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Flexible people can be easily distracted and may engage in unproductive dithering and have trouble finishing what they start

People who deviate from their schedules could try writing down appointments half an hour earlier than they are

Shifting when it serves you will make you more effective

If you don't feel your time has been wasted you may be less annoyed

For those who organize their lives on a strict timetable Dr Ballard suggests building in buffer periods of up to an hour between engagements

The key is to remove judgment

A 2023 study revealed people who took on multiple tasks at a time were better able to balance competing obligations without becoming emotionally exhausted

You are less likely to get burned out by perseverating on a single task

People are most creative motivated and productive when they can work in their preferred style

If you are prepping a presentation when a colleague calls do you pick up and say you are busy

You won't be distressed when things don't fit into your time

Focusing intently gives the opportunity to take deep dives into tasks

Anthropologist Edward T Hall coined terms “monochronic” and “polychronic” to describe different cultural attitudes to time management in the 1950s

People who manage time as a series of tasks tend to live by the clock and prioritize obligations over relationships

If you send the call directly to voice mail you are likely “monochronic”

Some people are punctual others flexible

Social scientists have worked to understand varying approaches to the clock

This article was edited by Hannah Morrill and Jennifer Hunter

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