How to manage your time as a Product Designer?

As product designers, we know that not all features are created equal. Some features are more important than others, and some features will have a bigger impact on our users. The same is true for our time.

I recently read the book Make Time by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky (who, by the way, are both product designers so I feel a slight connection in the way of thinking) and wanted to share some of my learnings on how to approach your time and productivity.

In their book, Jake and John argue that time management is not about making more things. It's about making the most of the time we have by focusing on the things that matter most.

Focus on your priorities

It might be counterintuitive, but time management and productivity aren't about making more things. Instead, you should focus on things that truly matter to you and push you forward. Interestingly, it works the same with managing a product: you don't need every feature under the sun. You just need the most impactful ones, those that really count.

Set a highlight

The book introduces this idea of a 'daily highlight.' It's about picking one thing - the most important thing - you want to get done each day. This doesn't mean you only do one thing. But, it helps keep you focused and prioritize what will move you forward the most.

Be aware of distractions

Staying focused isn’t easy. There's always a notification, email, or message trying to steal our attention. These 'Infinity Pools', as the book calls them, are the addictive curse of your day. And there is the Busy Bandwagon - a mindset associated with a fake truth that we must constantly remain busy at our jobs and life. You need to stay aware of this and keep control of your own time.

Cover the basics

Finally, you need to remember to take care of yourself. Getting enough sleep, spending time outdoors, eating good food, and being with the people you love - these things keep us feeling good and need to be in order for us to be productive and feel accomplished.

Managing your time effectively is a skill that takes practice. Be realistic about what you can achieve in a day. Don't try to do too much, or you'll just end up feeling overwhelmed and stressed. There are many different ways to manage your time, so find what works best for you.

And if you'd read 'Make Time', don't forget to let me know what you think!