TL;DR 9: How to Manage Your Time (138 words)

Accept that you cannot do everything. The skill is choosing what to leave undone. Time management is not about getting stuff done; it is about getting the correct stuff done. The former can be efficient, but the latter is effective. Email and apps can seduce in the wrong direction.

Many people prioritise by default: the easy task, or the task for whoever shouts loudest, or simply whatever is next on the list. None of these is a plan.

I love my iPhone. I appreciate my AI assistant. But it’s my personal judgement that direct my day as I prioritise by pay-off. Which task, done well, will make the biggest difference? At work, the answer comes from your goals. At home, it comes from your personal compass.

First action: Tonight, write tomorrow’s list on paper, mark the highest pay-off task and do it before you open email.