Productivity in Time Management

AI is a productivity tool. I’ve been hearing a lot of euphoric future predictions about how it’s going to make us more productive.

My question is then: how can we plan our lives so that they can be turbocharged with AI?

On the other hand, you could argue that even if you have the fastest car, if you leave late, take the longer route, or if your basic driving skills are subpar, then this supercar will not make a staggering difference in your arrival time.

If AI is THE PRODUCTIVITY tool, then it should save you time as well. As much as it helps you with your work, it also needs to go hand in hand with the person’s ability to prioritize and plan effectively to get the optimal output.

So, how do you optimize your time management?

Below is a very simple method I use to manage time.First, I draw out a list of things to do. I know it sounds cliché, but stick with me here. Now I rank them. When I rank them, I use increments of 5.

Here’s the key part. If the task at hand is for my future benefit, I add points. If this task is for the future within 1 to 3 months, it’s a 5-point. If the task at hand impacts me in the timeline of the next 3 to 6, I add 10 points.

You get it, right? You’re adding more value to your future because that’s where most of the value will be in the future. For the task that is for the past, like going through old sales numbers, you do the exact opposite. So if someone is asking for your score card last 6 months ago, it’s a minus 10 points in your list.

If you list these up and rank them by the highest number then you get a sense of what needs to be done first.Now you might wonder, what about immediate urgent tasks? How do you increase their priority on your list? If the task at hand needs to be upgraded to the top of the list, think of ways for this task to have a leeway toward not just your immediate future but also a +1 year horizon. For example, if your boss wants an analysis of the on-hand inventory pronto, then make sure your report encompasses the current inventory levels and the cost impact it will have in the next year‘s cycle.

This way, you’d not only have a great report but also a higher priority list of tasks.

What I am trying to say is that future is gold. It’s where the most value is at. If you task all your priorities on the future or tie in your current work as a gateway to the future. Not only will you have better time management system ready for AI, you’ll be killing it at work.Let me know your thoughts.

Chong