10 Best Time Management Activities and Games for Training

Time management activities and games make training more engaging and help participants retain information and acquire the skill easily.

Want to make time management training sessions more engaging for its participants? Include time management activities and games as part of training or ice-breaker, or warm-up. They are a fascinating way to help participants acquire a skill and stay motivated during training. 

In this article, I have gathered 10 best time management games and activities that you can use during training sessions as a trainer.  

Benefits of using games in training 

In training sessions, time management activities work as an excellent tool to hone a skill and solve real-life challenges. There are various benefits of keeping different types of games and activities in training sessions. Here are a few of them included.

1. Engaging: Games and activities make a training program more engaging for its participants. They reduce the monotony of training and make it more enjoyable.
2. Learning retention: Because of active participation in games, the learning retention of a person improves. A participant can retain more information and skill from the training.
3. Strengthen teamwork skills: Most of the games require collaboration with other participants to do a task. It helps them learn how to cooperate and work with friends and colleagues. Also, make the most of time and resources.
4. Improves reflex: Games and activities are usually fast-paced. Participants need to react on time to progress in the challenges, which is helpful for the development of reflex ability, sensory nervous system, concentration, and critical thinking. 

10 fun activities for time management training

There a range of time management activities and games are freely available on the internet. Here are the top 10 of them have gathered to help you run a training session with fun. 

1. How long is a minute?

Key idea: How differently do we perceive time.   

Overview: This is a simple but effective time management activity for training. You can use it at the beginning of a training session. Ask participants to close their eyes for 60 seconds and sit down or open their eyes when they think 60 seconds have passed. 

You’ll see that the participants open their eyes or sit down at different times. Some participants experience this one minute as a short period, while others perceive it as a long time. 

What you will need: 

• a timekeeping device, 
• a person to track the time of the participants’ activities. 

Instructions: 

1. Cover all clocks in the room and ask participants to put away their phones and wristwatches. 
2. Ask everyone to stand up and close their eyes. 
3. Then tell them to sit down quietly (so that other people do not know) when they think 60 seconds have passed. 
4. Keep a record of the sitting time of the first 4/5 participants. 
5. Once everybody sits down, you can start your discussion. 

Time Management Lesson: 

Through this time management activity, the participants will get an idea of their perception, which will help them estimate how much time it might take them for an activity or a project.  

In addition, they will learn that passion, time, and productivity are connected. As the participants sit down at different times, you can point out that time depends heavily on perception. Although time goes faster for some people, other people find it hard to pass a particular time. 

2. What I did yesterday 

Key idea: Reflect on how we use our time.  

Overview: In this game, the participants will get two pieces of paper to make lists of their yesterday’s activities. In the first list, they will jot down ten things they did yesterday. And in the second list, they will make a list of the things they expect to discuss at their performance review. Then they will compare both lists and try to find a link between work performance and activities. 

What you will need: 

• A pen and two pieces of paper for each participant. 

Instructions: 

1. Ask participants to write down ten things they did yesterday on the first piece of paper. 
2. Then on another piece of paper, ask them to jot down five things they accomplished yesterday and expect to discuss at their performance review. 
3. Next, look at the two lists together and mark the activities on the first list that have links to the second list.

Time Management Lesson: 

This activity gives an idea about the working pattern in a typical day. Most of us spend time on tasks that have little or no consequence on our performance. This activity will train the brain to set the daily schedule according to high-impact work. Also, it will encourage participants to accept an appropriate amount of work and focus on their priorities. 

3. $86,400

Key idea:  Demonstrate the importance of using time wisely. 

Overview: This time management activity can be demonstrated individually or in groups. Here, the participants have to imagine that they get $86,400 each morning. They must spend the money in one day. Unused money cannot be banked and used another day. How will they spend the money? 

What you will need: 

• A pen and a piece of paper for each participant. 

Instructions: 

1. Ask the participants – if you get $86,400 only for a day, how would you spend it? 
2. Explain the rule of the game – they have to use the money within 24 hours. They can’t bank the money or use it another day. Anything they failed to spend is lost. 
3. Have everyone write down a plan about how they would spend the money. 
4. Next, have them share their plan. Then discuss the significance of this time management activity. 

