Sometimes anxiety is provoked when we have too much on our plates and don’t have a starting point. I, as many of you have seen and read, have seen many ways to utilize strategies to become skillful in time management. However, many times it’s not a one-size-fits-all kind of skill/strategy.
Sometimes, simple strategies such as list making are the best. You can have a simple to-do list or add a simple touch to your list by color coding the priority ones. The goal is to spend less than 5 minutes working on the list. The more time spent, the more it will become a stressful task. Keep it simple.
A bit more intermediate version, I believe, is time blocking. Making a list with specific allotted times for each task. This method can be accompanied by setting timers for each time you begin a task. This can pair well with the Pomodoro method, where you work in a task for a certain amount of time and then take a few-minute break. You can increase the interval of the time spent on a task after each break. This can be helpful for those who have ADHD or difficulty focusing. (Pomodoro Method is great for studying, for those still in school).
The more advanced version, in my opinion, is the Eisenhower Matrix method. For this method, you create four quadrants, and each is labeled. Quadrant 1 is the urgent and impossible tasks; quadrant 2 is not urgent but important tasks; quadrant 3 is urgent but not important tasks; and quadrant 4 is not important and not urgent tasks. You can add colors to make it visually appealing.
Other methods :
Getting things done with a 5-step approach: step 1 capture – record what has your attention; step 2 clarify- process what it means/is it actionable; step 3 organize -put it where it belongs(the categories); step 4 reflect – update and reflect; step 5 engage- simply just do it.
Pickle Jar method – for this one you can do with a visual representation or an actual one. You have two pickle jars, one filled with the amount of tasks you need to complete and the other empty. For each task completed, you transfer the item to the empty jar until the task jar is finished and the completed tasks jar is full. (This can be great for children as well.)
SMART method is a goal-setting framework. 5 simple goals to achieve your major goal. 1. Define your goal 2. Make it measurable 3. Make it achievable 4. Make it relevant 5. Make it time-bound (great for work goals).
You can also combine some of these methods to create your version. The final important thing to get your tasks completed is to reward yourself with something you want or like. It doesn’t have to be big; it can be a small but significant reward for you.
References:
https://www.mindtools.com/a4wo118/smart-goals
https://www.todoist.com/productivity-methods/time-blocking
https://www.upwork.com/resources/time-management-strategies
https://www.upwork.com/resources/time-management-strategies
Some recommended articles
Häfner, A., Stock, A., Pinneker, L., & Ströhle, S. (2013). Stress prevention through a time management training intervention: an experimental study. Educational Psychology, 34(3), 403–416.
https://doi.org/10.1080/01443410.2013.785065
Grissom, J.A., Loeb, S. and Mitani, H. (2015), “Principal time management skills: Explaining patterns in principals’ time use, job stress, and perceived effectiveness”, Journal of Educational Administration, Vol. 53 No. 6, pp. 773-793.
https://doi.org/10.1108/JEA-09-2014-0117
https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JEA-09-2014-0117/full/html
Living Day by Day 
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