Creating Tangible Time Management Goals

The Oxford dictionary defines time as the “indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole”.

It’s a bit of a mouthful, really.

With such a broad and complex interpretation, it’s easy to see why some people struggle to create tangible time management goals during their workday.

Taking control of the hours that slip by while at work is a difficult task, but not impossible. In fact, with the right attitude, work ethic and time management training, the intangible concept of time can be easily tamed.

So, instead of using potentially unreal and abstract terms to define time management goals, consider these two unique tips to help visualise limitations and the passing of hours throughout the day.

Measure time blocks with Lego bricks

Making time a more tangible experience can be a challenge for every individual. It is easy to put your head down, ignore the clock and work frantically on a project, only to find you passed the deadline without realising.

Creating a personal method of demonstrating the continued passing of time will help you keep track of the hours as they slip by. For instance, you can invest in a small Lego set and build structures throughout the course of the project.

Each 15 minute block that passes should prompt you to add a Lego piece onto your tower, giving you a visual reference for the time that has slipped by. As the tower grows and the available bricks dwindle, you become acutely aware of the limited time you have left to complete your project.

Mark the passing of time with compulsory breaks

If you sit at your desk or workstation all day, the hours begin to blur into one continuous passing of time until suddenly the entire day has passed and half your work lies unfinished.

It is therefore vital that you regularly get up from your desk at scheduled times, to create noticeable gaps between hours and tasks. Every sixty minutes could be celebrated by a quick lap around the office, or a visit to the great outdoors, to help you better identify how much time is really passing by.

Set mini-goals on what to achieve before your next break

You tend to use the timeframes you set for specific tasks. Therefore, clearly define what you want to achieve before you go on your next break.