Time Management Lesson: 

$86,400 is a visual representation of time, as there are 86,400 seconds in a day. We can’t save it, but we can use the time wisely to improve our skills, health, or relationships. Time is about making the right choices – we can spend it wisely on improving our living or waste it.  

4. The Ribbon of Life

Key idea:  Measuring actual time at our disposal to reach success. 

Overview: In this activity, you need to take a 100 cm long ribbon where a centimeter represents one year. First, cut the ribbon according to the average lifespan of humans. Then trim it according to the average age of the participants of the group. Continue cutting it for things like weekends, family time, sleep, and other no-work obligations. Finally, there will be a short ribbon left. This remaining ribbon demonstrates how little time we have to work. Therefore, we should utilize time wisely. 

What you will need: 

• a ribbon that is 100cm long
• a pair of scissors

Instructions: 

1. Ask the group: What is the average lifespan of an individual?
   The general answer is between 75 and 85.  Let’s assume that it is 79. So cut the 29cm off the ribbon to make it 79.
2. Then ask the group: What is the average age of the participants?
   The answer depends on the group you are conducting this activity with. Let’s say it is 29 years. It means 29 years have already passed from life. So cut 29cm more from the ribbon. Now, 50cm of ribbon is left.
3. Now ask the participants: Now, we’ve 50 years left, right?
   Although the general answer is ‘yes,’ the actual answer is ‘no.’

We need to consider a lot of factors in this lifespan. For example, weekends, holidays, casual/sick leave, sleeping, and eating. 

Let’s calculate the length of those factors. 

So cut off 43.5cm more from the ribbon. Now, 6.5cm of ribbon is left. 

Time Management Lesson: 

This remaining length of the ribbon represents the amount of time to succeed in life. A person has only 6.5 years to make it or break it. 

5. Circadian Rhythm

Key idea: Identify optimal time for critical and attention-demanding tasks. 

Overview: This activity is related to ‘Biological Prime Time’ – a time when a person remains more alert, energetic, and attentive to work. 

In this game, participants label their energy level in the hours’ block while doing their daily activities. At the end of the game, they get the idea about natural energy that fluctuates during the day. 

What you will need: 

• a paper with hourly blocks 

Download – Blank Worksheet on Circadian Rhythm Activity 

Instructions: 

1. Ask participants to plot their typical day from waking up to sleep in an hourly block paper. 
2. They should label the hourly blocks with the following headings –
   – on fire
   – vibrant
   – cruise control
   – 70% energy level
   – distracted
   – slowing down
   – tired or hungry
   
3. Discuss with the participants when to tackle the critical tasks and when to do mundane tasks. They should work on valuable and challenging tasks in the ‘on fire’ hour block. On the other hand, they should tackle less valuable work during ‘cruise control’ or ‘70% energy level’ blocks. ‘Distracted’ or ‘showing down’ blocks are ideal for taking breaks.

Time Management Lesson: 

The circadian rhythm game helps people to synchronize their work with their body clock. People will discover the hours with an ideal energy level, which will help them schedule their tasks according to their energy level. 

However, in a team, it is an opportunity to boost communication with coworkers. If everyone on a team posts their energy rhythm on a wall, they can get to know teammates better. They can develop an effective working schedule for the team. Also, they will understand how their ideal working time fits with others. 

6. “Big Picture” puzzle challenge

Key idea: Knowing the importance of having a clear goal in mind before doing or planning any activity. 

Overview: The Big Picture challenge is considered an ideal exercise for team building and problem-solving. However, it is used in time management games to demonstrate the link between having a clear goal and the speed in doing a task. 

At first, the participants will get the parts of a puzzle to match together, but they will not get the idea of the finished puzzle. After they try to set the puzzle cards together for a few minutes, the big picture of the puzzle will be unveiled to help them complete the puzzle quickly. 

What you will need: 

• Jigsaw puzzle box

Instructions: 

1. Give the participants the pieces of a puzzle to match, which would be the segments of a big picture. Do not show them the final masterpiece. 
2. Let them work together to match the puzzle without having the idea of the completed puzzle.  
3. Push them to finish the puzzle as quickly as possible. 
4. Interrupt the process after 3 minutes, ask the participants: what makes this task difficult? 
5. Their possible answer may indicate the absence of a reference picture of the puzzle.
6. At that point, unveil the big picture of the finished puzzle and ask them to complete the puzzle. 
7. After the participants get the image of the final masterpiece, they will likely match the puzzle quickly. 

