INFORMS Open Forum

Hi Everyone,

I am a student from the Master of Business Analytics program. I'm currently juggling multiple projects and finding it challenging to manage my time effectively. I'd appreciate your insights and tips on how to prioritize, schedule, and stay organized when working on multiple projects simultaneously. What time management strategies or tools have worked best for you in a similar situation?

Best,

Kawehi

Hey Kawehi,

Welcome to INFORMS, I had similar experience and was totally overwhelmed at the time, I would recommend you to start with any calendar app you are comfortable with and go on from there. See if the book The Bullet Journal Method: Track the Past, Order the Present, Design the Future - by Ryder Carroll  helps you explore and develop your own way of prioritizing and better managing your time! Good luck on your projects.

Kawehi, this is a great question, often with no perfect answer!  I would say a few things to focus on...

• don't waste your time on things that are not important to you!  But, it is up to you to figure out what matters to you, including personal time.
• Work on one  thing at a time.  Multi-tasking is an illusion that makes you think you are making progress on several fronts, but actually not being as productive as you could be with any of them.
• Learn to delegate, even if you can do the task better and faster - mentor others so they can learn to be as good as you are.
• Prioritize what you spend  your time on.  Sometimes that means doing "good enough" which is really the best you can do with the time available.

Practice managing your time effectively.  I think it gets a little easier the more you do it.

Good luck with career!

Hi Kawehi,

I have a great method to share with you. The Eisenhower Matrix, also known as the Urgent-Important Matrix, is a productivity tool used to prioritize tasks based on their level of urgency and importance.

The matrix categorizes tasks into four quadrants:

1. Urgent and Important (Do First): These are tasks that require immediate attention and have a significant impact on your goals or well-being. They should be addressed promptly.

2. Important, but Not Urgent (Schedule): These tasks contribute to long-term goals and require planning and scheduling. They may not be pressing, but they are valuable for your overall success.

3. Urgent, but Not Important (Delegate): These tasks are time-sensitive but don't directly contribute to your key goals. Consider delegating them to others if possible.

4. Not Urgent and Not Important (Eliminate or Minimize): These tasks are neither time-sensitive nor particularly valuable. They can often be eliminated or minimized to free up time for more meaningful activities

The Eisenhower Matrix helps individuals and teams make better decisions about how to allocate their time and resources. It encourages prioritization based on the relative importance and urgency of tasks, rather than simply reacting to the most immediate demands. Hope this help!

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Doris
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