Time management skills: definition and examples

Time management skills give you the ability to use your time wisely. Good time management skills help you get more done, feel less stressed and have a healthier balance of free time.

Some examples of time management skills include prioritising tasks and setting deadlines. We’ll cover some of the most common related skills recruiters look for and how to improve them.

• What are time management skills?
• Examples of time management skills
• Jobs that require these skills
• Why are they important?
• How to improve your time management skills
• How to include these skills on your CV
• Time management interview questions and answers
• Key takeaways

Many people think good time management is about juggling multiple tasks or getting things done quickly. But it’s more than that. At its core, time management is about controlling how you use your time to achieve your goals. That means prioritising tasks while staying organised and focused. It also means knowing when to say no and how to delegate.

Time management skills are all soft skills that you’ll improve with practice. The great thing about soft skills is that they’re transferable. So, if you’ve got good time management skills, you’ll use them in any area of your life including at work (in every industry), at home and in your personal life.

Time management skills are important for anyone who wants to be productive and successful. Below are our top picks of time management skills:

When you’ve got a goal in mind, it’s easier to focus your efforts and stay on track. Goal setting helps you measure your progress and see how far you’ve come. A good way to set goals is to use the SMART method, which involves setting a goal that’s Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound.

Prioritising involves figuring out what tasks are the most important and the ones you need to do first. Make a list of your tasks and then sort them with a system (such as the ABC method, where you label the most urgent tasks with ‘A’ and the least urgent with ‘C’). By doing this, you’ll meet deadlines and won’t miss important tasks.

Creating a timetable for yourself and then sticking to it as much as possible is a great habit to adopt. You’ll better plan your time if you’ve got a schedule.

Time blocking is like scheduling, but it involves breaking down your day into smaller blocks and then filling those blocks with activities. For example, block off an hour for lunch, then two hours for work, and then an hour for exercise. It’s a great way to manage all your tasks for the day, while still making room for breaks.

Delegating tasks to others frees up your time so that you’re able to focus on other things. When delegating work, it’s important to give people clear instructions and check that they’re capable of handling the tasks.

Being able to efficiently make decisions, without second-guessing yourself, is a real time-saver. Indecisiveness leads to wasted time, so strong decision-making speeds up your work.

Multitasking is the ability to juggle multiple tasks at the same time. It’s a good skill when you need to get a lot of things done in a short period. But multitasking sometimes leads to mistakes if you’re not careful. So, don’t stretch yourself too thin!

Problem-solving involves finding creative solutions to difficult situations. Being able to identify and solve problems is a valuable skill, as it’ll help you quickly fix any issues that come up.

Strategic thinking is the ability to plan for future events. With this skill, you’ll avoid obstacles and save time. Strategic thinkers find solutions for problems before they even happen.

Record keeping relates to all your important information, such as deadlines, meetings and project details. By keeping records, you’ll stay on top of everything that’s going on. It also means you save time by having all the information you need in one place. So, when you need to double-check something, you know where to find that information.

Having these time management skills will make you more efficient. But the list doesn't stop there – many other techniques will boost your productivity, including:

• Organisation
• Setting deadlines
• Self-discipline
• Motivation
• Stress management
• Resourcefulness
• Creativity
• Flexibility
• Documentation
• Teamwork

You need time management skills for lots of jobs, including:

Project managers make sure that everyone completes their tasks according to the schedule. To do so, they delegate tasks, set deadlines, track progress and quickly solve problems.

Sales executives prioritise their time to meet their quotas and plan their days to make the most of every opportunity.

Teachers manage their time wisely to prepare lessons, mark work and meet with students. Juggling all these tasks at once is challenging, but it’s essential.

Account managers manage the relationships between companies and their clients. To be a good account manager, you need to build and maintain positive relationships while meeting deadlines and managing everyone’s expectations.

Accountants need to keep track of a variety of financial information and deadlines. Time management skills are essential in this role, as delays will have serious consequences.

