Time Management in 20 Minutes a Day: Simple Strategies to Increase Productivity, Enhance Creativity, and Make Your Time Your Own

by Holly Reisem Hanna

No-nonsense time management in no time.

Learning to manage your time doesn't have to take a lot time. Filled with practical advice for everybody, Time Management in 20 Minutes a Day makes increasing your productivity and getting the most out of every day a snap.

Sprinkled with bite-sized lessons and personal anecdotes, Time Management in 20 Minutes a Day introduces strategic changes geared to help you improve your daily life. From obsessing over emails to hunting through clutter to mismanaging meetings—learn how to stop doing all the little things you didn't even realize were wasting so much of your time.

Time Management in 20 Minutes a Day

Discover how fast and simple mastering time management can be.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Productivity, Audiobook, Personal Development

128 pages, paperback

Published July 2, 2019

Reviews

[Daria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a quick read, very easy to follow and understand, and filled with simple and wise time managing tips.


I found at least one interesting and helpful tip in every chapter:


1. Setting up folders and filters in your email.

2. The importance and ease of setting up daily goals and putting them on paper. Page 14 has a nice example of time blocking. Also, the advice to avoid digital distractions was interesting. I didn't realize that there were apps available to track how much time you spend on each of your apps, but apparently there are i.e. Quality Time, Social Fever, or App Detox.

3. Setting priorities and knowing that you can say "no."

4. Organizing - it is important to get organized in all areas of your life, both mentally and physically; meaning declutter your office, your house, your car - once you've decluttered physically the mind should follow.

5. Managing meetings efficiently - if you are putting together a meeting be prepared, involve others, and keep the meeting on task. The "parking lot" concept is very helpful in keeping the meeting on task, a bit about that can be found on page 56.

6. Getting focused, creating a backward approach, which means start with the end goal then create a plan to achieve it. List the steps required to achieve it.

7. The importance of "You." We all need a bit of self care. We really need to allow blocks of time for ourselves, whether that is reading for our personal enjoyment, golfing, meditating, or talking to God, we need to realize the importance of that self time for our overall health and success.


The book wraps up with a nice list of resources to help us achieve success in our time management goals. This book is really packed with useful information and positive reminders for the expert time managers.


I'm really glad that I read this book, it has made a positive impact on me. I hope that you find it equally helpful.

[Lúcia Parreira · Rating 4 out of 5]

É um livro muito interessante! Apresenta várias estratégias eficazes, para aprendermos a priorizar as nossas metas, eliminar as distrações e adotar uma mentalidade de foco absoluto. Recomendo a sua leitura.

[Erin Cataldi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Small and unassuming; this little guide is filled with strategies, tips, and advice to help readers become more productive and efficient. I will admit freely that I haven't had this book long or had time to put this 20 minutes a day practice to use for longer than a week, but I feel like I will keep up with and continue to implement many of the ideas highlighted in the book because, even though they may be simple, they're on point! This isn't just for professionals or moms, this practical guide is of use to anyone who needs to improve their time management skills. This guide is filled with personal anecdotes, advice, practical skills, enhancers (digital and other), and easy places to start. It's a quick read that will leave you feeling empowered and ready to accomplish more with less time!

[Riri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple read. I found things that I am already doing but for someone who is a beginner in corporate or management this can be helpful.

[Jessica Fear · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a quick, no nonsense guide!
Great practical tips to help you become more effective, in work and personal life!

Took lots of great tips I’m now off to try 😊

[Judyc · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.5. Read for a work book club, which it is perfect for. Lots of practical tips and a very easy read.

[Soumya · Rating 3 out of 5]

A descriptive book on various time management methods to better manage your day. Contains good strategies that one can try to improve their planning.

[Josh Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great first foray into the world of productivity strategies. Hanna’s strategies boil it back to the basics into bite-sized, actionable techniques for you to incorporate into your life everyday - in 20 minutes or less. Her central argument is that anyone can spare 20 minutes a day to plan and recalibrate, which is a little different to bigger, ‘all-or-nothing’ advice that you might see in the bigger, more well-known time management systems.

