Top 26 Time Management Quotes: Boost Productivity & Inspiration

Effective time management is a cornerstone of personal and professional success. In a world filled with constant demands and distractions, inspirational quotes about time management offer valuable insights and motivation to help you navigate your daily challenges and make the most of every moment. Utilizing the best time management apps can also enhance your efficiency. In this article, we’ll explore a selection of thought-provoking quotes from renowned figures that provide guidance, wisdom, and encouragement for mastering the art of managing your time.

At Everhour, we’re timekeeping fanatics, and we appreciate that time management can be one tough job. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of the best time management quotes out there to keep you inspired and away from procrastination.

Inspiring Quotes on the Value of Time for Productivity

This is one of those quotes about time that has stood the test of time. Chances are you’ve heard it, or its short version “tempus fugit” (time flies), before being batted about by someone lamenting how short time is. “Fugit irreparable tempos” is Latin and means “it escapes, irretrievable time.” And it’s true! So, whenever you’re in the middle of a tough meeting wishing it would end, or a particularly challenging week, just remember that soon it will be over. Instead of relishing in a bad mood, try to focus on productivity and make your flying time worthwhile.

Of all the quotes about time management, this one holds a fundamental lesson. Time is a precious resource, and once it’s spent, it’s gone for good. While money can buy resources to increase your personal time, it’s still a finite resource. The bottom line is that managing your and your employees’ time correctly, not trying to acquire more of it, holds the key to both happiness and success.

A favorite childhood story and moral tale, The Little Prince, has lots of wisdom to teach about the value of time and a little bit more. Like the good things in life we fail to appreciate, we also take for granted achievements that require very little time or effort. For example, perhaps you have a talent for programming. You do it well and have found very little need to improve. Soon you may feel undersatisfied with this gift that has been granted. But if you invest a little time, and develop your skills, you may find pleasure in your own ‘rose.’

Darwin was nothing if not direct. From “survival of the fittest” to “a scientific man ought to have no wishes, no affections, – a mere heart of stone,” some might suggest too straightforward. However, Darwin’s advice holds true. Time lost is time wasted. So that hour spent procrastinating over that fun new mobile game might’ve been better spent working towards something you care about – an exciting project, or even learning a new language. But that doesn’t mean all downtime is worthless. Learning to make the most of your working time means you can enjoy your free time and engage in meaningful, self-care activities.

These quotes emphasize the intrinsic value of time, stressing that it is a finite and irreplaceable resource. They encourage the reader to respect and cherish time, avoiding waste.

Motivational Quotes to Overcome Procrastination

We all know that procrastination isn’t great for our productivity, but that doesn’t stop us from doing it anyway. We fill our precious time with “productive” activities like coffee breaks, cleaning the office fridge, or searching for the perfect new notepad. But while you procrastinate, time slips away. This often means rushing to catch up later, resulting in jeopardized time with family or leisure activities. The first step to avoiding procrastination is knowing how much time you spend avoiding working. Use a time tracker for 7 days and be amazed at how you’re spending your time. Chances are change is on the horizon.

Famous Chinese philosopher and writer, Lao Tzu, might’ve lived in the 6^th Century BC, but this advice is no less relevant now than it was then. We all want to please others, so while “I don’t have time” might sound nicer, it’s not always the truth. When it comes to managing your workload, sometimes it pays to be upfront and honest about your priorities. This can save a lot of procrastination, hardship, and inefficiency. By concentrating on work you love, it might even feel that you’ve never ‘worked’ a day in your life. But, take this with a pinch of salt. Sometimes you need to do those tough tasks too. 

What are you doing right this second? Aside from reading this article, that is. Are you planning your next meeting, wondering whether to create a conference call for the project or even to get started with that startup idea you had? If you’re like most of us, you might be ‘planning’ these things, but there’s never a deadline. You might say to yourself, “I’ll start on Monday.” Then Monday will roll around, and it’ll be next week, then the next. Take matters into your own hands and get started on working on making the future a reality. When? Well, there’s no better time than the present. What are you waiting for?

There are times in life when it may seem that we are coasting towards an inevitable end, where nothing can be done to stop the passage of time. If you’ve ever experienced a quarter or mid-life crisis, you’ll know this little voice too well. Don’t listen! Instead, be that other person, the one driven by success, spurred on by talent, and dependent on dedication. Use the time to your advantage and become the person you always wanted to be and help your staff to do the same. We’re not saying every step you take will be the right one, but keeping moving forward is vital. When you look back, you’ll be amazed at how much you’ve achieved. 

These quotes focus on the dangers of procrastination and the importance of seizing the moment. They highlight the need for immediate action and the mindset required to maximize productivity.

