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Master work-life balance with these 15 time management techniques for achieving work life balance. Discover practical tips to manage your day, reduce stress, and find more time for the things that matter.
Balancing work and life can feel like spinning plates sometimes, right? One moment you're smashing through work tasks, and the next, you're thinking, "When was the last time I called my best friend?" We all know the struggle of trying to keep up with both work and life. But here's the thing: effective time management isn't about cramming more into your day - it's about making sure you're doing the things that count.
A fun fact (or maybe not so fun) is that over 50% of workers feel stressed because they can’t manage their time well enough. If you’ve ever felt like you’re barely keeping your head above water, know that you’re not alone. The good news? You can get better at balancing it all, and it doesn’t have to be stressful.
Time Management Techniques for Achieving Work Life Balance
These 15 time management techniques will help you handle your day without feeling like you're drowning in to-do lists. Try a few of them, you might be surprised with the outcome.
1. Prioritise with the Eisenhower Matrix
Ever had one of those days where you're busy all day but feel like you’ve achieved nothing by 5 p.m.? That’s a signal you might need the Eisenhower Matrix in your life.
Imagine splitting your tasks into four boxes: important/urgent (Do), important/not urgent (Schedule), not important/urgent (Delegate) and neither urgent nor important (Eliminate). You tackle the important stuff first and schedule the rest.
For example, if you’ve got a work deadline but also need to book a dentist appointment, the deadline goes in the “urgent and important” box. The dentist appointment? It’s important, but it’s not on fire—so it gets scheduled.
This method helps you get the most out of your day by focusing on what really matters instead of drowning in busywork like checking emails every five minutes.
If you would like to look into this approach you could search on Google for lots of resources or there are lots of YouTube videos available, just search for The Eisenhower Matrix.
2. Block Your Time
If you ever feel like your day runs away from you, time blocking is a game changer. It’s like giving yourself a clear map of what to do and when.
Say you block off 9 am to 11 am for deep thinking work, like writing or brainstorming. During that time, you ignore everything else—no phone calls, no email checks, nothing.
In the next block, maybe you dedicate time to smaller tasks like returning calls or scheduling meetings.
The key is that each “block” has a specific purpose. It’s so satisfying to look at your day and see all the little boxes of productivity lined up!
3. Use the Pomodoro Technique
Feeling like you can’t focus for more than a few minutes? Try the Pomodoro Technique, where you work for 25-minute intervals and take 5-minute breaks.
It’s perfect for tasks that feel overwhelming. When I had to clean out my garage last spring, I dreaded it. But I set a timer for 25 minutes and told myself I could stop after that. By the end of my first Pomodoro, I’d already made a dent, and it didn’t feel so bad!
After every four Pomodoros, you take a longer break—15 to 30 minutes. This cycle keeps you fresh and focused without burning out.
4. Break Tasks into Smaller Chunks
Have you ever looked at a huge project and felt completely paralysed? The key is to break it down into smaller, bite-sized pieces.
Let’s say you’re launching a new website. Instead of stressing over the whole project, break it down into steps like “choose a domain name,” “set up hosting,” and “design homepage.” Each small step brings you closer to the finish line.
This method works in everyday life too. When I need to clean the entire house, I don’t think, “I have to clean the house.” Instead, I break it down: "clean the kitchen," "vacuum the living room," and so on. It’s way less overwhelming.
5. Set Clear Boundaries Between Work and Life
It’s easy to let work bleed into your personal time, especially when you’re working from home. Setting boundaries is all about protecting your personal time.
If you work from home, set a cut-off time. For me, it’s 6 pm. After that, I shut the laptop, close the door, and switch into “home” mode.
Share your boundaries with others too. When I started telling my colleagues that I wouldn’t be checking emails after 6 pm, it felt weird at first—but guess what? People adjusted.
Having a “transition” routine helps too. Maybe for you, it’s putting your phone on Do Not Disturb after 7 pm or going for a quick walk once you’re done with work.
6. Plan Your Day the Night Before
We’ve all had those mornings where we wake up and immediately feel behind. Planning the night before can help save you from that chaos.
Before bed, I like to write down the three most important things I need to get done the next day. That way, when I wake up, there’s no scrambling to figure out what to focus on.
The best part? You wake up with a plan and hit the ground running. Even if something unexpected pops up, you’ll still have a clear sense of what you need to accomplish.
