Time Management: Insights & Tips

I've often been asked, "How do you manage to do so much?". So here are some insights and tips that have helped me along the way.

Juggling a full-time job in chemical sales, teaching Korean on the side, and diving into new writing and learning adventures almost every month keeps my days bustling and vibrant.

I've often been asked, "How do you manage to do so much?"

👇 A friend (also my idol!!) asked how many hours I have per day 😅

It’s a question that even led me to give a talk on time management to my blogger friends at MỞ. So here are some insights and tips that have helped me along the way.

1. Embrace the Chaos but Plan Anyway.

If you're busy, that won’t change. But setting up a schedule can cut through the chaos, making it easier to focus and recharge in your free moments.

An organized plan can highlight open time slots, letting you rest or take better care of yourself before moving to the next task.

2. Success Doesn’t Mean an Easier Workload

I used to envy entrepreneurs, writers, and experts who seemed to accomplish so much with minimal hours.

But after getting to know some of these high-achievers, I realized they're busier than ever, even with a team behind them. Their workload is intense.

3. Prioritize and Delegate

Prioritizing tasks is essential. If a project aligns with my larger goals or needs my input to progress, it goes to the top of my list. Working across various teams, though, has taught me that I can’t handle everything alone. Even when I technically could do it all, it’s better to delegate.

Once I understand how to do something, I turn it into a repeatable process and pass it along. This creates space for new challenges and lets team members step up and grow. Plus, fresh perspectives often bring innovative solutions that wouldn’t emerge if I held on to every task myself.

4. Leveraging Tech to Be More Human

Technology lets me streamline the logistics, so I can put more energy into meaningful work. Here’s how:

4.1. Calendly:

I invite partners and students to schedule meetings through Calendly. This avoids the back-and-forth, simplifying the process.

👇 I invite students from my Korean class to book one-on-one review sessions with me. If I handled scheduling manually, I'd need to coordinate individually with each of our eight students, juggling different schedules eight separate times. With Calendly, however, I simply set up my available time slots, and students can pick what suits them best—saving us both time and hassle.

4.2. Google Calendar:

My entire life is mapped out here, with reminders set for 10 minutes or an hour before each event. I can instantly view any day, week, or month to keep things organized.

👇 Here's a look at my Google Calendar from June 2023 to June 2024. The time I have each day hasn’t changed—it’s still 24 hours—but now I plan and record everything more meticulously. This approach has made a world of difference in how I manage my time and priorities.

👇 Example of a busy day with back-to-back events. But not everyday of mine is like this.

👇 Some days, if circumstances allow, I purposely keep my schedule light to relax and recharge. On days like these, I might have just one essential task—like taking my cat to the vet.

One reason I love Google Calendar is its accessibility across all my devices—whether I’m on my iPhone, personal MacBook, or company Windows laptop. No matter where I am, I can quickly check my schedule and stay on track.

4.3. Automatic Updates:

Google Calendar syncs with my Gmail, updating with travel details like flights and hotels. Since I’m naturally forgetful, I can’t rely on memory alone to keep track of all bookings.

👇 Relying solely on memory isn’t ideal for anyone, especially with the sheer volume of information we handle daily. In another blog post, I explore why building a “second brain” is essential for managing and organizing this constant flow of information.

4.4 Event Planning:

For gatherings, even small ones, I set up events with RSVP options. Knowing who’s attending in advance makes planning smoother.

👇 For example, even if my friends and I have already discussed the agenda for a meetup, I still create a Google Calendar event with an RSVP link. This way, everyone can confirm their attendance, and anyone who missed the initial conversation can easily catch up on the essentials—where, when, and who’s attending.

4.5. Layered Calendars:

I create different calendar layers for Work, Writing, Personal Care, and Family.

If I’m feeling overwhelmed, I’ll hide other layers to focus solely on “Personal Care” events and make sure I’m taking enough time for myself.

Similarly, if I think my time for Family is not enough, I will make changes after reviewing “Family” events.

4.6. Reminders App:

I use the Reminders app to track to-dos across different categories, like work, Korean class, home tasks, and blog ideas. Each item has deadlines and notes to keep everything clear.

Having these tools gives me a sense of control (even if it's just 60–65%)—and that stability is vital.

👇 Basically, this is my life in a nutshell.

5. Choose Wisely: You Can’t Do It All

It’s natural to want to do everything, but sometimes we have to let things go.

Skipping certain events because you’re short on time or energy is fine—just ensure it doesn’t impact your team or others involved.

For example, during peak busy seasons, I still set aside “Personal Care” movie nights alone, which I can cancel if needed without disappointing anyone. When my schedule is lighter, I plan social outings instead. Flexibility is key.

6. Find Your Motivation

I’m a bit of a workaholic—the more there is to do, the happier I am.

But I know that when I eventually have a child, my priorities will shift dramatically.

For now, I’m making the most of my time, staying driven, and learning all I can before that next chapter.

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Thank you for reading! I hope this post gives you some idea or inspiration to manage your time. Wish you a wonderful week ahead, with lots of exploration and achievement! ^^

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