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Quotes on Mindfulness and Present Moment Awareness

C.S. Lewis alludes to the fact that what you’re doing right this second affects the future. That’s why Angela from Accounts is now the Financial Director, while Jack from Sales got the boot. Learn to hone your focus, and you might even find that productivity is much more interesting than what’s going on in your daydream. Try the Pomodoro technique to break down your day into efficient working periods with little breaks to boost your brainpower.

A man with a lot to say about time, among other things, but this little gem has to be one of Einstein’s smartest quotes about time. Do you find yourself busy with the next big project and thinking only of what will happen at tomorrow’s meeting? Or, perhaps you’re reliving the last one. Either way, you’re missing the point. The only time is right now. We can’t change the past. And while our actions influence the future. What matters is what you’re doing this very second. Employing mindfulness techniques alongside proper time management can help you get back on track and focus on what really matters.

“If only there were 25 hours in a day or 8 days in a week.” If you’ve caught yourself muttering these phrases, perhaps after another Sunday working, then you may have a problem with time management. Of course, there is enough time for everything if you have no deadlines, but that’s not the reality. To be able to optimize your day and make the most out of the precise time you have, while having a little time to relax, it’s essential to get your timekeeping in order. By planning in advance, you’ll save yourself a massive headache and will be able to head to bed and not worry about what tomorrow will bring.

From thinking you’ll finish that project by the next deadline to your passion project that’s sitting on the back burner (you’ll get there one day), thinking you have all the time in the world to do something is a dangerous game. By not making something a priority, you risk it never getting done. If you’re a manager, believing you have more time than you do could jeopardize your project (and client relationships). So before you begin, it’s vital you know how much time a task takes and how many people you need, before you start, not after. Using an integrated time tracker or free time card calculator, you can evaluate your team’s productivity and more accurately provide project quotes.

These quotes advocate for living in the present moment and not getting lost in thoughts of the past or future. They encourage mindfulness, emphasizing that the present is the only time we can truly influence.

Strategic Time Management Quotes for Success

Whether you’ve managed to make it through reading War and Peace or just watched the TV version, this inspirational quote about time has two powerful messages. (Find it in War and Peace. Book Thirteen: 1812. Chapter XVII). The first is time. Knowing how best to spend your time allows you to optimize your productivity and avoid procrastination. The second is patience. Sometimes it’s best to wait until an opportunity comes around, others you need to grab it while the iron is hot. In business, this might mean not rushing to send that late-night email to get it out of the way. Or conducting vital negotiations at 5 in the evening. Have patience and wait until the timing is right.

How do you think about time? As something that causes you to get up and go to work in the morning because it’s 8 am and you have to, or as an opportunity to do something great? If it’s the former, we get it; survival mode is necessary at times. But, instead, try to focus more on being in the latter category. Make every second count. Utilize the time that is given to your and your company’s advantage. Make plans and stick to them, and focus on getting the most out of the time that you do have.  

Time passes quickly, even if it doesn’t seem like it at the moment. Blink and a minute passes, another blink, and it’s an hour, another, a year. But it’s up to us what we do in between those blinks. Focus on the minutes of your day and plan your time well. Find time to work, time for relaxation, and time to simply do the things you love. By organizing your time efficiently, you’ll soon find “boredom” isn’t a word that features in your vocabulary, and we hope “stress” isn’t either. 

These quotes highlight the importance of using time strategically, advocating for careful planning, patience, and focusing on the small tasks that lead to larger successes.

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Quotes on Motivation and Self-Discipline

Steve Jobs was always one to march to the beat of his own drum. From dropping out of college to founding an innovative company known as Apple, Jobs put his ideas and priorities front and center. While this level of dedication to one’s ideas isn’t always conducive to a team environment, this is definitely one of those inspirational quotes about time management that you’ll want to pay attention to. Budding entrepreneurs, employees, and business owners alike take heed. You really do have a limited amount of time, so focus on what’s important, get the work done, and be yourself, as far as you can be (there’s no need for diva-like strops).

Time might pass and the day’s challenges with it, but if you want something to change in your life, then that’s down to you. If you’re content with how things are going, let time pass as it does. But if you have the desire for growth, and to push your company forward, then it’s time to get down to business. Make every moment count by actively engaging in activities that will make that happen. Start by monitoring what you currently do with your time (and what your team does), then adjust that to make it work more efficiently towards your goals. That way, you’ll soon become the pilot of your own success.

There isn’t a person on the planet who has experienced a life free of problems. But, if you happen to hear of a person like this, send him our way, we’d love to listen to his secrets. The fact is we all experience challenges, and when the going gets tough, it’s important to remember this little phrase by Mr. Schuller: “Tough times never last, but tough people do.” Think of the challenges that come your way as opportunities to grow, and soon you’ll see the other side. It doesn’t make those difficult times less stressful, but it makes the struggle worth every second.

