From Lectures to Launches, How Can I Best Time Manage?

Happy February!

I hope you are enjoying this new month, and some of you it might be from the outside looking in from snow storms across the US.

Tomorrow is Groundhogs Day, and as a proud Pennsylvania native, this was like a national holiday growing up. (If you do not know the history of Groundhogs Day and how we use a large rodent to determine if we have 6 more weeks of winter or spring, let me link you to the Wikipedia or go watch the movie with the same title!)

This also got me thinking about one question that was submitted around the theme of time, which is what we are diving into today.

This is an age-old question. We are all time-strapped–there are commitments to academics, work, family, friends, partners, you name it!

But, we are all given the same 24 hours in a day, and what I recommend in working smarter, not harder. So taking the old adage of “If you want something done, give it to a busy person,” I wanted to share with you a few tips I recommend to my founders:

Was this on your mind too? Don’t hesitate to submit your own Question of the Day (QoD)!

Prioritize Your Tasks Based on ROI

Now, in startups, especially early days, your to-do list could be miles long. And, there are probably a few things on there that light you up– like maybe like designing a social media strategy or marketing campaign–and a few things that maybe feel like another chore– like working on a privacy policy for your website.

Take that list and prioritize it based on the ROI in your venture:

• What is nice to have - like a new branding scheme, even though yours works now just fine. This would be at the lowest tier of your list.

• Need to have -  like a case study document ready to go for potential clients on your website. The energy invested in this can bring in new clients and partnerships and is important to your business development. 

• Impossible not to have - like your client invoices. These are highest priority, and  business would stand still without these tasks completed.

Then these are like red, yellow green based on the priority and urgency, and you can map them in to do, in progress, and done. (And no, you do not need a fancy CRM system for this!) I would recommend using a Kan Ban system that can be implemented on Notion, Trello, or even a whiteboard or bulletin board if you like seeing it in your space.

A lot of time it is a bit like eating your vegetables first (trust me, my Saturdays are not the most fun doing invoicing) but rewarding yourself with a dessert (like doing an hour on Canva for creative exploration!)

This technique will mean your time will give you the highest return.

Take a Look at Time Tracking Techniques

Now, data can be your friend, as long as you do not get obsessed with it. Some people use online tracker tools to map out how long tasks take them. To me, those took too long to set up and I felt like I wasted more time than if I would just get the job done.

But, there are lots of books/resources out there around time management, but this is one  I recommend when it comes to time tracking that worked for me. 

It’s called  168 Hours by Laura Vanderkam. In it, she highlights real world stories of how people ‘loose track of time’ and through her techniques like time mapping, you can see pockets of productivity you might have missed. Her website is also really useful for tools if you want to check it out. 

(If you have ones you like, then be sure to let me know in the comments!) 

Keep Yourself Accountable

Another tool I love is the Pomodoro Technique. Rooted in the humble beginnings of a tomato timer, the goal is to focus on one single task for 25 minutes. You set this time, and work until the timer rings, and then take a 5 minute break. 

This hyperfocused time means you do not have time to scroll, have distractions, and almost gamifies what you can get done in a short amount of time. (Trust me, it will surprise you!)

If you want to make it cozy, you can use a Youtube video to keep you on track with low fi music as well. 

Another technique I have used is blocking time into my calendar. Have a standing date in your calendar or find a couple moments each week and make a calendar hold in your diary. These can be 15, 30, or 45 minute pockets, and I literally mean plop that in your Google Calendar so it gives you reminders and everything.  These are appointments to yourself, much like you would schedule an appointment with a dentist. Treat them like it! 

And, if you want to have fun with it and get into the habit of things, give yourself a reward after keeping your time blocks. For me, if I keep my appointments for the week, maybe I will treat myself to a coffee on the Sunday or listen to a podcast after each session I have been dying to listen to. 

I don’t use time blocking as punishment; it is for me a great way to start a habit.

Batch Tasks

Sometimes creativity hits right, and you come up with the best Linkedin post that gives you 100 likes. And other times, opening Linkedin feels like crickets. 

Much like time blocking, I like batching a task in a certain time frame. For example, instead of recording one podcast a week or creating one Linkedin post in, can you set aside a larger chunk of time (1-3 hours) and create and record your podcasts for the month? Great tasks to time block include:

• Content and media creation (because once you are in the groove, don’t stop)

• Writing and creating client reports, much like you would sit down and write a report

• Emails (Yes! I love taking an hour and auto-scheduling my emails on a Sunday to get the Monday off to the right start.)

Let me know what you batch in the comments as well, as I am always looking for inspiration.

Doing these chunks of time blocking  will actually get you ahead, and free up mental energy and time for you throughout the quarter.

Leverage Resources at Hand

I am someone who has always worked better ‘out in the wild’ than at home, meaning if I work in a coffee shop or library, I feel this almost external social pressure to be more productive. (For me, it’s the difference between working out in the gym or at home. I always will go harder at the gym!)

Utilize your university resources at hand both for your startup–like computer labs, cafes, libraries, even common areas–as well as to support your studies–like free tutoring, support groups, etc. Because if you are better able to manage your school/work time, that will help you free up more moments for you to work on your venture.

Recognize It Takes Time

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and no startup is built overnight. (Well rarely…)

You are part of an incredible period of your life that has lots of demands on you. I am a firm believer that you need to prioritize your studies because that will help set you up personally, professionally, and in your startup, for success.

And, I would not miss out on some of the core memories that only uni time can bring– I would not trade two hours of vibe coding for sledding with my friends on a snow day on lunch trays any day of the week! 

Time will fly, and you want to make the most of all the facets this period of life gives you. Give yourself some grace and wiggle room when it comes to time management.

There are no dumb questions, and I would love to know what is on your mind… Be the next Question of the Day (QoD)!

If this has been useful to you or if you have feedback to improve, please drop me a quick line. Or share with a friend!