Time Management in 20 Minutes a Day By Holly Reisem Hanna, Summary

Introduction: Time Management in 20 Minutes a Day by Holly Reisem Hanna

Time Management in 20 Minutes a Day is a personal guide to create the life you dreamed of. This book offers quick and simple time management strategies. It offers tips and tricks for the reader to become more efficient and to leverage digital tools. The book is also based on the author’s experience. The layout of the book is interesting because there is an implementation section and also a recap. She also mentions a lot of tools and resources to help you to become more productive.

Holly Reisem Hanna read a lot of time management books and articles. She also experimented with different calendars, planners and online, productivity tools. Along the way, she discovered what worked and didn't work for her. Through this process of experimentation, she found a system that enabled her to get clarity, streamline processes, so she could get more done in less time.

The author came up with an effective time management tool that allows her to work less, have more free time, while earning more money. Creating new habits, and introducing new strategies will take time and effort on your part. It may feel uncomfortable when you try to change old patterns, habits, and behaviors. But if you stick with it, you’ll see major changes in your life. You have to embrace the process.

“The best time management system is the one that works for you. There is no “one-size-fits-all” when it comes to productivity.”

Summary of Time Management in 20 Minutes a Day

To be your most productive self, don't check your email first thing in the morning. Your most important projects and tasks should take precedence and you should work on them when you are most productive. Turn off automatic alerts on your devices. You could also try to leave your phone off while working.

Organize your email using folders. This is something that I do. And create templates for emails that you send all the time. This helps you to save time. One of the time management strategies that Holly Reisem Hanna offers is to do a monthly maintenance of your email. This is not something I do, and you can tell because my inbox is so crowded.

The author provides a list of many apps that will help you to become more successful. For instance, you can use Unroll.Me to unsubscribe from email subscriptions that are time wasters or no longer serve you. She mentions setting daily goals and using the time-blocking technique to achieve them.

When you use the time blocking technique, you know how much time you have to complete each task each day. If an activity cannot fit into a block, let it go, delegate it, outsource it, or re-prioritize it.

To get started with time blocking, create a prioritized to-do list. The author loves to use  30-minute blocks of time. Fill in each 30-minute block with the day’s errands, appointments, and must-do tasks. Start working on your highest priorities.

Things usually take longer than you think they will. So overestimate the time it would take for you to complete an activity. When you have a schedule for each task, you know how much time you can take on each task.

To be your most productive self, turn off push notifications off all your devices, which reduces interruptions. Additionally, create boundaries for yourself. Let family and friends know that although you’re at home, you’re working and let them know when you’re available and can return calls.

Do a Time Log to see how much time you spend on emails, social media and so on. You may be very surprised by what you discover. Where can you recover wasted time each week to work on an important project?

Not surprisingly, the book covers setting goals and references SMART goals – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound. Since I read 0.1%: Join The Club of The Richest, Healthiest by Simeon Ivanov, I’m interested in SMURT Goals – Smart, Measurable, Unrealistic, Resourceful, Time-Bound because it tells you can accomplish a lot more than you think you can. I gravitated to SMURT goals because everyone talks about SMART goals.

Start with your goal. She uses an example of losing six pounds by taking a Zumba class. By reading through her example, you know how to make your goals SMART. You have to act to achieve your goals. Add your goals to your time block. She mentions The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran says she used the strategy to achieve many of her goals.

Have you read?

0.1%: Join The Club of The Richest, Healthiest by Simeon Ivanov

Book Review – The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months by Brian P. Moran

5 Steps to Organize You To-Do List

1. Get it on paper. Empty your brain by doing a brain dump. Write tasks, appointments and obligations in a planner or notebook.
2. Determine what’s urgent and what can wait. Divide your list into two columns: what you have to do today and what can wait until tomorrow.
3. Add tasks related to short-term and long-term goals. Prioritize the steps necessary to complete personal goals.
4. Assign deadlines. Note pressing deadlines for urgent tasks. Review items in the can-be-done later column.
5. Create a time-blocked schedule. Add most urgent tasks to time blocks in your planner or calendar. Add in the most valuable tasks, these are ones that would make a major difference in your life.

Conducting Meetings

There’s an extensive section on conducting meetings and I didn’t pay attention because I already know those things. One of the things I want to say, is that when you’re reading a book on a topic you’re interested in, and you have read other books, don’t waste time on what you already know. Trust yourself, you’ve got this. It’s time to move on to learning new information.

I appreciated the three simple rules to follow regarding meetings.

3 Simple Rules

1. Don’t be a distraction to others. There’s nothing worse than the loud and disruptive coworker who arrives late. I was on a board and one member was always late, and instead of quietly sitting down, she disrupted the meeting with her drama.
2. Be prepared to come early, put your phone away, and actively listen and participate in the conversation. If you have to review documents, make sure you’ve done that and are ready to discuss.
3. Bring positive energy to the room. The energy you contribute is infectious and has a tremendous impact on others. Gauge how you’re showing up.

Do a time check to let people know how much time is left before the meeting ends. If you chaired the meeting, follow-up with an email to reiterate who will do what and by when.

Create a “Stop Doing That” List

This is not something that I’ve even done, but plan to do. if you created a time log, you’ll recognize activities that you could stop doing. Learning how to say ‘No’ is usually a big one.

Some examples from the author include:

1. Overextending myself
2. Scrolling without purpose
3. Worrying about things I can’t change
4. Watching recipe creation videos
5. Reading negative comments on articles
6. Mindlessly checking my smartphone

Get Focused

A crucial element of time management is focus. And one of the productivity books I read said people don’t have a time management problem, they have a focus management problem. That made me stop and think.

Multitasking doesn’t work. Focus on one task at a time. If you divide your attention between two activities, you won’t do any well. She mentions the Pomodoro Technique by Francesco Cirillo.

Have you read?

The Pomodoro Technique by Francesco Cirillo, Review

Formula for Emails

I thought this piece of information was priceless. When you think about the formula, you really cannot go wrong. What do you think?

Action + Subject Matter + Deadline

And use direct statements, this allows you to get to the point quickly. And the recipient won’t be confused by what you expect from them.

Conclusion: Time Management in 20 Minutes a Day by Holly Reisem Hanna

Time Management in 20 Minutes a Day doesn’t have a framework that someone can follow. It has many time management strategies that you can use. This book has solid information, but based on books I’ve read on this topic, there are better books.

However, this is a good first book to read on time management. There were a few pieces of solid information that I liked.

Next Steps

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