Time Management Lesson: 

This time management exercise helps the participants to understand the importance of having a goal. When they have an aim ( the big picture), they will plan their daily and weekly activities more efficiently. They prioritize their tasks aligning with the goal, so no hours are wasted. They will not spend time on urgent tasks or doing the tasks others want them to do. 

7. The Mayonnaise Jar Lesson

Key idea: Doing the most important things first. 

Overview: Make several groups from total participants. Give each group a mayo jar and some materials – rocks, gravel, and sand. Ask them to fill the container with as much material as possible. At first, let the groups do it on their own. After that, show them the correct order to put the materials – rocks, gravel, and sand. Relate this activity with life and daily activities. 

What you will need: 

• Large jars (like a mayonnaise jar) for each group.  
• Large rocks
• Gravel
• Sand 

Instructions: 

1. Divide the participants into several groups. Provide a large jar and other materials (rocks, gravel, and sand) to each group.  
2. Ask the groups to fill the container with all the materials and try to get everything into it.  
3. The groups may fill the container with sand and gravel first, leaving little or no space for large rocks.
4. Then show them the correct order – the large rocks first, then gravel, and finally send. This order will help them to put more items into the container.
5. Finally, explain to them which material represents what. 

• • The jar represents our life and a day. 
  • The rocks represent our priority tasks and meaningful things in our life – family, health, and work. 
  • The gravels represent less vital tasks or other things that matter- house, car, smaller commitments, or projects that add value to your life or work.
  • The sand is everything else, the small stuff or unimportant tasks. 

If we put sand in the container first, there would be no space for gravel or rocks. The same thing happens to our lives. If we spend our valuable time and energy on unimportant tasks, we will have less time to do meaningful things in our life or a day. 

Learn the steps of this game from this YouTube video: Jar Of Life – Put IMPORTANT Things FIRST!

Time Management Lesson: 

Pay attention to the things that are meaningful and truly important for your life. You can not do big things if you are distracted by the small stuff. Set your priorities according to their importance.  

8. Colored blocks

Key idea: Doing tasks according to their importance. 

Overview: This game is played in two rounds. In the first round, the participants will gather as many colored blocks as possible in one minute. They’ll use their non-dominant hand and pick one block at a time. The goal of this game is to get the most points. When the time is up, count the number of blocks each participant collected. Give one point for each block.  

In the second round, assign a different point value to the blocks based on their color. For instance, blue = 1, red = 2, green = 3 etc. Repeat the exercise with the same goal. 

This time the participants will think about the point value associated with each block. They will plan and try to get more scores by collecting fewer blocks. 

What you will need: 

• A set of blocks of different colors,
• A table

Instructions: 

1. Give the participants instruction – they have to collect as many blocks as they can in one minute. For each block, they will get one point. 
2. Let them know the goal of the game – get the most points. Also, the ground rules: 

• • They must pick up the blocks with their non-dominant hand, which is usually the left hand.  
  • They are allowed to pick up one block at a time. 

1. Then start the first round of the game. Spread the blocks on the table and let them collect the blocks. 
2. After one minute, count their blocks and points. Then tell them to note down their own score. 
3. Before starting the second round of the game, assign different points to the blocks according to their color. For instance, blue = 1, red = 2, green = 3 etc. 
4. Then repeat the game with the same goal. After one minute, count the points of the participants. Then compare the new score with the score of the first round and discuss.  

This discussion should highlight the importance of planning and prioritization to achieve more in a limited time. 

Time Management Lesson:  

From this game, the participants will learn how to prioritize blocks according to point values. They can relate this strategy to their everyday activities. They will realize the importance of prioritization, which will help them plan and do high-value tasks first.

9. The Ace of Spades

Key idea: Understanding the connection between good organization skills and time management. 

Overview: In this time management activity, two participants will get two decks of cards. One participant will get a shuffled and randomized deck, but the other will get a sequentially organized deck. They will race to find the Ace of Spades. 

The person with the organized deck will find the right card quickly because of sequential order by number and suits. On the other hand, the other participant will struggle to find the card from the randomized deck. 

