Time management

Lore & Background

Cultural views of time affect time management. A linear time view, predominant in America and Northern European countries such as Germany, Switzerland and England, correlates with monochronic cultures that value punctuality and meeting deadlines. A multi-active time view, prominent in Southern European countries such as Spain, Portugal and Italy, is polychronic and emphasizes synergy and creativity over efficiency. A cyclical time view, prevalent in Asian countries including Japan and China, sees time as unlimited and focuses on completing tasks correctly and building relationships.

Reader's Guide

Time management has been shaped by various methods. Task list organization includes numbered prioritization attributed to consultant Ivy Lee and the ABC prioritization system advocated by Alan Lakein. The Getting Things Done (GTD) method, created by David Allen, encourages getting tasks out of one's head and onto paper. Francesco Cirillo's Pomodoro Technique uses a 30-minute metric of 25 minutes work and 5 minutes break. The Franklin Planner, created by Hyrum W. Smith, connects daily tasks to long-term goals and personal values. The Eisenhower method, attributed to Dwight D. Eisenhower, uses importance and urgency to organize priorities. Excessive inability to manage time may result from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Did You Know?

• The Pomodoro Technique is named after a tomato-shaped kitchen timer used by Francesco Cirillo.
• The Eisenhower method stems from a quote attributed to Dwight D. Eisenhower: 'I have two kinds of problems, the urgent and the important. The urgent are not important, and the important are never urgent.'
• The Franklin Planner was created by Hyrum W. Smith and named after Benjamin Franklin.
• A linear time view is predominant in America and most Northern European countries such as Germany, Switzerland and England.