8 Of The Best Unusual CEO Time Management Tricks
No colour-coded calendars or inbox zero in sight
One of my favourite parts of my job is that whenever I meet an exec, I love finding out the quirky techniques they use to manage their disgustingly busy schedules.
Time management advice often feels like a remix of the same old hits: wake up early, use a calendar, batch your emails. But in the wild world of startups and C-suites, some leaders have found very creative ways to take back control of their time.
Here are 8 brilliant ideas that I’ve come across-and genuinely loved! to bring you a list of productivity tricks that are anything but typical. Bonus: many are refreshingly human.
1. Laptop Battery Deadlines
David Niu, founder and CEO of TINYpulse, has a simple but brilliant trick: work in coffee shops without his laptop charger. This eliminates endless tinkering or procrastinating-when the battery runs out, so does the work session. It forces intense focus within a self-imposed time limit.
2. The 3x24 Decision Rule
Motivational speaker Divya Parekh suggests this unusual framework for decision-making: spend 24 seconds on small choices, 24 minutes on medium ones, and 24 hours for major decisions. It’s a helpful way to keep your brain from spinning its wheels on things that don’t deserve all-day deliberation.
3. The 50-Minute Hour
A classic therapist trick adapted for the boardroom. One gaming company exec insists on scheduling all hour-long meetings for 50 minutes. This gives everyone a chance to breathe (or hit the bathroom) between back-to-back Zooms. A tiny buffer makes a big difference.
4. No Meetings Before 10 AM
A CEO of a top tech company once revealed to me that she keeps mornings meeting-free. This is her time for workouts and personal training. Carving out personal time in the morning means showing up sharper-and healthier-for the rest of the day.
5. Financial Accountability for Goals
Malcolm Ocean, founder of Complice, once pledged to write 1,000 words a day or pay $100 to a peer for every day he didn’t. It’s a ruthless but effective way to stay on track. When there’s money on the line, procrastination gets expensive.
6. Unusual Wake-Up Times
Michael Affronti, SVP at Fuze, sets his alarm for exactly 4:22 AM. The specificity makes it harder to ignore and sets the tone for intentionality. That quirky precision can trick your brain into obedience.
7. Clean Up the Time Confetti
Brigid Schulte coined the term "time confetti" to describe how our days get shredded into micro-moments by distractions, pings, and endless tasks. Her advice: stop trying to patch the scraps. Instead, plan uninterrupted time in larger blocks-and let yourself truly waste time on purpose when you choose to.
8. Work by Weather
According to research by Harvard's Francesca Gino and others, people tend to focus better on gloomy days. So instead of fighting the forecast, some leaders lean into it: save creative or deep work for rainy days, and batch calls or emails on the sunny ones. This approach allows the weather to guide your workflow naturally.
To Sum Up
You don’t have to stick to the same old boring productivity hacks to get more out of your time. Sometimes, it’s about getting clever-playing mind games with yourself, syncing with your environment, or just leaving the charger at home.
Even weaving just one or two of these into your week could give you a refreshingly simple boost in what you can accomplish. Which one will you try first?
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