This episode is part of the Elevated Leadership Series, co-hosted with Julianna Yau Yorgan. It is available on both The Uncommon Career Podcast and The Daring to Succeed Podcast. 

Do You Feel Like You've Got So Little Time For Everything?

As the year winds down, many professionals are struggling to balance work demands with the desire for quality family time. In our latest episode, Julianna and I dove into how to get more out of your limited hours by focusing on time, energy, and emotion management. Whether you’re leading a team or simply trying to manage your workload, we’ve broken down some actionable strategies to help you finish the year strong.

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Prioritizing with the Eisenhower Matrix

One of the most effective tools we discussed was the Eisenhower Matrix. It divides tasks into four simple categories: urgent and important, urgent but not important, important but not urgent, and neither urgent nor important. The idea is to do urgent and important tasks right away, delegate urgent but less important tasks, plan important but non-urgent ones, and finally, delete tasks that fall into the last category.

By organizing tasks in this way, you can clear mental space and focus on what truly matters. The Eisenhower Matrix is a simple but powerful method to cut through overwhelm and stay productive.

When Delegating Isn’t an Option

While delegation is key to managing your workload, sometimes you don’t have that luxury. Julianna pointed out that if delegation isn’t possible, this becomes a chance to plan ahead for future delegation. Whether it’s preparing to ask your manager for support or automating tasks using tools, you still have options. For example, email tools or AI can help cut down time spent on routine tasks.

Managing Energy and Emotions, Not Just Time

Time management is important, but so is managing your energy and emotions. Different parts of the day bring different energy levels, and aligning high-energy tasks with your peak productivity can make a significant difference. Similarly, acknowledging how emotions—both positive and negative—impact your focus and performance is crucial. High-energy, positive-emotion moments are the sweet spots where productivity thrives.

Track Your Time to Reveal Patterns

To better understand where your time is going, tracking it is key. We highlighted apps like Toggl that can help you visualize how much time you spend on different tasks. This can provide valuable insights into what’s eating up your time and where adjustments can be made. It’s not just about managing time, but also about creating space for deep work and meaningful progress.

Saying No and Setting Boundaries

One of the most valuable time management strategies is learning how to say no. We touched on the power of simply stating, "I'm fully committed," when you're asked for time or resources you don’t have. It’s not about avoiding responsibilities, but about ensuring that the commitments you take on align with your priorities.

Focus on What Matters

In the end, mastering time management isn’t about fancy apps or complicated systems—it’s about clarity. Julianna emphasized the importance of focusing on your priorities. Without clear priorities, no system will work effectively.

So today, start by identifying what truly matters and let everything else fall into place. 

P.S. Follow me on LinkedIn for more highly-practical guidance.