At an age where social media just can’t be ignored and reels are a go-to when you’ve got some time in hand, it’s tough to stay focused.
Time management is not the amount of time that you can have for yourself but how to make the most of what you have.
Easier said than done? Maybe this article will help you manage time better.
It’s no joke. I have reviewed various published papers on time management just to ensure that this article has useful advice for introverts.
Advice in this article is based on findings collected from academic papers. Although it doesn’t follow academic citation conventions, you can confirm the information by referencing the provided sources.
I’m sure you’ll find useful time management tips you can use right away.
Time management research often relies on studies involving students as participants.
However, since excelling in academics can be challenging, applying these findings in any other area can benefit both professionally and personally.
Using The Introvert’s Power And Beating Procrastination
According to Grant (2013), introverts usually excel in tasks that require deep analysis and reflection.
Hence, an introvert should remember that the magic word is prioritization. When a lot is going on, it’s best to prioritize tasks in order of importance. This helps keep anxiety to a minimum as well.
During peak-energy times of the days such as early hours of the morning, just start with the task that requires the most concentration. You’ll find it easier to focus.
And remember, just starting can make a world of difference.
According to Macan (1990), time management has two parts. First, prioritizing needs and desires, and second, organizing them in order of importance.
Is Short Term Planning Better Than Long Term Planning?
According to Britton and Tesser (1991), short-term planning can be more advantageous than long-term planning. Since short-term planning is easier to chalk out and implement.
This means that if necessary, adjustments can be made to short-term plans.
When ensuring that prioritized tasks are checked off the list, short-term planning can be your go-to method. The time period could be a day, a week or even two weeks.
Proper Utilization of Time
Remember, time is one of the most important economic resources so don’t waste it. Ever.
It often feels like time flies faster and a week goes by in just planning things out.
To ensure that you’re utilizing time in the best of ways, it’s essential to cut out all the distractions that eat up your valuable time. And what’s the worst of those? Social media.
Even excessive socializing with peers, watching television or YouTube shows, and playing video games are but some of the ways people waste time unnecessarily. (Bazin, 2016)
Social media scrolling drains energy much faster than you realize. To test this, try setting a task for yourself that you need to get done in 15 minutes. It could be anything.
Once done, start scrolling on social media and make sure you don’t scroll for more than ten minutes.
When you tried to stop scrolling, how difficult was it? Did you feel like scrolling just a bit more before stopping?
The power of social media is real. It utilizes dopamine surges to keep you hooked.
Lowering Anxiety: Feeling Fulfilled After a Task
There are numerous introverts who can feel anxious during tasks. When something seems overwhelming, there’s a hack to beat that and get the work done effectively.
Break down the task into smaller steps. This might require a bit of planning but it gives you a greater sense of accomplishment and several stages of it as well.
Research by Masicampo and Baumeister (2011) suggests that individuals experience a sense of progress and accomplishment when a large project is broken down and completed in smaller sub-tasks.
Introverts can keep steady momentum which entails motivation throughout their work, thereby leading to better time management.
Polychronic And Monochronic Time Management
In polychronic time cultures, people multitask and prioritize relationships over strict schedules, like in Latin America and Africa. Meanwhile, monochronic time cultures follow a linear pattern, focusing on one task at a time, as seen in North America and Europe.
Why am I mentioning this?
It has been seen that there are some introverts who find polychronic time management more effective. They feel a greater sense of accomplishment just because they are not focusing on one single task for a long period of time but using shorter periods of focus spread out over a number of tasks.
Conversely, some introverts find that monochronic time management suits them better. They like finishing one task regardless of the time consumed before shifting focus to another.
What works for you will entirely depend on your preferences BUT stick to your natural tendencies. Figure out whether you’re instinctively drawn towards monochronic or polychronic time management and work on that to make it stronger.
According to Maria Alvarez and Arantza Ugidos, effective time management involves setting short-term priorities and actively pursuing them. Simply relying on memory isn’t adequate; it’s important to create lists of tasks to accomplish. Agendas, whether digital or on paper, play a vital role in this process.