Time Management Tips - 5 Ways Introverts Can Supercharge Their Productivity

Time management tips are the ultimate energy tools. To select the right tools for your energy type, take the quiz below. If you discover you are an introvert, prepare to magnify your effectiveness by using time strategies designed to capitalize on your unique attributes.

According to Marti Olsen Lani, author of The Introvert Advantage, introvert strengths include independence, capacity to work well in one-to-one situations, ability to concentrate closely on tasks, creativity, and capacity to analyze systems.

If you are introverted, your experience of time may differ dramatically from that of your extroverted colleagues. So apply your creativity and originality to making the most of time in ways that celebrate your uniqueness.

Quiz: Do You Possess an Introvert Time and Energy Temperament?

T/F: I think through what I need to say before speaking.
T/F: When working with others, I can run out of energy with no warning.
T/F: My creativity is fueled through solitude.

If you answer these questions with "True", then the 5 tips in this article apply directly to you. Briefly stated, your introvert strength multiplies when you remove distractions and look inward. At the same time, you need to protect your energy in situations that extroverts find regenerative.

5 Ways Introverts Can Supercharge Their Productivity

Time Tip#1: Estimate your "battery life" for group interchanges and plan accordingly.

How long can you engage at top capacity in a large group situation? Plan how you can obtain 'time outs' to recharge your internal batteries before walking into challenging situations. (Introverts can find it difficult to monitor and safeguard their reserves while absorbed in demanding interchanges.) Your exit strategies may include volunteering for tasks that temporarily remove you from the fray, or that allow you to record rather than directly engage in interactions.

Time Tip#2: Schedule private time between group activities whenever possible.

Restorative sips of time are an excellent investment in your effectiveness. If a relaxed, solitary interlude is not possible, consider taking small breaks of five to ten minutes between meetings, if only to make photocopies or fetch supplies. While on your own, conduct a quick body scan and progressively relax tense muscles, while taking a few deep breaths.

Time Tip#3: Structure collaborations as one-on-one interchanges whenever possible.

Identify which individuals you work with most easily, and ask if they would be willing to serve as point persons to report findings to groups. Volunteer to cover responsibilities you find less taxing, in return. When you must discuss issues within a group, explore the possibilities of teleconferencing. This reduces the intensity of stimulus you are exposed to.

Time Tip#4: Know your "solitary strengths" and capitalize on them.

Invest your time in your areas of personal strength. Consider your appetite for research, experimentation and innovation. Are there areas of exploration in which your persistence serves as a valuable asset? The more detailed your understanding of how you can best contribute to group endeavors, the more capably you can engage in ways that don't drain you.

Time Tip#5: Commit to checking in as regularly as needed through email and notes.

You can send memos with your comments and suggestions after meetings. Alert your coworkers in advance as to how and when they can expect to hear from you. Remember, your extroverted colleagues may feel stranded if you withdraw without providing a context.

Comprehension fuels creativity, so always be on the lookout for new possibilities as you explore your unique relationship with time.

So now, ask yourself: How can you customize your time use today to jump-start your personal productivity?

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