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Methodologies

In its most common sense, methodology is the study of research methods. However, the term can also refer to the methods themselves or to the philosophical discussion of associated background assumptions.

A method is a structured procedure for bringing about a certain goal, like acquiring knowledge or verifying knowledge claims. This normally involves various steps, like choosing a sample, collecting data from this sample, and interpreting the data. The study of methods concerns a detailed description and analysis of these processes. It includes evaluative aspects by comparing different methods. This way, it is assessed what advantages and disadvantages they have and for what research goals they may be used. These descriptions and evaluations depend on philosophical background assumptions. Examples are how to conceptualize the studied phenomena and what constitutes evidence for or against them. When understood in the widest sense, methodology also includes the discussion of these more abstract issues.

Methodologies to Save Time

Eat The Frog

The idea is that you identify one challenging task (the frog) and complete the task first thing in the morning (eating it). To put it simply, eating the frog is the process of identifying your most difficult task of the day and completing it before you do any other work.

3-3-3 Method

3 Hours Deep Work: Most critical and important things
3 Hours Shorter Tasks: Urgent tasks that you've been avoiding but need to be completed
3 Hours Maintenance Tasks: Activities to keep life in order

Warren Buffett's 5/25 Rule

Identify the top 25 important tasks
Prioritize them by importance
Only focus on the top 5 tasks
Ignore the remaining 20 tasks

80/20 Rule (Pareto Principle)

The 80/20 rule maintains that 80% of outcomes comes from 20% of causes.

The 80/20 rule prioritizes the 20% of factors that will produce the best results. A principle of the 80/20 rule is to identify an entity's best assets and use them efficiently to create maximum value.

Identify the vital 20% that will produce the best results
That 20% will eliminate or reduce the trivial 80%

Pomodoro Technique

Decide Task
Set timer 25 minutes
Stop when timer goes off
Take 5 minutes break
After 4 cycles take 15-30 minutes break

ABCDE Method

Categorize tasks and execute by importance

A - Most Important
B - Important
C - Nice To Do
D - Delegate
E - Eliminate

MSCW Method

Must-Have: Critical for project success
Should-Have: Important but not critical
Could-Have: Desirable, if time and resource
Won't-Have: Deferred for future phases

Pickle Jar Method (Glass Jar)

The idea is that you should always start with your rocks (high-priority tasks), followed by your pebbles (medium-priority tasks), and then your sand (low-priority tasks). Finish off by filling the jar with water (“off” time).

Do major tasks first
Slot in minor tasks around the major ones
Continuously assess and reprioritized tasks

1-3-5 Method

The 1-3-5 Rule is a structured technique by which you can categorize your tasks into a to-do list that is proven to increase productivity. This rule asks you to accomplish 1 big mission, 3 medium tasks, and 5 small things.

1 Major Task
3 Medium Tasks
5 Small Tasks

Eisenhower Matrix

The Eisenhower Matrix is also known as the time management matrix, the Eisenhower Box, and the urgent-important matrix. This tool helps you divide your tasks into four categories: the tasks you'll do first, the tasks you'll schedule for later, the tasks you'll delegate, and the tasks you'll delete.

Important /Urgent: Do - Tasks with clear deadlines and significance consequences if not completed in a timely fashion
Important /Not Urgent: Schedule - Tasks with no set deadline but that bring you closer to your long-term goals
Not Important / Urgent: Delegate - Tasks that need to get done, but don't need your expertise in order to be completed
Not Important / Not Urgent: Delete - Tasks that distract you from your preferred course, and don't add any measurable value

Getting Things Done Method (GTD)

GTD method operates with the belief that the more information you're mentally keeping track of, the less productive and focused you are. Instead of relying on your brain, the GTD methodology encourages you to store all of your work information in an external, organized source of truth.

Capture Tasks
Clarify Their Meaning
Organize Them Into Lists
Reflect On Progress
Engage With Action

2-Minute Rule

The 2-Minute Rule was created to help reducing procrastination by enabling you to tackle small tasks that often get overlooked.

If task is less than 2 minutes do it now
If task is greater than 2 minutes delegate or defer

Task Batching Technique

Task batching is a productivity strategy that involves grouping similar tasks together to complete all at once. This technique can help you avoid multitasking and increase the amount of time you have to focus on tasks.

Sort Similar Tasks
Block Deliciated Time
Do Tasks In Batches

Time Batching Technique

Time blocking is a time management technique where you schedule how you'll spend each day, one block at a time. For every task you need to complete, decide how much time (roughly) it'll take, and add that amount of time to your calendar.

08:00am - 11:00am: Deep Work (Your most important tasks)
11:00am - 11:30am: Quick Tasks (Emails, phone calls, etc)
11:30am - 12:30pm: Break (eat, exercise, relax)
12:30pm - 02:00pm: Important Tasks (Projects, planning, etc)
02:00pm - 04:00pm: Meetings (one-on-ones, follow ups)

Agile Methodology

The Agile methodology is a project management approach that involves breaking the project into phases and emphasizes continuous collaboration and improvement. Teams follow a cycle of planning, executing, and evaluating.

Kanban