Learn time management

Knowing how to manage your time effectively is crucial for just about any profession. In fact, time management is frequently cited as a top soft skill employers look for in candidates. Explore how online learning can help you strengthen your time management skills and improve your productivity in all aspects of your personal and professional life.

Create an account

Male college student checks his watch while sitting at a cafe. He is sitting at a table with notebook in a cafe, with his laptop open.

What is time management?

Time management involves planning, prioritizing, and executing tasks to improve effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity. It requires you to carefully allocate your time to meet your goals or deadlines with minimal stress. If procrastination has ever left you rushing to meet a deadline or finish a project, you may benefit from learning time management.

No matter your desired career path, time management skills are valuable across all industries, from business strategy and technology to food service and K-12 education. Mastering this skill requires ongoing practice, but time management courses and programs can help you learn the fundamentals or advanced strategies in a few weeks or months.

Explore learning paths for time management

Choosing the right time management program for you

There are several ways to learn time management online — even with a busy schedule. Before you enroll in a course or program, consider your availability, career, goals, and budget. Here are just a few of the ways you can learn time management online.

Take a course

An online course is one of the best ways to learn time management skills. Short, self-paced courses are suitable for anyone seeking knowledge about how time management applies to leadership, project management, or general professional skills.

Many courses are free to attend and take 4-12 weeks to complete.

Earn a professional certificate

Some courses offer the option to purchase a professional certificate. You can list this document on your LinkedIn profile and résumé to demonstrate your proficiency in a topic. This option is best for professionals who want to hone their time management skills in a specific, career-oriented area like leadership, computer science, or business communications — and display proof of their learnings.

Professional certificates generally cost $500-$1,500, depending on program length. Earning one usually takes 2-10 months.

Enroll in an executive education program

If you want to improve your time management skills to prepare for a senior leadership role, an executive education program may be a smart investment. These cohort-based online programs allow you to learn career-critical skills like time management in the context of leading teams and companies while networking with subject matter experts and fellow working professionals. This type of program is best for aspiring senior leaders who want to advance their careers without earning another degree.

Most learners complete executive education programs within 6-8 weeks for $2,500-$3,500.

Jobs that require time management

Most careers require some amount of time management. Since many industries have experienced a rise in remote work — the largest four industries went from a 17% remote workforce to 33% from 2019-22, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) — time management is more important than ever for many professionals.

While remote work requires self-directed scheduling and prioritization, many other types of roles demand time management skills for balancing projects, managing appointments, and meeting deadlines. Some roles that heavily rely upon time management skills include:

Physicians and surgeons

Medical professionals like physicians and surgeons must manage appointments to effectively care for patients within a timed, appointment-based schedule. Time management duties within these professions include prioritizing urgent medical cases, keeping appointments on track, and delegating tasks to administrative staff.

Required education: MD or DO plus a residency program
BLS median annual salary (2023): $239,200

Secretaries and administrative assistants

Secretaries and administrative assistants rely on effective time management skills to perform daily duties like managing calendars, scheduling meetings, organizing company events, and balancing multiple competing priorities. Since this role often helps an entire organization run smoothly, time management skills are key.

Required education: High school diploma or equivalent
BLS median annual salary (2023): $46,010

Project managers

Project managers are responsible for developing and coordinating the administrative aspects of projects. Project management duties include setting and enforcing deadlines, monitoring project milestones, and delegating tasks.

Required education: Bachelor's degree
BLS median annual salary (2023): $98,580

Frequently asked questions about time management

Why is time management such a valuable skill?

Time management helps you avoid unnecessary stress by prioritizing tasks and allocating your time effectively so you can meet deadlines. Collaborating with others on complex work projects also demands effective time management.

What careers require strong time management skills?

Time management skills are essential for most roles requiring deadlines — especially in leadership, administration, or management. Examples of these careers include entrepreneur, product developer, scrum master, business administrator, and marketing strategist.

How can I practice time management?

You can practice and hone your time management skills by:

Setting SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) goals
Using calendars and to-do lists
Eliminating distractions
Working in 25-minute increments divided by 5-minute breaks (the Pomodoro Technique)
Time-blocking
Batching similar tasks
Avoiding the urge to procrastinate

Last updated May 23, 2025