Time Management Tricks

 Take Back Your Time

Top performers protect their time differently.

Most of us lose precious hours to chaos

and distraction.

On the advice of my business coach, I did a time audit.

What I learned changed everything.

I tracked my hours for a week.

Captured everything I spent time on.

Now I’m working to eliminate, delegate, or automate

everything that doesn’t move the needle.

If you struggle to get the important things done,

here are 12 productivity tools that actually work:

1. Timeboxing

Divide your day into clear blocks.

Give each block one purpose.

Nothing else happens during that time.

It's simple but powerful.

2. Pomodoro Technique

25 minutes of focus. 5-minute break.

No compromise, no distractions.

I was skeptical at first. Now I can't work without it.

3. Two-Minute Rule

If something takes less than two minutes, do it now.

Those small tasks pile up and drain your energy

when ignored.

4. Kanban Board

See your work move from "to-do" to "done."

It's surprisingly motivating to watch progress

happen visually.

5. 1-3-5 Rule

Plan your day around:

1 big task

3 medium tasks

5 small tasks

This creates balance and prevents overwhelm.

6. Eat the Frog

Do your hardest task first thing.

Everything else feels easier after that.

7. Flowtime Technique

Work until your focus naturally fades.

Take a short break.

Learn your rhythm.

8. 80/20 Rule

Focus on the vital 20% that creates 80% of your results.

Be ruthless about cutting the rest.

9. Getting Things Done (GTD)

Capture everything.

Organize what matters.

Let go of what doesn't.

10. Warren Buffett's 25/5 Rule

List 25 goals.

Circle your top 5.

Ignore everything else.

11. Eisenhower Matrix

Organize tasks by urgency and importance.

It shows you what really needs your attention.

12. Task Batching

Group similar work together.

Your brain works better this way.

The reality is simple:

Time management isn't about squeezing more

into your days.

It's about making space for what matters most.

Choose your minutes wisely.

They become your life.

“Practical Advice for School Principals: One Thing Every Leader Should Do”

 I asked 20 principals one simple question:

“If you could give one piece of practical advice to another principal, not academic or leadership theory, what would it be?”

Here’s what they shared: real, field-tested wisdom, not textbook theory.

1. Teach one class, every week.
It keeps empathy sharp and reminds everyone that learning is the core business not meetings.

2. Start with strength before you raise a concern.
In parent calls and staff feedback, lead with one genuine positive; then the ask.

3. Protect planning time like a timetable.
Give teachers a weekly, uninterrupted block for co-planning.

4. Name 3 priorities for the year, and say “no” to the rest.
Initiative overload exhausts good people. Depth beats breadth.

5. Do learning walks, not inspections.
Ten minutes in a class →a thank-you and one nudge. Coaching beats surveillance.

6. Celebrate progress, not just positions.
“Most improved” and “best effort” change more lives than “topper.”

7. Grow a bench.
Pick three teachers to mentor into leaders; give them real responsibilities and feedback.

8. Design humane timetables.
Avoid back-to-back heavy periods; stagger duties; leave oxygen in the day.

9. Make safety a living routine.
Regular drills, bus-route checks, duty rosters, child-protection refreshers, done quietly.

10. Teacher hiring? try TeacherFirst
Pre-assessed teachers, class-demo-video available, and saving principals a lot of time.
(Okay, okay… the principal didn’t say this one, I sneaked it in . But honestly, TeacherFirst is my attempt to fix what’s broken in how we hire teachers. Just need your support and faith 🙏)

lets move to the next one...

11. Be radically clear with parents.
Share calendars, processes, turnaround timelines. Clarity lowers conflict.

12. Use small, honest data.
One page monthly: attendance, learning flags, wellbeing notes. Discuss and create action/correction plans

13. Hold open office hours.
A fixed hour weekly for students and staff, no appointment needed.
Listening prevents escalation.

14. Remember as many names as you can.
Nothing builds trust faster than hearing your name said with respect, students, teachers, even drivers.

15. Run ‘no-meeting weeks’ in crunch time.
Board prep, exhibitions, inspections, protect teacher focus when it matters most.

16. Invite student voice with follow-through.
A small student panel each term; act on at least one idea and report back.

17. Keep “Tea & Talk” alive.
Fifteen minutes of informal staffroom time weekly, no agenda, just people. Gossip vibes.

18. Choose fewer tools; train deeper.
One LMS well used beats five logins half used.

19.Leave systems, not shadows.
Document what works so it survives you, timetables, rituals, PD cycles, feedback loops.

20. Protect your mental space.
Principals absorb more than they admit, the noise, the conflict, the expectations. Don’t lose yourself in holding everyone else together.

👇Principals/Educators, now your turn-
what’s one piece of advice you’d pass on?

Pillars of Classroom Management

 Classroom management lays the foundation for a thriving learning environment. By building positive relationships, setting clear expectations, and maintaining consistent routines, teachers create structure, reduce disruptions, and foster student engagement. Proactive strategies help anticipate challenges and model emotional regulation, promoting mutual respect and accountability. With strong classroom management, educators reclaim time for meaningful instruction, and classrooms become spaces for growth, reflection, and joy.

🟥 Positive Relationships

• In Action: Students are greeted by name, eye contact is intentional, and teachers model empathy and active listening. There’s space for student voice, whether through classroom jobs, reflection journals, or restorative conversations.

• Impact: Trust flourishes. Students feel emotionally safe, which reduces anxiety and increases participation.

A child who once hesitated to speak now volunteers to lead a group prayer or share a personal insight during a lesson.



🟧 Clear Expectations

• In Action: Rules are co-created and posted visually, often with bilingual phrasing or symbolic anchors (e.g., “Speak Life,” “Honor Time”). Teachers revisit expectations regularly, using role-play or anchor charts to reinforce them.

• Impact: Students internalize boundaries and begin to self-regulate. Transitions become smoother, and misbehavior is addressed with clarity rather than confusion.

A student who once struggled with impulsivity now pauses and redirects themselves before acting.



🟩 Consistent Routines

• In Action: Daily rituals like morning meetings, prayer circles, or exit tickets are predictable and purposeful. Visual schedules and timers support executive functioning, especially for neurodiverse learners.

• Impact: Students thrive in the rhythm. They know what’s coming next, which frees up cognitive space for deeper learning.

A student with attention challenges begins to anticipate tasks and complete them with growing independence.


🟦 Proactive Strategies

• In Action: Teachers use proximity, nonverbal cues, and pre-corrections to guide behavior before issues arise. Lessons are differentiated, and seating arrangements are intentional to support collaboration and minimize conflict.

• Impact: The classroom feels calm and responsive, not reactive. Students learn conflict resolution and emotional regulation by example.

A student who used to shut down during group work now engages with peers confidently, knowing the environment is structured to support them.

hashtag#TeachWithStructure hashtag#LeadWithRhythm