Hanna’s techniques fit into 4 key areas:

1. Master your inbox (like having zero emails in your inbox)
2. Make a 5-step to-do list, which includes a brain dump, determining urgency (very similar to the Eisenhower Matrix), ensure that these align with your goals, assign deadlines, and then time block, which is all pretty reasonable.
3. Make a ‘stop doing’ list, so do things like scroll or check notifications with purpose, and not over-extending yourself.
4. Meetings and distractions: be early, be prepared, contribute positively, and overestimate the length of a task

Overall, if you’ve already delved deeper into more sophisticated productivity systems, you can probably skip this book. But if you’re interested in taking back more of your time and have never considered how to do this before, then this is a very quick, easy read to navigate in an afternoon - or you could read one ‘time hack’ per day.

Read as a BorrowBox Audiobook on 2x speed.

[Vijay Anand Tripathi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holly Reisem Hanna’s Time Management in Less than 20 Minutes a Day is a concise and practical guide for anyone looking to make the most of their time. The book is written in a simple and relatable style, making it accessible to readers from all walks of life. It focuses on small, actionable changes that can be implemented in just 20 minutes a day, perfect for those with busy schedules.

The author emphasizes the importance of prioritizing tasks, setting realistic goals, and avoiding distractions. She provides easy-to-follow tips and tools, such as creating daily to-do lists, using time-blocking techniques, and finding the right balance between work and personal life. What makes this book stand out is its realistic approach—it acknowledges the unpredictability of life and offers flexible strategies to adapt.

Hanna’s advice is practical and rooted in real-life scenarios, making it easy to relate to and apply. While the book may not offer groundbreaking theories, its strength lies in its simplicity and focus on quick, actionable steps.

Overall, this book is a great read for anyone looking to improve their productivity without feeling overwhelmed. It’s a handy guide to reclaiming control over your time, one manageable step at a time.

[Diane Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was cautiously hopeful that Time Management in 20 Minutes a Day would contain more than just how to prioritize your To Do list. Luckily, it has many more tips and tricks to manage your time and achieve your goals in life. Many that I have never heard of before.

The book briefly covers to do lists, prioritization, and the SMART goal-planning method so it is suitable for beginners. However, it goes further to focus on your long-term goals and using mindfulness to determine the time-sucks in your day. It also gives specific strategies to make your time more productive in specific situations including meetings, community projects, home cleaning, and meal preparation. The author also names apps, books, websites, and physical goods that may help you in your time management journey.

There really is something for everyone in Time Management in 20 Minutes a Day. I enjoyed it so much, and believe it is so useful, that I volunteered to talk about it in our bi-weekly staff meeting at work. Truly an excellent time management resource and I read a lot of them as an acknowledged To Do List Fanatic. 5 stars!

Thanks to Althea Press and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Laura McAninch · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you need a non-overwhelming starting point to organize your life, then this would be a great book to begin. For somebody that already is a Type A person or someone that has previously read many time-management and work efficiency books, then this would not be a great read. It is a broad, generalist read. Considering the author is a blogger that works from home, I anticipated the book being a more personal type of read of her journey. The Resources Page listed in the back of the book provide the greatest value in my humble opinion. Being a book lover, I DID appreciate the quality of the physical copy of the book regarding the thick paper pages, and it was formatted in a very flow-appealing manner.
In disclosure, I appreciated receiving an advance free copy of this book from the publisher this month.

[Mohammed Raiyyan · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Time Management in 20 Minutes a Day" is a straightforward and beginner-friendly guide packed with simple strategies to help working professionals boost productivity 😊. The book is well-organized with practical examples, making it an easy and enjoyable read. However, the strategies are largely familiar, so if you're already well-versed in productivity techniques, you may not find new insights here. Nonetheless, it's a great starting point for beginners looking to adopt manageable time management habits in the workplace. Overall, a solid, accessible read that’s helpful for newcomers to productivity.

[Ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for pulling multiple ideas and concepts on time management together! I finally feel ready to attack and better organize my daily routines.

