Time Management: Meaning, Examples & Tips

Meaning 1：time management (Time Management)

Time Management 🔊

/taɪm ˈmænɪdʒmənt/

The skill of planning and controlling how you spend your time to work and live more efficiently.

time management 🔊

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/taɪm ˈmænɪdʒmənt/

The practice of organizing and planning how to divide time between specific activities to increase efficiency and productivity.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Time (OE 'tīma') + Management (from Latin 'manus' hand, via French 'manège' + -ment).

💡 Mnemonic

Think of time as a budget: spend it wisely on high-priority tasks first.

📖 Example

Good time management helps me finish my homework early so I can relax in the evening. 🔊 Good time management helps me finish my homework early so I can relax in the evening.

🔗 Collocations

effective time management – the ability to use time wisely

improve time management – to become better at scheduling tasks

time management skills – techniques for organizing time

🔄 Synonyms

time planning (n.) – the process of arranging time for tasks

time scheduling (n.) – allocation of time to activities

time organization (n.) – structuring time efficiently

🚫 Antonyms

time waste (n.) – using time unproductively

procrastination (n.) – delaying tasks unnecessarily

🌱 Derivatives

time manager (n.) – a person who manages their time well

time-management (adj.) – relating to the skill of managing time

📖 Cultural Story

The concept of time management was formalized by Frederick Taylor's scientific management in the early 1900s. It became a popular self-help topic in the late 20th century, emphasizing efficiency and prioritization.