What you will need: 

• Two decks of cards – one organized and one randomized, 
• Two volunteers from the participants.  

Instructions: 

1. Invite two participants to take part in the race as a volunteer. 
2. Give each of them one deck of cards. Don’t let them know about the difference between the two decks. 
3. Instruct them to find the Ace of Spades in the deck as quickly as possible.
4. The participant with the organized deck will possibly find the right card quickly than the participant with the mixed deck.
5. Discuss – The organized deck represents working on tasks in an organized way. And the randomized deck represents working without a plan or order. Therefore, spending a little time organizing a schedule for the day will save time and improve productivity. 

Time Management Lesson:

This time management exercise demonstrates the importance of proper planning and organization. It helps us do everyday tasks easily and quickly. We can be more efficient and productive if we plan and organize our schedules ahead and keep our workplace well organized. 

10. Time Squared

Key idea: Identify time wasters and find ways to increase the productive time.  

Overview: For this activity, each participant will get three different pages printed with 24 squares (represents 24 hours of a day).  

First, give the participants a page to fill out the squares with their routine activities. Then give them the second page and ask them to fill the squares with the non-productive activities they do throughout the day. Finally, hand them the third page and ask them to collate the activities from the earlier pages. The rest of the squares will remain blank, and these empty squares represent their productive time. 

 What you will need: 

• For each participant, allocate a pen and three pieces of paper printed with 24 squares.

Note: Use different-colored papers. For example, red color for the 1st page, green for the 2nd page, and purple for the 3rd page. 

Download – Blank Worksheet on Time Squared Activity 

Instructions: 

1. Hand the participants the first page, and ask them to fill out the squares with the routine activities they do throughout the day. For example, sleeping 7 hours = 7 square, eating 4 hours = 4 squares, etc.  
2. Then distribute the participants the second page. Instruct them to fill out the squares with the non-working time they spend in a day, such as coffee breaks, talk shops, checking social networks, etc. 
3. Finally, hand them the third paper and ask them to add everything from the 1st and 2nd pages on the 3rd page. 
4. Now tell them to count empty squares, which represent their productive time. 

Time Management Lesson: 

This time management activity gives participants perspective on how much time do they spend productively. They will realize time wasters and consider rearranging time to have a more productive time.  

Key takeaways 

The above time management training activities reflect time management principles that we should follow in our everyday life. Here are the key takeaways of the games discussed.  

1. Utilize: Time is limited. Therefore, it is essential to utilize it wisely. ‘What I did yesterday’ and ‘$86,400’ games help the participants understand how they are spending time and how they should.
2. Prioritize: Through ‘The Ribbon of Life’ game, the participants will realize how much time they have to bring a difference in their life. ‘The Mayonnaise Jar’ Lesson will tell them to do the most important tasks first. The key message of these games is to utilize time efficiently to achieve goals.
3. Optimize: We should do critical and attention-demanding tasks according to our Biological Prime Time. ‘Circadian rhythm’ game gives the idea of optimizing a to-do list and an effective working schedule according to biological prime time.
4. Organize: An organized workplace and an organized schedule help us do daily tasks easily and quickly. The participants will realize it through the game ‘The Ace of Spades’. Also, they will understand the necessity of planning or organized schedules from the ‘Colored blocks’ game.
5. Minimize: The ‘Time Squared’ game demonstrates the necessity of limiting time-wasting activities to get more productive time in a day. 

However, one game does not give the idea of one skill of time management. Each game is related to multiple skills. These games or activities are helpful to implant time management skills in the mind.  

Other uses of time management activities and games

Aside from using the above time management exercises as part of a training session, you can use them in an office environment to have fun. The employees will learn a new skill in a fun way, and they can unwind also. In addition, the activities are an excellent tool for team-building exercises. 

In training sessions, you can use the games as warm-up activities and ice-breakers. These time management games work as an excellent tool to improve the sensory nervous system, concentration, and critical thinking ability.  

Wrap up 

The above activities and games you can use in training for teaching time management skills to adults. Even some of the games you can apply for teens to let them know about different aspects of time management. You can use them as it is or according to your training need. Need more resources to enrich your training session? Explore – time management skills and time management techniques. 

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