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December 25, 2014 by Mike Bergin

12 Days of Time Management: Just One Thing

Yesterday’s the past, tomorrow’s the future, but today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present. Please accept, as our present to you, another tip in our 12 Days of Time Management for Teens:
 
Biggest Thing

Just One Thing

In a rich and productive life, every day feels like a new adventure. Sometimes, though, even the road to adventure becomes a slog, where too much mundane work separates exciting times. When your to-do list becomes so long that it threatens to entangle you in inaction, cut through that constricted feeling by focusing on your MIT: your Most Important Task.

No matter how much you have to do in a day, you should be able to sort through your demands and pull out the most important ones. Better yet, determine each day’s Most Important Tasks in advance. Start with just one small, necessary task that, when accomplished, will relieve some of your day’s tension and move an essential goal forward. Until you complete that MIT, you should stay away from socializing, social media, or any other non-essential activities.

When we speak of time management, we’re really talking about attention management. Once you commit to recognizing your priorities and directing your energy accordingly, you’ll find that your Most Important Tasks in a given day become easier and easier to identify. Single out just 1-3 MITs a day and pursue them ruthlessly.

Discussion of time management also translates to talk of energy management. You’ll get more done more quickly when you establish an optimal routine to leverage your natural rhythms. Most movers and shakers tackle at least one MIT and often all of them first thing in the morning. Not only are many of us most productive in the early hours, but also the ability to knock out really important items at the outset makes the rest of your day more relaxed and fun.

If you identify your daily MITs and tackle them ASAP, everything will be AOK!

 
The 12 Days of Time Management for Teens is inspired by and draws liberally from Etienne Garbugli’s excellent Slideshare presentation, 26 Time Management Hacks I Wish I’d Known at 20. Obviously, we think this advice is valuable even for students younger than 20!

12 Days of Time Management for Teens prioritization productivity time management

Previous article12 Days of Time Management: Take Small BitesNext article 12 Days of Time Management: Work to the End
Mike Bergin
Tens of thousands of students a year prep for the SAT & ACT through programs Mike Bergin created or organized. After more than 25 years of intensive experience in the education industry, he's done it all as a teacher, tutor, director, curriculum developer, blogger, podcaster, and best-selling author. Mike founded Chariot Learning in 2009 to deliver on the promise of what truly transformative individualized education can and should be.

Helping high schoolers with tests, school, and life is what Chariot Learning is all about. Let us know how we can help you!

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