From the course: Building a Time Management Mindset

Use time management tools to form habits

From the course: Building a Time Management Mindset

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Use time management tools to form habits

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- I'm going to let you in on a little secret. The reason time management is easy for me and for many people I've coached is simply that I don't think about it. For example, every morning at 8:00 AM, my Google Tasks automatically reminds me to check my schedule 30 days out. I don't have to remember to do this, it just happens. Here's how you can set this up right now. Open Google Calendar, select Task, and set it to repeat daily. That's it. One time setup, lifetime benefit. But here's what makes this really stick. It's not just about the reminder. It's about creating a habit loop. The reminder is your cue, checking the calendar is your routine, and the reward is that feeling of being on top of things, knowing exactly what's coming up. This loop is what makes the habit automatic over time. Let's talk about another game changer, app blocking. I use Freedom to automatically block distracting apps during my focus hours. No willpower needed, it just happens. You can set this up in five minutes and it runs on autopilot forever. Even simpler, both Android and iOS have built-in screen time controls you can schedule. Now, here's something crucial. Don't overwhelm yourself with notifications. Start with just one reminder that solves your biggest pain point. For instance, if you constantly forget to review your to-do list, set up a single daily reminder when you're most likely to actually do it. Maybe right after lunch. Here's how to avoid the common pitfalls I've seen. First, be selective with your reminders. Too many notifications and you will tune them all out. Pick the three most important ones to start. Second, and this is crucial, when a reminder pops up, act on it immediately or schedule when you will. Don't fall into the "I'll do it later" trap. Remember, automation is only as good as the action it triggers. Now here's your five minute challenge. Right after this video, set up exactly one reminder that solves your biggest time management pain point. Maybe it's that daily calendar check or a reminder to review the next day's schedule every evening at 5:00 PM. Just one thing, but set it up completely. Then in a week, take a moment to reflect on how this small automation has impacted your routine. You might be surprised at how such a tiny change can create such a big ripple effect.

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