UNLV Connections: Word from the Interactive Measurement Group

Prioritizing Helps Time Management

by Zihan Gong

A top-down view of a blank notepad and a colorful timetable on a wooden table. Do you have many tasks, but do not know where to start? Do you find you never have enough time for what’s most important to you? Don’t worry: I used to be a serious procrastinator, but recently I have improved my time management and productivity by using two methods: conceptualizing my time as a Pickle Jar and using a calendar to record deadlines.

I learned about the Pickle Jar theory by reading Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman. The core of this theory lies in comparing our limited time to an empty pickle jar and our tasks to different sized rocks and pebbles. We want to put as many rocks as possible into the jar. The trick is to sort out the order: The big rocks go first, then the medium rocks, then the pebbles. In other words, we need to sort our tasks: big assignments with close deadlines first, smaller tasks next, and so on. Before using this method, I would not know what to do if I had to complete many tasks over a short period of time. Now, when I have a lot of tasks, I pick the work I was assigned to do, mark it as important, and complete it first. An example would be a course assignment that is due in a few days. After completing important tasks, I do other tasks, such as organizing my room, doing housework, or hanging out with my family and friends.

Another method that helped improve my productivity and time management is using a calendar. I use a calendar to help visualize the fixed times of the day so that I can better prioritize what to spend time on. I buy calendars designed for the weekly plan, where each date has a space to write down what needs to be done. I write down my plan each Sunday and then keep my calendar somewhere where I can see it every day. My calendar helps me keep track of everything so that I can complete tasks by their deadlines and be on time for meetings and classes. Using a calendar lets me see my daily schedule and exactly how much time I have left before my deadlines; it prevents me from forgetting important tasks and increases my sense of urgency. For example, one task I might add to my calendar is to complete a course assignment. I write this task down in my calendar on the day I plan to finish it, then I do a few parts of this assignment each day to make sure I get the assignment done before the deadline.

I use these two approaches to get a clearer picture of my priorities and put more energy into them. These two methods also give me a better concept of time and strengthen my sense of urgency, which helps me spend more time on the right things and increase my efficiency and productivity when I am working on those things. I hope these two simple methods can help you improve your time management and productivity.

Reference

Burkeman, O. (2021). Four thousand weeks: Time management for mortals. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

A headshot of Zihan, a woman with long dark brown hair, who is wearing glasses, a white button-up, and a black suit jacket. Zihan Gong joined the Interactive Measurement Group in Summer 2022. In Fall 2022, she co-authored a poster that was presented at the Office of Undergraduate Research Symposium, and this spring, she is co-authoring a second poster. She graduated with majors in both Hospitality Management and Psychology. In Fall 2023, Zihan will be attending the UNLV Clinical Mental Health Counseling master’s program.