7. Learn to Say No
Saying no can be one of the hardest but most liberating things you can do for your time. I used to say yes to everything and then wonder why I was so exhausted.
Start small. Maybe it’s saying no to a work project that isn’t your responsibility, or declining an invitation when you’re already feeling stretched.
For example, I once had a colleague ask me to take on a task that wasn’t really my job. Instead of saying yes out of obligation, I politely declined and suggested someone else who could help. No guilt, just relief!
Every time you say no to something that drains your time, you’re saying yes to things that really matter.
8. Leverage Technology for Automation
Why spend time doing something manually when technology can do it for you? This one is a lifesaver.
For instance, I use an app to automate my bill payments—one less thing for me to worry about each month. Or take social media—tools like Hootsuite let you schedule posts in advance, so you’re not constantly logging in to post.
The less time you spend on repetitive tasks, the more time you have for meaningful work (or life, like that new hobby you’ve been wanting to try!).
9. Delegate Tasks When Possible
There’s only so much time in the day, and you don’t have to do everything yourself. Trust me, delegating can save you so much time and mental energy.
At work, if there’s something someone else can do better or faster, delegate it. For example, I used to spend hours each week updating a database until I realised a junior colleague was faster at it. This gave me more time to focus on what I should have been doing and what I was good at.
At home, consider delegating too. Maybe you hire a cleaner once a month or ask your partner to handle grocery shopping. There’s no shame in asking for help!
10. Batch Similar Tasks Together
Ever notice how much time it takes to switch between tasks? Task batching helps you minimise that.
Instead of answering emails as they come in all day, set a specific time for it—like 10am and 4pm. This way, you can power through them without distractions.
I also batch similar tasks at home. On Sundays, I meal prep for the week. It saves me from having to cook every night and keeps the fridge stocked with healthy options.
11. Schedule Breaks and Downtime
It sounds counterproductive, but scheduling breaks makes you more productive in the long run. If you’re like me, you’ve probably pushed through and then hit a wall, feeling totally drained.
Schedule breaks throughout your day, even if it’s just 5 minutes to stretch or grab a coffee. You’ll come back feeling recharged and ready to tackle the next task.
One thing I love doing during my break? Listening to a podcast while taking a quick walk—it helps clear my head and gives me fresh energy for the rest of the day.
12. Tackle the Most Challenging Tasks First (Eat the Frog)
“Eating the frog” means getting the hardest task out of the way first. Once that’s done, the rest of the day feels like a breeze.
For me, it’s usually emails. I know that if I tackle them first, the rest of the day feels so much lighter.
Look at your to-do list in the morning and figure out what task you’re dreading most—that’s your frog. Eat it, and you’ll feel accomplished before lunchtime!
13. Limit Multitasking
We all think we’re great multi-taskers, but honestly, multi-tasking just slows you down. You end up doing a lot of things poorly instead of one thing well.
Instead of jumping between tasks, try focusing on one thing at a time. For example, when I’m writing, I turn off all notifications and put my phone in another room.
It’s tough at first, but once you get used to focusing on a single task, you’ll notice how much faster and better you complete it.
14. Track Your Time to Identify Time Wasters
Ever wonder where your day went? Tracking your time can help you figure out where those little time-wasters hide.
Use an app like Toggl or just a plain old notebook to track how you’re spending your time. You might be surprised to see how much of your day is eaten up by small distractions.
Once I started tracking my time, I realised I was spending way too long scrolling through social media—cutting that down gave me hours back in my week.
15. Reflect and Adjust Your Strategy Regularly
Time management isn’t something you figure out once and stick with forever. Life changes, and your strategy should too.
Take time to reflect every now and then. Maybe what worked for you during a busy work season doesn’t fit as well now that things have slowed down.
I like to do a little time management review at the end of each month. I ask myself what went well, what didn’t, and how I can make next month even better.
Ready to Get Started?
Balancing work and life is always going to be a bit of a moving target, but that’s okay. The goal isn’t to be perfect—it’s to feel in control of your time so you can do the things that matter most.
These 15 time management techniques are here to help you get the most out of your day without losing your mind. Give a few of them a try, tweak as needed to suit you, and see what works best for you. You've got this!
Please add any time management tips that you are willing to share in the comments below. I would love to hear them.
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