Time Management Glossary
25 essential terms — because precise language is the foundation of clear thinking in Time Management.
Showing 25 of 25 terms
Grouping similar tasks together and completing them in a single dedicated time period to reduce switching costs.
The cognitive cost of shifting attention between different tasks or types of work.
Another name for the Eisenhower Matrix as popularized by Stephen Covey in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
Professional activity performed in distraction-free concentration that pushes cognitive capabilities, as defined by Cal Newport.
Assigning tasks to others who are capable of completing them to free time for higher-value activities.
The practice of completing the most difficult or unpleasant task first each day.
A framework that categorizes tasks into four quadrants based on their urgency and importance.
Aligning task difficulty with personal energy levels throughout the day for optimal performance.
A state of complete absorption in a task where challenge matches skill level, as described by Csikszentmihalyi.
David Allen's productivity methodology based on capturing, clarifying, organizing, reflecting, and engaging.
The process of identifying specific, actionable objectives that direct effort and measure progress.
An email management approach that regularly processes all messages to maintain an empty inbox.
A visual workflow management method using columns and cards to track task progress and limit work in progress.
Attempting to perform multiple tasks simultaneously, which research shows reduces accuracy and productivity for cognitive tasks.
The observation that roughly 80% of effects come from 20% of causes.
The adage that work expands to fill the time available for its completion.
The systematic tendency to underestimate the time, costs, and risks of future actions.
A method using 25-minute work intervals with short breaks to maintain focus and prevent burnout.
The process of determining the relative importance and order of tasks to allocate time effectively.
The voluntary delay of intended actions despite expecting negative consequences.
Goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
The practice of tracking how time is actually spent to identify inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement.
A scheduling method that assigns specific time periods to specific tasks or categories of work.
Allocating a fixed amount of time to a task and stopping when the time expires, regardless of completion.
A regular session to review all commitments, update task lists, and plan ahead, central to the GTD methodology.