Developing Your Time Management Skills

Have you ever looked at a posting for a job announcement and noticed the following phrases: "self-starter," "fast-paced environment," "ability to meet deadlines," or "ability to work independently”? What these and similar phrases mean is you will need to be good at managing your time. In this blog, we’re going to look at the importance of time management and how you can have a more efficient workday.

What is Time Management?

Time management is a set of smaller skills that help make you an efficient employee. Because there are limited hours in a workday, it's important to understand how to make the most of each hour and how to create systems that work for you.

1. Prioritizing

It’s possible that you may not have enough time to complete all of your assigned tasks. Knowing how to look at a list of tasks and rank their importance based on value to your employer, approaching deadlines, or complexity is something employers look for in their employees. Being able to set realistic work goals for your day and achieving them not only brings personal satisfaction but also shows your employer your professionalism.

2. Scheduling

Once you've ranked the tasks on your list, the next step in good time management is scheduling. Keeping a schedule and using tools like a planner or email reminders can help you stick to your plans, build daily routines, and manage your priorities. If you know you have a meeting at 9 a.m. and get a reminder at 8:30 a.m. to attend, you're less likely to be late and disrupt the flow of the meeting.

Scheduling can also help with prioritizing equally important tasks. For example, if you need to work with a coworker on a specific project, but the only time you’re both available is next week, you can move the project lower down on your list and prioritize the tasks you can complete on your own this week.

3. Workload Management

Finally, time management means discussing and setting reasonable expectations. Staying organized through to-do lists, using scheduling systems, and prioritizing your required tasks can make large workloads more manageable. However, working at your top speed all day, every day is not sustainable. You may want to break larger projects into smaller milestones with realistic deadlines leading to the larger, final deadline. Taking breaks throughout the week lets you recharge and refocus on new tasks. Have open conversations with your supervisor about his or her expectations for you and about tasks or projects that you may need help with. Knowing when to ask for help is not a sign that you're unable to do the work; it's a recognition that you understand the assignment and what is involved in accomplishing it. That recognition is an important skill employers look for in their future leaders.

Tips to Improve Time Management

Though soft skills (or people skills) like time management aren't as easily taught as technical skills, there are ways to practice and improve your abilities. Here are some tools that may help support your time management.

Create a routine. Routines give us stability and eliminate the time wasted trying to answer the question, "What comes next?" By establishing and sticking to a routine, you're less likely to forget the tasks you need to complete every day.

Plan your day. As part of your daily routine, set aside time to plan your day. Once you've prioritized your to-do list, create a schedule and plan for how and when you'll start and complete each task.

Track your timeframes and adjust them as needed. Occasionally time yourself on certain projects, but don't try to race the clock. Go through tasks at your normal, comfortable pace. Be honest about how long certain tasks take. If you only allow 15 minutes for a reporting task on your schedule, but the report normally takes you closer to 30 minutes to complete, you're not setting a realistic goal for yourself. And your frustration may make you even less productive on other tasks later in the day. Make adjustments as needed to your scheduling, confirm deadlines, and discuss it with your supervisor if you find you need additional time on certain tasks. Your supervisor may be able to help streamline some processes or adjust your workload.

Use time management tools. Most email programs also have task tracking and calendar features. Many employers provide their employees with collaborative software that helps them track big and small projects. Or find a pen and paper planner system that works for you. For some, a combination of all these tools works well to stay on top of everything you need to do. This is not a one-size-fits-all solution. You may have to go through some trial and error to find the system that works for you.

How Can Ticket to Work Help

Social Security's Ticket to Work (Ticket) Program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSDI/SSI) and want to work. Through this free and voluntary program, eligible participants can work with service providers to receive the services and supports they need to find and maintain employment as they move toward financial independence through work.

Ticket Program service providers can help you learn more about soft skills, how to develop and polish your skills and even think about the accommodations that may help you improve them. A Ticket Program service provider, like an Employment Network, can also help you navigate situations that arise in the workplace to find solutions or ask for accommodations.

Remember — no one is born with good time management skills, but with practice and the right tools, you can master this important skill.

Learn More

To learn more about the Ticket to Work Program, call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842. For callers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, call 1-866-833-2967 (TTY). Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. You can also email us at TicketToWork@ssa.gov or visit choosework.ssa.gov.

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