How I Manage My Time - 10 Time Management Tips

About this video

• Video Title: How I Manage My Time - 10 Time Management Tips
• Channel: Ali Abdaal
• Speakers: Ali Abdaal
• Duration: 11:49

Overview

This video by Ali Abdaal outlines 10 practical time management tips that he personally uses to improve efficiency. The advice ranges from mindset shifts, like recognizing ownership of one's time, to actionable strategies such as using to-do lists, time blocking, delegation, and automation.

Key takeaways

• Own Your Time: Recognize that you are always in control of your time and actively choose how to spend it. If you don't have time for something, it's likely not a priority.
• "Hell Yeah or No" Principle: For opportunities, only commit to things that excite you ("Hell Yeah"). If it's not an enthusiastic yes, it should be a "No" to preserve time for what truly matters.
• Daily Highlight: Identify one crucial task each day and designate it as your "daily highlight." Focusing on this one thing makes it more likely to be completed and leads to greater satisfaction.
• Use a To-Do List: Write down tasks to free up mental space. While the specific system (digital or physical) is less important than the act of recording tasks.
• Time Blocking: Schedule specific blocks of time for important tasks in your calendar to ensure they get done.
• Parkinson's Law: Work expands to fill the time allocated for it. Combat this by setting artificial deadlines for tasks.
• Protected Time: Schedule blocks of time for yourself that are free from obligations or meetings to focus on deep work or personal well-being.
• Delegation: Calculate the value of your time and delegate tasks that cost less than your hourly rate to someone else.
• Automated Scheduling: Use tools like Calendly to streamline the process of scheduling meetings and calls, saving significant time on back-and-forth communication.
• The Choice to Be Satisfied: Actively choose to be satisfied with what you've accomplished at the end of the day, rather than focusing on what wasn't done, as self-criticism doesn't increase productivity.