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To be most productive, we must figure out how to best use the limited time we have. Those of us who work in schools and other fast-paced settings know that effective time management is key to success.

Obstacles to effective time management

• Unexpected interruptions, such as students who act out, fire drills and assemblies.
• Distractions, including being preoccupied with personal and family issues.
• Anxiety about test prep, raising student achievement, earning tenure.
• Feeling overwhelmed by a new school or job.
• Lack of preparation for lesson plans or meetings with the principal or parents.
• A negative mindset, in which you assume the worst in all scenarios.
• Dealing with supervisors when you don’t see eye to eye.
• Substance use and mental health issues at home or work.

Tools for better time management

• Set smart goals: Create a daily and weekly calendar that will keep you organized and focused. You should include goals that are specific, measurable, action-oriented and realistic.
• Do the most important tasks first: Each day, look at your to-do list, rank tasks in order of priority and complete those that are crucial first.
• Don’t ignore your own physical and mental health: You can’t achieve your goals if your physical and mental health are suffering.
• Develop a growth mindset: Mindset — our attitudes, thoughts and beliefs — has a lot to do with what we can accomplish, even though we may be unaware of it. Many people have a fixed mindset, which keeps them in place and afraid of new challenges. When we have a growth mindset, we embrace new challenges and look for opportunities to learn and grow. The chart and the concept of growth mindset are from Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck.

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