The secrets of modern time management | Hitesh Choudhary | TEDxCITBengaluru

Summary

Atesh, a passionate teacher, shares his insights on effective modern time management. He emphasizes that managing time is less about rigid schedules and more about managing people who need your time versus those who want it. He advises mastering rather than avoiding social media, underestimating what can be accomplished daily, and focusing on just two key tasks per day. Atesh also discusses the importance of realistic rewards, adaptability in plans, and maintaining a positive attitude. His core message is to simplify time management by doing a few things consistently, focusing on managing each day effectively rather than attempting to control everything.

Takeaways

• 😀 You cannot manage time, but you can manage people. Focus on managing those who need your time first.
• 💼 Prioritize those who need your time, like family and loved ones, to prevent them from demanding more time later.
• 📱 Social media is unavoidable. Instead of detoxing, curate it by following people who inspire and motivate you.
• 💡 You can only accomplish two meaningful tasks a day. Plan your day around one task you want to do and one that others expect from you.
• ⏰ Don’t overestimate your available time. Prioritize effectively to avoid burnout and overload.
• 🏆 Reward yourself after completing significant tasks, but integrate your work or routines into the reward to keep momentum going.
• 🔄 Life is unpredictable, so embrace the ability to restart. If something goes wrong today, reset and try again tomorrow.
• 📖 Time management isn’t about doing many things; it’s about doing a few things consistently and well.
• 🎯 Focus on mastering just one day instead of trying to plan an entire year. Take small steps and stay consistent.
• 😌 Smile and accept that things will go wrong. Adapt and keep moving forward rather than striving for perfect control.

Q & A

Who is the speaker, and what are their main roles?

The speaker, Atesh, is a teacher at heart but also runs four startups, serves as CTO for one of them, manages a YouTube channel with 700,000 subscribers, is active on Instagram, and is a traveler who has visited 31 countries.

What is Atesh’s approach to time management?

Atesh emphasizes that time cannot be managed but people can. He suggests focusing on people who need your time (e.g., family, loved ones) and managing them before those who merely want your time.

How does Atesh view social media usage?

Atesh believes that social media cannot be avoided, so instead of trying to detox from it, one should 'rule it' by following inspiring people who provide motivation and learning.

What is Atesh’s strategy for balancing personal and professional tasks?

Atesh believes in only doing two things each day—one personal task and one professional task. He categorizes these tasks as the 'white circle' (things he wants to do) and the 'black circle' (things others need him to do).

Why does Atesh think modern time management needs modern solutions?

Atesh argues that traditional methods like waking up at 5 AM and uninstalling apps don't work anymore. Instead, he advocates for managing people and adapting to the demands of modern life, such as incorporating social media into one's routine.

What does Atesh say about rewards and how to incorporate them?

Atesh encourages rewarding oneself after completing tasks but advises that rewards should be practical. For example, even during a vacation, it’s okay to check emails for an hour. This way, the reward feels balanced and sustainable.

What is the significance of 'step zero' in Atesh's talk?

Step zero is the acknowledgment that time cannot be managed. Once people accept that, they can move on to managing people and tasks, instead of getting frustrated by trying to control time.

What is Atesh’s advice for people struggling to balance social media and productivity?

Atesh advises people to stop trying to avoid social media and instead curate their feeds to follow those who inspire productivity and personal growth, thus turning social media into a positive force.

What does Atesh suggest about making mistakes or missing goals?

Atesh believes it’s okay to miss goals or mess up occasionally. He advocates for restarting, similar to rebooting a computer, and continuing to work towards goals without feeling overwhelmed by failure.

What is the final message Atesh conveys about time management?

Atesh concludes that time management is not about doing hundreds of things but about doing a few things consistently. It's more important to focus on small, manageable tasks that can be done consistently rather than aiming for perfection across multiple areas.