Time Management in 2025: Five Tips for Today’s Busy Adults

The following time management strategies are based on insights gathered from UMGC's success coaching team and faculty, as well as supplemental research on effective time management for busy adults juggling multiple responsibilities.

#1: Align Your Time with Your Priorities

The foundation of effective time management isn't just perfect scheduling—it's clarity about what matters most to you. When your calendar reflects your values, decisions about how to spend your time become much simpler.

“Determine what role studying plays in your life right now,” says Godlove. “Are you balancing school with work and other commitments? Be honest about how much time you can devote to studying and then treat it like a top priority.” 

💡 Adjust your task list by scheduling your highest-priority activities first and then work other commitments around them. 

#2: Master the Art of the Strategic "No"

For many adults, the biggest time management challenge isn't disorganization—it's overcommitment. 

In an article in Harvard Business Review, Greg McKeown writes, “Ask ‘What is essential?’ and eliminate the rest. Everything changes when we give ourselves permission to eliminate the nonessentials.” 

💡 Create a decision filter by first asking if projects and requests align with your current priorities. If they don’t, use cordial ways to decline these nonessential commitments, remembering that saying "no" to one thing means saying "yes" to something else that matters more.

#3: Implement Time Blocking with Flexibility

Flexible time blocking is the practice of scheduling specific activities during dedicated time slots while acknowledging that life can be unpredictable.

Godlove reminds us that, “Time management starts with a schedule tailored to your life. Block out fixed commitments (like classes, work, and meals) and then assign specific times for studying, breaks, and relaxation.”   

💡 To add in more flexibility, build in buffer zones between your time blocks to accommodate overruns and include specific "flex blocks" that can be used as needed. 

#4: Create Sustainable Routines & Rituals

While there is a popular theory that it takes 21 days to form a habit, modern thinking suggests that it could in fact be longer or even shorter, depending on the individual and the activity itself. According to an article in the Scientific American, the real keys to habit forming are consistency and repetition.

💡 “Be patient with yourself as you adjust,” Godlove says. Start small. Begin by implementing one new 15-minute daily routine at a time rather than overhauling your entire schedule at once. Then build from there. 

#5: Break Down Large Projects into Smaller Tasks

The path to success in education almost always includes incremental milestones, right? From preschool and grade school all the way to undergrad and beyond. In the same vein, breaking down large projects into smaller tasks in your everyday life can prevent overwhelm and also create momentum.

According to these tips from Indeed, “By breaking down tasks, you can better visualize what you need to do to complete them, and your efficiency and productivity can increase.”

💡 Divide major assignments or requests into smaller, clearly defined tasks with specific completion criteria for each. And don’t forget to celebrate milestones to maintain your motivation. 

Time Management Tools for the Modern Adult Learner

While effective strategies form the foundation of effective time management, the right tools can enhance your approach. As a busy adult balancing multiple responsibilities, leveraging both digital and traditional resources can help you create a system that works for you.

Digital Time Management Tools

• Calendar apps with reminder functions (e.g., Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, etc.) 
• Task management platforms (e.g., Todoist, ClickUp, etc.)
• Focus apps that block distractions (e.g., Freedom, Forest, etc.)

Traditional Tools for Time Management

• Physical planners  
• Journaling 
• Time blocking notepads

The UMGC Support Ecosystem

At UMGC, we understand that time management challenges don't exist in isolation. That's why we offer flexible and convenient scheduling options, online and hybrid courses, and rolling admission. Plus, we’ve built a comprehensive support system designed specifically for busy adult learners. Our dedicated team of success coaches specializes in helping students develop effective time management strategies through services like help with online classes, tutoring, career support, writing support, and more.  

Start Small, Build Consistently

At the end of the day, effective time management isn't achieved overnight. The most sustainable improvements come from small, consistent changes implemented over time.

As thousands of UMGC students have already discovered, the question isn't whether you have time for education—it's how you can strategically organize your time to accommodate what matters most to you.