There are many reasons why time management skills are important, both for students and workers.

As a student, time management skills make it easier to meet submission deadlines and stay organised throughout the course.

For workers, time management skills lead to greater efficiency in the workplace. Of course, employers love to see this, but it also benefits the person doing the work. Having good time management skills will reduce stress levels, as individuals with these skills will better manage their time and workload. Rushing tasks or working extra hours to play catch up isn’t something you want to do regularly. And that’s why taking a moment to get better at time management now will benefit you in the long run.

Improving your time management skills is all about finding the right process that works for you. But there are some general tips that will help you learn how to manage your time effectively:

Sit down and take a good hard look at what’s reasonable for you to do in a set time. Then, break those goals down into smaller, more manageable tasks.

Write down everything you need to do in a day, week or month. Then, prioritise those tasks in order of importance.

Keep track of your goals and deadlines with a planner. Update it regularly so that you always have the latest information.

Make time for yourself every day to avoid burnout. Whether it’s reading, going for a walk or taking a few minutes to relax, it’s essential to give yourself some breathing space.

It’s okay to say no to things you don’t have time for. Learning to say no lets you focus on the things that are important to you. Don’t be afraid to set healthy boundaries.

Set a timer for certain tasks so that you stay on track and keep focused.

Don’t try to power through your work without taking any breaks. Breaks are essential for maintaining concentration and avoiding burnout. You’ll do better work when you’re recharged.

Turn off your phone, close social media tabs and do whatever else you need to do to get rid of any distractions. This will make it easier to focus on the task at hand, which means you’ll finish it sooner.

We all get stressed, but there are ways to cope with it. Find healthy coping mechanisms that work for you, such as exercise, journaling or deep breathing.

Don’t leave everything until the deadline day. If possible, start working on your tasks early. Working in advance prevents last-minute rushing and stress.

Time management is a crucial skill. But how do you show that you’re good at it on your CV? Here are our tips:

It’s a skill, so make sure it’s there. Use bullet points to list your time management abilities under a heading such as “Skills” or “Key skills”.

In your experience section, explain your skills in more detail. Include examples of when you’ve used time management to achieve success, eg. "I successfully managed a team of 12 workers during a busy period, resulting in increased productivity." or "I aptly handled a workload of 200 files per week while meeting all deadlines."

If you’ve got any relevant certifications, mention them. Qualifications show employers that you’ve got the necessary skills to excel.

Want more advice on how to make your CV stand out? Take a look at our guide on how to write a CV.

If your CV has impressed an employer, the next step is a job interview.

Interviewers often ask questions about time management to check a candidate's ability to prioritise tasks and meet deadlines.

Here are three common time management interview questions, along with examples of answers that will impress:

“When I’ve got a lot of tasks to complete, I make a list of everything that I need to do. Then, I prioritise the tasks by importance and urgency. For example, if a project is due soon and will have a big impact on the company, it will be my highest priority.”

“I’ve got experience working on multiple projects, and I've developed a few strategies for staying organised. First, I keep clear records of each project's requirements and deadlines. That way, I’m able to check my notes so that I always know what I need to do next. Second, I set aside blocks of time for each project so that I focus exclusively on each one. And finally, I talk to my team regularly to make sure everyone – and everything – is on track.”

“If I'm having trouble completing a task or meeting a deadline, I talk to my team who will sometimes be able to give me useful insights or suggestions. If that doesn't work, I'll tackle the problem from another angle. For example, if I'm struggling with a report, I’ll break it down into smaller sections and work on one part at a time.”

Time management skills are the ability to use time effectively and efficiently – which is an important career skill. Keep in mind that soft skills are often the key to success in any job – and in your studies. By learning how to set goals, get rid of distractions and create useful lists, you’ll improve your time management skills. And don't forget to showcase all the skills you've developed when you get an interview! That’s your time to shine.