Time management is a concept we hear about often—in sports, business, school, and even our personal lives. It’s about organizing and planning how to divide your time among different activities. While this is important, I want to challenge you to think about a different approach: time maximization. 

This article is the 1st of a series from Christopher J. Wirth, our partner from No Quit Living and The Positivity Tribe. 

Time maximization is about getting the most value out of the time you have. Instead of just organizing your day, it’s about enhancing what you do during that time, focusing on high-impact activities that make you more efficient and effective. The goal is to ensure that your efforts lead to the greatest possible outcomes.

So, what’s the difference?

Time maximization: emphasizes executing the most important activities within the time you have.

Both approaches aim to make the best use of the 1,440 minutes we each have every day. So, ask yourself: Are you managing your time or maximizing it?

You can’t control time—you can’t speed it up, slow it down, or pause it. But, you can maximize your time by being intentional and focused. The best way to do this is by eliminating distractions and avoiding multitasking.

Whether you’re improving your basketball skills, doing homework, or working at your job, we all have the ability to maximize our time. Here are three simple strategies to help:

1. Airplane Mode

Turn off distractions. When your phone is in airplane mode, you’re free from interruptions, allowing you to focus completely on the task at hand.

2. Time Blocking

Allocate specific periods for tasks. Set aside dedicated chunks of time for high-priority activities to ensure they receive your full attention.

3. Avoid Multitasking

Multitasking feels productive, but studies show it’s the opposite. In fact:

• Only 2.5% of people can multitask effectively.
• Multitasking reduces productivity by 40%, meaning you’re much better off focusing on one task at a time.

By applying these strategies, you’ll be able to make the most of each minute, ensuring that your time is maximized, not just managed.

About Christopher

Christopher J. Wirth is a Top Mental Performance Coach and Keynote Speaker.  He is the founder of both No Quit Living and The Positivity Tribe.  In addition to traveling throughout the country and working with College Teams and Fortune 100 Companies, Christopher also hosts the No Quit Living Podcast.