Emerson had it right with this one; we don’t know a good thing until it has passed. Often, we take the positives in our lives for granted. Perhaps it’s a kind boss who approves your desired holiday requests on time or an employee who is always ready for their work. In the US alone, 65% of survey employees said they hadn’t received any recognition for their hard work. With lack of recognition listed as one of the top reasons for leaving a job, this could be risky business for companies looking to retain staff.  Showing recognition for a job well done can have tremendous results in your organization, and the costs are as low as a small ‘thank you.’

These quotes inspire individuals to stay motivated and disciplined in their time management, urging them to focus on their personal goals and values, even in challenging times.

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Humorous Quotes on Time Management

Philosopher Henry David Thoreau is well-known for questioning what we think we know about society and the world around it. Drawing comparisons to the world all around, Thoreau questions why we are busy and what are we doing with our time. Are we busy like ants, trying to build a new nest, or are we merely keeping busy to fill the time? While it might be funny to think of humans as creatures scuttling about, look a little closer and consider if you’re productively using your day or simply keeping busy for busyness’ sake. Once you’ve done that, it might be time to make some changes to reinvigorate your routine. 

If it’s getting to the end of the day and you’re sitting and running through a list of all those tasks you need to reassign until tomorrow; you’re not alone. Trying to accomplish too much in one day is a fool’s game, no matter how admirable it may be. There’s simply never enough time to do it all – managing a family, work projects, house cleaning, hobbies, evening classes, etc. In fact, you’d have to be the Flash to get all that done, and he’d probably struggle too. So, if you’ve done your best work, and your team is satisfied, then it’s time to put down that computer or those tools, take a well-earned rest, and accept that those tasks will simply have to wait until tomorrow.

Although Ms. Chanel might’ve warned against beating on a wall in the hope that it might become a door, her biography paints her as doing just that. Overcoming poverty to become a world-famous fashion designer is no easy feat, after all. Or maybe it’s best to interpret this phrase another way. If you see no solution to your problem – such as a missing door – try another solution, a window perhaps. You are the master of your own fate and timekeeping, so don’t waste it.

These quotes use humor to make a point about the often misguided ways people manage their time. They offer a light-hearted perspective on the importance of effective time management.

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Philosophical Reflections on Time

Speeding towards the finish line with no plan insight isn’t a good idea. You can quickly lose track of where you’re going and run yourself off course entirely. The same goes for your working life. When you rush your tasks or activities, you may soon find that the results aren’t quite what you desired. Instead, take a step back, breathe, rethink, and replan. Start your next project by laying out the steps in front of you and including good timekeeping practices and planning from the very beginning. If you’ve got a team to lead, take into account that speed doesn’t equal quality. Adding more working hours to your schedule doesn’t always lead to higher productivity. Instead, re-evaluate. You might even find that an adjusted working schedule helps pace your team get you the results you deserve. 

Love him or hate him; there’s no doubt that Shakespeare’s works contained some words of wisdom that have lasted the ages. “Time and the hour run through the roughest day” is undoubtedly one of Shakesphere’s prolific quotes about time. These short verses encourage those who are struggling with the minutes to see the bigger picture. Take these words in heed when embroiled in lengthy negotiations where it seems even the seconds are dragging on, each one of them is vital in reaching the overall result, no matter how rough it may be.

We’re not suggesting being on time or meeting deadlines is overrated. After all, we are huge fans of making things happen on time…but they should be taken with a pinch of salt. Punctually is all well and good, but when you’re rushing around taking care of someone else’s priorities – meeting on their terms, their deadlines ­– something has got to give. Instead, take a step back a figure out what will work for you, set reasonable deadlines, and put you and your team’s health first. Keep these good timekeeping rules and optimize your work processes for the better.

Focusing on what you do in your minutes, may define how your hours and days are filled, but what defines you? How you spend your time, both at home and the office, says a lot about where your priorities lie. Showing up on time for work each day indicates dedication, while taking an extra hour at lunch may suggest your priorities fall elsewhere. But, this isn’t about what others think, this is about you. By defining your goals and dividing your time accordingly, you’ll be able to unlock new potential within yourself and for your company. 

These quotes reflect on time from a philosophical standpoint, questioning common practices and offering wisdom about the deeper aspects of time and life.

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Time Management Quotes: Bonus

Thanks, Kelly, for that fantastic quote! We can’t help but agree, and it’s not just our opinion.

Did you know?

Over 3,000+ teams of different sizes and industries choose Everhour to track time and expenses, properly bill their clients, and better understand how long specific jobs took for future quotes and estimates for a reason. Read what our clients actually had to say about us.

Or, if you’re ready to make a change in your timekeeping habits – Get in touch and see how Everhour can help you get to grips with timekeeping for you and your business.

If you are managing a team of 5 or more and looking to boost efficiency, Everhour is the perfect tool to keep your team on track. With seamless time tracking, you can easily estimate task durations, set clear budgets, and generate detailed reports inside Asana, Trello, Jira, or any other pm tool.