Time management—everyone’s secret struggle. Are we expected to be superheroes, or can we embrace our humanity while staying productive? At our latest Soft Skills Forum, Anders Bjerkén led an engaging discussion on taking control of time—without needing a cape.
Key Takeaways from the Session
1. Ditch the Mental To-Do Lists
Your brain isn’t built for storing tasks. Anders’ first piece of homework? Find a To-Do List tool you love and stick to it. The goal? Build a routine—adding, moving, and deleting tasks until it becomes second nature.
2. Own Your Calendar
Your calendar should work for you, not against you. Anders’ advice:
- Block time for deep work (yes, meetings with yourself count!).
- Learn to decline (judiciously—your boss might not appreciate a blanket “no”).
- Protect free time—because burnout helps no one.
3. Prioritize Like a Pro
Not all tasks are created equal. Focus on:
- The “Must-Dos” (what others rely on you for).
- What truly moves the needle (not just what feels urgent).
- Celebrating completed tasks—tracking progress is more motivating than staring at an endless list.
4. Minimize Distractions
Anders shared a golden rule: Reduce the noise.
- Limit communication tools (if you’re juggling Slack, Teams, email, and WhatsApp, pick one or two).
- Turn off notifications—schedule email checks instead of reacting to every ping.
5. The Power of “No” (and Breaks)
- Not every task deserves your time. Learn to say no—politely but firmly.
- Take breaks. Quality work is better than cramming your calendar until it bursts.
A Challenge from Anders
Before wrapping up, Anders left attendees with two homework assignments:
- Find and commit to a To-Do List tool.
- Audit your calendar. Are you in control, or is it controlling you?
(Spoiler: No, he won’t check—this is for you.)
Q&A Highlights
“How do you stay focused when new tasks keep popping up?”
Anders’ trick? Reduce the tools that are demanding your attention. Fewer apps = fewer distractions. He also schedules email checks (not constant scrolling) to stay in control.
“How do you prioritize when everything feels urgent?”
His answer: Ask, “Who is waiting on this?” Prioritize tasks that impact others most.
Final Thoughts
A huge thank you to Anders Bjerkén for sharing his insights—and to everyone who joined the discussion! Time management isn’t about being a superhero; it’s about working smarter, not harder.