed. The next step after building awareness is to get all of those tasks, ideas and to-dos out of your brain and onto paper.
I’m a huge advocate of a to-do list, but the magic doesn’t happen just by writing everything down - it’s about organising that list in a way that leads to action.
But let’s start with the basics: gather all your post-it notes, scrap papers, notebooks and mental notes and put it into one master list.
Think of it like tackling debt: before you can make a financial plan, you need to get clear on how much you owe and to whom. Similarly, before you can manage your time, you need visibility on what’s actually on your plate.
Here’s how to do it:
Grab a notepad or open a Google document on your computer and write down everything you need to do—big tasks, small tasks, everything in between.
Collect those scattered post-its, notes stuck on your fridge, scribbles on the backs of envelopes on your hallway console and random tasks stored in your brain. Consolidate everything into one place.
Step 3: Prioritise and schedule
Once you have everything in one master list, you'll gain a clear picture of what needs to be done. This clarity alone can ease some of the anxiety you're feeling. Once you’re clear, you can start to prioritise and schedule the to-dos in your calendar (ready to delve into this? My self-paced course Get More Time has your back!). Simply having a to-do list won’t help unless you create dedicated time blocks in your calendar to work through it.
Quick steps to start with time management
Gain awareness of your current challenges and where your time is going
Write everything down in one place by creating a master to-do list
Create a schedule and block time in your calendar to tackle your tasks
Need help getting started with your time management?
If you're feeling overwhelmed with time management and need help creating a system that works for you, I’m here to help.
I currently have space for a few 1-to-1 clients, and I’d love to work with you to create a plan that aligns with your business and life goals. Learn how personalised coaching can help you finally take control of your time - find out more here.
