Time Management for Work, Learning, Fun (2026 edition)

Transcript

1. Managing your time for work, learning, and fun Jeanne Boyarsky 9/10/26 KCDC speakerdeck.com/boyarsky https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 1
2. Sponsors Gold Friends of KCDC Other Awesome Organizations Sponsors Platinum Titanium Sponsors
3. Why me? NYC - busy! Parents every week: • Square dancing • Country dancing • Dad: apt board of directors • Ate out They and their friends seemed to have more hours in a day. https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 3
4. Busiest year of my life… New: 2026 tips https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 4
5. About me (August 2024 Snapshot) Full Time Job • Developer • Scrum Master • Committee of Sept and Oct conferences • Toastmaster Club VP Membership • Various workgroups • Table tennis • Pickleball • Lunch/virtual coffees https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 5
6. About me (August 2024 Snapshot) Non-Full Time Job • Final edits for OCP 21 book • Continue writing Real World Java • Edit Deitel book • Write time management presentation • Fun - events, movies, friends, etc • Exercise - walk/swim • Chores - clean, laundry, food, etc • CodeRanch volunteering • Help mother remotely https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 6
7. About me (August 2024 Snapshot) Paused • FIRST robotics • Toastmaster outside activities (ex: trainer) • Anything beyond minimum for • CodeRanch • JavaSig Leader Committee • NYC Scrum Organizer Committee https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 7
8. Exercise Write down (on paper or electronic) your major activities for September. • Can choose to focus on work or nonwork or both • Only you will see this unless you chose to share parts https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 8
9. Evening/weekend drill down from planner Weekly see how much laptop time 4+ 4+ 5+ Dragon boat pm call 8+ 1 0 0 0 pm bar Robot reveal pm calls (x3) Dragon boat 8+ 2 Balloon art Movie Bdwy show 0 0 4+ 0 8+ pm call movie 2+ 0 pm call pm call Battery dance Battery dance Battery dance pm call Battery dance Battery dance Battery dance 8+ 0 3+ pm call 8+ pm call US Open 4+ pm call 0 pm call (x2) 5+ 1 4+ US Open 2+ pool pm call friends 6+ pm call https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky US Open Ultimate Tennis 0 4+ friends 8+ US Open 9
10. Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Full Time Job FIRST Robotics Write Real World Java Start after robotics season OCP 21 Most time consuming items Highest cognitive load https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 10
11. Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Full Time Job FIRST Robotics Mom stroke + help recovery Write Real World Java Write OCP 21 June Replanning https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 11
12. Adjustments • Planned and unplanned • Kid sick is both don’t know when, but will happen https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 12
13. Examples: Priority & Time Box • Fun/friends - highest priority but (large) timebox • Exercise • walk - daily life, stairs • swim - medium priority • table tennis/pickleball - as time permits Time • Chores • food - high priority • cleaning - do less often when short on time • CodeRanch volunteering - only minimum https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 13
14. Exercise: This month • What are your highest priority things for the month? • What is timeboxed? https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 14
15. Brainpower https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 15
16. Focus • Identify which activities need focus • Time of day • Duration https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 16
17. Compartmentalization • Examples • only focus on current book chapter(s) • don’t open PDF to review as soon as get it • Write stuff down • Have a place where other thoughts go • Email (ex: work thought) • To do list (ex: non-work thought) • Text file (ex: key chapter thoughts) https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 17
18. Caching • Wiki/OneNote/etc • Both personal and shared • Spend less time looking stuff up • Just in time notes so ready when need - ex: to do list https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 18
19. Fire and Forget If something is written/ emailed, it doesn’t need to be in your head! Ex: Scott book review emails https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 19
20. Make it Easier to Start • End day with a failing JUnit test • Write a blog post outline • Note the first thing you want to do in the am Or the next prompt you want to run https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 20
21. Writing This Presentation Task Focus Where/when do Generate ideas No As think of Create slides/order/organize Yes At computer. Weekend. Chunks of time. Review/practice myself Yes Apply changes, add animations, graphics Practice with Neha No Printed doc. On commute. While waiting for people. AtUsOpen computer. After work in small time blocks. Scheduled meeting Yes https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 21
22. Exercise: Planning a task • Pick something you do periodically that is a large activity • Divide into logical tasks • Which require focus? • How long is each? • What part of the day is best to do them? https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 22
23. Planning Time and Tasks Whatever you choose: daily and weekly time for planning https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 23
