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Time Management for Makers

This Course teaches practical time management skills to help learners focus on what matters most, stay organized, and follow through on priorities. Participants will identify common time wasters, learn a simple way to prioritize tasks, and build daily and weekly planning habits that reduce stress and improve productivity. The course provides realistic strategies for managing interruptions, competing priorities, and busy schedules that can be applied immediately.

Created by
Main Street Collective
Estimated time
About 55 minutes
Level
Beginner-friendly
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Tip: Open the workbook before beginning and complete each action step as you go.

1

Welcome

Start here

8 minutes

Welcome to Time Management Fundamentals. This course is built around a simple framework I call the 3P System:

  1. Prioritize — Decide what matters most (and what doesn’t).
  2. Plan — Put your priorities on a realistic calendar.
  3. Produce — Execute consistently without burning out.


You’ll move fast, stay practical, and apply everything as you go. Your goal is not to “do more”—your goal is to get the right things done, with more clarity, control, and consistency.

What to do now:

  • Download the resources in the next lesson.
  • Open your Action Guide and be ready to write—this course works best when you implement immediately.

Before you begin

Download the course workbook and set aside a few uninterrupted minutes for each lesson.

Download the Action Guide Download The Cheat Sheet
2

Lesson 1

PRIORITIZE (Decide what matters)

8 minutes

Most “time management” problems are really priority problems. When priorities aren’t clear, everything competes for attention—and your day gets consumed by whatever feels urgent.

In this module, you’ll build a system that helps you:

  • capture everything you need to do,
  • identify what matters most,
  • rank tasks by impact (not emotion), and
  • create a “backburner” so you stop trying to do everything at once.

Outcome: A short, usable daily list you can execute.

Put it into practice

Complete Step 1: Prioritize in your Action Guide.

Do these in order:

  1. Build your full to-do list (get everything out of your head).
  2. Choose your “If I could do just one thing today…” task.
  3. Rank the rest using impact (income/progress/outcomes).
  4. Break up any large tasks into smaller next actions.
  5. Create your Backburner List for tasks that matter—but not today.

Definition of success:You finish with 3–5 priority tasks for your next workday and a backburner list you trust.

Open the Action Guide
3

Lesson 2

PLAN (Turn priorities into a schedule)

15 minutes

A to-do list is not a plan. A plan lives on a calendar.

In this module you’ll convert your priorities into a schedule that is:

  • realistic,
  • protected with time boxes and buffers, and
  • built around your actual life (not the “perfect day” version).

Outcome: A weekly plan you can follow even when interruptions happen.

Put it into practice

Complete Step 2: Plan in your Action Guide.

Do these in order:

  1. Take your top priority item and break it into steps you can schedule.
  2. Assign each step to a day/time on your calendar.
  3. Time-box each block (set a start and stop time).
  4. Add buffer time between blocks and catch-up time during the week.
  5. Decide on a quick daily planning ritual (5 minutes at end of day).

Definition of success: Your top priority work is on the calendar in protected blocks, plus buffers that make the plan survivable.

Open the Action Guide
4

Lesson 3

PRODUCE (Execute consistently)

15 minutes

This module is about execution—staying on track when distractions, perfectionism, and shifting demands show up.

You’ll use a small set of production rules to:

  • protect focus,
  • finish what you start,
  • avoid over-polishing, and
  • increase output without increasing burnout.

Outcome: A repeatable execution routine you can use daily.

Put it into practice

Complete Step 3: Produce in your Action Guide using the sprint below.

Sprint (choose one):

  • Option A (1 day): Run this system for one full day.
  • Option B (3 days): Run it for three consecutive days for stronger momentum.

Rules for the sprint:

  1. Use a timer for your top priority work block.
  2. Remove distractions (notifications off, social apps away, clean work surface).
  3. Work the plan you made—don’t renegotiate mid-block.
  4. Aim for progress, not perfection.

End-of-sprint reflection:Write down:

  • What worked,
  • What derailed you, and
  • What you will change tomorrow.
Open the Action Guide
5

Make it Stick

Next steps

3 minutes

The goal isn’t to be “perfect at time management.” The goal is to build a rhythm you can repeat.

Your long-term system is simple:

  • Weekly reset: set priorities + outline the week
  • Daily start: choose 3–5 priorities + time-box
  • Daily close: quick review + adjust tomorrow

This module locks the habit in with a 7-day implementation plan.

Your next move

For the next 7 days, follow this daily routine:

  1. Prioritize: choose 3–5 tasks (and identify the #1).
  2. Plan: time-box the #1 task on your calendar.
  3. Produce: run the timer + reduce distractions.
  4. Review: end-of-day adjustment (5 minutes).

At the end of Day 7, complete the Weekly Review in your Action Guide:

  • What moved forward the most?
  • What consistently got in the way?
  • What will you change next week (one change only)?

Definition of success:You complete one full week using the system and have a plan for improving it.

Open the Cheat Sheet

Course downloads

Course resources

Keep these guides and worksheets handy while you work through the lessons.

Course Action Guide

Use this workbook to capture notes and complete the course exercises.

Open Action Guide

Keep building your business

Explore another free Maker's Academy course when you are ready for the next step.

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