Are you looking to improve your time management skills when it comes to getting to and from work? Do you want to find simple ways to better manage your time in the office? One effective strategy is to track how long it takes you to travel from one location to another. Tasks often take longer than we anticipate, so keeping track of travel times can help you better plan your day.
Here are twenty-nine time management experiments you can try on your commute to work, while at work, and on your way home. These experiments can help you arrive on time for meetings, find the fastest routes, and gain a better understanding of how you spend your time at the office.
Before you begin these experiments, keep a few things in mind:
- Walk or travel at your normal pace to get an accurate sense of how long it takes to travel safely and comfortably.
- For more accurate results, try timing the same experiment for five consecutive days and calculate the average.
- Note that these experiments focus on outgoing journeys and may not account for factors like incoming journeys, time spent at your destination, or daily variables.
- Record your findings in a notebook or diary and consider how you can use this information to your advantage in your daily routine.
Here are some experiments to try:
Getting to Work:
- Time it takes to travel from home to work
- Travel time from the nearest public transportation stop to your office
- Time it takes to walk from the nearest parking spot to your office
- Time it takes to use stairs or an elevator to reach your office
Tasks in the Office:
- Time it takes to walk to the nearest restroom, copy machine, mailroom, etc.
- Travel time to different meeting rooms, offices, or break areas
- Time it takes to reach emergency meeting spaces or supervisor’s office
On the Way Home:
- Travel time from your office to the lobby or nearby establishments
- Time it takes to reach a coffee shop, restaurant, or other stops on your way home
By conducting these experiments, you can gain valuable insights into how you spend your time during the workday and identify areas where you can improve efficiency. Take note of your findings and consider adjusting your daily routine based on this information.
Which of these time management experiments will you try this week? Share your experiences in the comments below!