24. Uses of Calendar(s) • Work - time, just in time notes, blocks • Personal - planner and weekend time/priorities • Wall - travel, birthdays • Overlap - ex: robotics on work calendar Remember to create blocks for focus and self Tracking kids and spouse activities: https://trishagee.com/2024/05/19/time-management-for-parents/ https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 24
25. Work To Do List • Paper • OneNote (previous Excel/Outlook/Planner) • Tabs by Switched to • Day vibe coded • Future months to do app • Future followups • When have time (but should do) • Low priority (may never do) https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 25
26. Personal To Do List • Todoist (previously used ToodleDo but harder to enter tasks) • Projects • Filters (ex: priority, location/context) • Recurring • Start date vs due date • Subtasks - small enough to actually do https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 26
27. Other Shared To Do Lists • Copy into Todoist when I have a task • Groups use • Trello • Word/Google docs • Memory https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 27
28. Finding Time! https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 28
29. How much time in your day? 24 hours - sleep —————— 16-18 hours? Tip: Sleep may or may not be constant, but is an investment https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 29
30. Optimize your habits Habits change Leaving for office Original Time (News radio 880) New Time (Now 1010 WINS) Wake up 6:24 6:26 Personal care part 1 (shower at night) 6:25 6:27 Eat breakfast while listening to traffic/ weather/news Rest of personal care 6:27 6:29 6:33 6:35 Take stuff by door and go 6:44 6:46 https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 30
31. Techniques • Microhabits • Habit Stacking (or chaining) • ex: brush teeth, shower, take out clothes • Placement of things (or rooms) • Don’t think about each thing https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 31
32. My Commute You own this time!!!! • Morning: read news and social media • Evening: read computer book or blog or problem solve or think! • If you drive: news or ebook or… https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 32
33. Opportunities to Read • Magazine or book • Before bed • If eating alone • While waiting for bus/train/ friend/event https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 33
34. Eisenhower Matrix with a Twist Important Not Important Urgent Not Urgent Do Decide when do it. Time? Focus? Schedule Subtasks help start! Delegate Pay? Quality? Delete Separate list Ok to have dreams https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky If takes 2-5 minutes, just do it. Otherwise decide when next want to think about it 34
35. Exercise Talk to a neighbor about where you might find time. Parallelizing things? Travel time? https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 35
36. Other tips https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 36
37. Pomodoro Timer • 25 minute pomodoro • 5 minute break • repeat 4 times • longer break Many free and paid apps. I use Be Focused Pro ($6) Have 5/15 minute chores to do during some computer breaks. ex: clean up, shower https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 37
38. Paperwork • When tired • End of day • During calls that don’t require attention but must attend - actual multitasking is bad • Listening for a small piece of (ex: condo meeting) • Identify tasks where quality doesn’t matter. 80/20 https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 38
39. Not Waiting for Deadlines Technique Example Commit to yourself “I will do this by X” Accountability Tell a friend or teammate will do by X Motivation “IM me to do my appraisal today” Artificial Deadlines Practiced this talk with Neha on 9/6 https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 39
40. Planning Around Events Sept 15 Fly Sept 16 Chicago Sept 17 Chicago Sept 18 Chicago Sept 19 Fly home Sept 20 Home Sept 21 Home Sept 22 Home Sept 23 Home Sept 24 Fly Sept 25 Atlanta Sept 26 Fly Sept 27 Sept 28 San Jose San Jose Sept 29 Sept 30 San Jose Fly Oct 1 Denver Oct 2 Denver Oct 3 Denver Oct 4 Fly Oct 5 San Diego Oct 6 Oct 7 Oct 8 Oct 9 Oct 10 San Diego San Diego Fly home Get Home Home Oct 11 Home Oct 12 Home What do before/after/while away. Context/time matter When events planned? https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 40
41. Saying No • “Learn to say no” • Negotiate time and scope • Identify tasks that no longer need doing • Boss doesn’t know/remember all you do https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky No 41
42. Enlist Others • Scott - no book until after back from robotics champs • Scott - limit WIP on discuss chapters • Friends - away/busy times https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 42
43. Case study: Volunteer Coordinator 2x https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky April 2026 43
44. Only so many hours per day… April 2026 April 6 April 7 April 8 April 9 April 10 April 11 Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Work Volunteer Volunteer 8am-8pm 7am-8pm 7am-6pm 7am-noon 7am-7pm 7am-7pm Volunteer Group noon-8pm dinner April 12 Volunteer 7am-7pm 1 hour+ commute each way https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 44
45. Techniques • Inform friends/family unavailable • Paper list of what do each evening • ex: gmail/volunteer system replies • ex: shower • Do nothing that isn’t on the list • Checklist for my partner each night of needs • Force myself to take breaks • Pay attention to my physical energy https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 45
46. Questions/Survey ? https://linktr.ee/jeanneboyarsky 46