Each one of us is given 24 hours in a day. We choose how we spend it. This book has encouraged me to spend it a little more focused and has given me tools to time block. Although I already have a standard morning routine, I often fail to plan my day upon waking up.

My goal is to make a few simple changes that I believe will have major impact on my productivity.

Thank you for sharing your own personal story to encourage others.

[T M. Robertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book. I was excited when the publisher sent me a free review copy and was looking forward to finding a few new time management tips to my repertoire. Unfortunately, there was nothing unique about this book. It had all the standard tips that can be expected in any other time management book. If you are just delving in to time management this book would be a good place to start. The ideas are laid out in a easy to follow way that would be useful for a novice.

[Michal Palczewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet but not new

It’s like a combination of gtd and 4hww. With some digital literacy thrown in. It combines all these into a nice short book with the best parts of its sources and (nearly) every word earns its place. Quick read would maybe recommend to someone as their first time management book(gtd or “Time management for entrepreneurs” are better but don’t cover as much.)

[Gareth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad

I liked this book, some of the time management ideas are fairly simple and some are a bit more complex. However i did get the impression that it focuses on someone who is self employed and has the ability to completely manage their time. Unfortunately it doesn't work as well for jobs where you need to drop everything instantly and switch fire into something else. Still,good and informative.

[Eduardo Blandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es un libro lleno de consejos para sortear las distracciones y enfocarse en el trabajo. Hay recomendación de aplicaciones y formatos útiles para guardar registro del tiempo con el objeto de alcanzar los objetivos. Es el típico libro de productividad que puede contribuir en la gestión de la vida laboral y del hogar. A veces puede ser muy elemental.

[Lyn Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the bite sized tips for time management contained within this book. I did find quite a lot of the advice helpful.

I listened to the audio version of this book and found the narrator a little robotic sounding but it didnt distract me too much from the content.

An easy listen and a worthwhile investment of my time.

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

This is VERY concise book - it offers some help but it’s very basic. I’m not entirely sure who can benefit from reading this, it gives away some, again very basic, strategies. So I guess if you want some strategies you can check it out, I got it on kindle unlimited otherwise would not have bother buying it - there are better time management books out there

[Abhra Ghosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good starting point to getting organised with your time. The book flows well, compressing enough information in an easy to understand language to get you going. It’s just a starting point as you’ll have to curate these systems to your own need or take up additional resources to learn more advanced strategies but it does what it says and keeps you engaged throughout.

[Rachel ✿ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bom livro. Diferente dos livros do gênero que faz uso da verborragia, geralmente porque eles tem cursos caríssimos a venda em seus sites, esse vai direto ao ponto e dá dicas praticas e indicações de aplicativos android/ios e sites.

[Nine Vogel-Ketel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ik heb hem heel ang even laten liggen op en pun dat ik he bijna uit had. Omdat het Engels is moest ik me er wat meer toe zetten en meer op concentreren maar het is niet moeilijk te volgen en heb er veel tips uitgehaald. Ik ga hem zeker nog een keer lezen om alles weer op te frissen.
3,5 ster.

[Ajay Karandikar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet, but nothing new. If you have already read a few books on time management and habits, then you already know the tips and tricks mentioned in the book. For beginners, it would be a great book to start with as it is short, simple and crisp.

[Cori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good as a motivator for anyone looking for a quick read that helps them recommit to better managing their time. Nothing new or novel, though. This book motivated me to end my binge on time management books :)

[Stephanie (Gorelenore) Cover2CoverBlog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming soon. Please visit www.cover2coverblog.blogspot.com

[Hadi Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book can be read in one sitting, but it is recommended to read one chapter per time and attempt to execute the given strategies .

[Mark Stapel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Notes on Note., Audible,

[Daniel Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is life changing!
I highly recommend everyone read it that wants to become a master of maximizing their time.

[Rodolfo Ricardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bem legal! Simples e muito detalhe importante.

Muitas coisas que vemos em outros livros também, o que é comum nesse nicho.

Ponto importante: super direto!

[Caminpa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basicamente não perca tempo vendo meme no facebook, essa é a lição do livro... o que é verdade. O que mais eu poderia esperar?