Improve your productivity with the Alpen Method
Many people often wonder in the evening, after a hard day of work, why their to-do list keeps on growing and growing. More hours working or harder working doesn't seem to make this list shrink.
They have an end goal, but because of the ever-growing to-do list, they never seem to reach this goal.
The Alpen time management method is designed to solve this problem. Its target is to offer more efficiency, add some freedom to your work day, and improve your productivity.
Let's have a look at what the Alpen Method is and how you can implement it.
1. Why is called 'Alpen Method'?
This time management technique aims to create a plan for the day within a few minutes, making it easier to structure your day and keep track of it.
This system was developed by a German economist and time management expert, Professor Lothar Seiwert, and its structured approach to daily planning focuses on simplicity and efficiency.
The word Alpen (which means 'Alps' in German) is the acronym of Activities - Length - Planning buffer time - Establishing priorities - Note follow-up
2. How to implement the Alpen method
1. Activities (A)
First, you write down all the activities, tasks, and appointments planned for the day. This to-do list should include every personal and work related, such as business meetings, running errands, writing emails, etc. It is essential to write down all activities so nothing is overlooked.
Creating such an extensive and detailed list helps you better visualize your workload and makes sure nothing is forgotten.
2. Length (L)
Once you have written down all your activities, you now have to assign a realistic time duration to each activity. This is based on your personal experience, as you have done all these tasks before.
You probably experienced that you complete the same task in different periods of time. This all has to do with distractions, personal mood, and other factors. Therefore, setting realistic time limits is important and prevents overloading your schedule. With these limits, your tasks will be completed quickly and promptly.
If writing a report takes 2 hours for you, block that amount of time in your schedule.
3. Planning time buffer (P)
This part is a unique and critical part of this method, and it involves setting a part of your time aside as a buffer for unexpected delays and interruptions. A good practice is to allocate 30-40% of your day as buffer time.
This buffer time helps you to cope with unforeseen events and reduces stress because it gives you extra room to finish a task. Another advantage is that this buffer keeps your schedule flexible and easily adaptable.
If, for example, you have eight working hours, plan around 5-6 hours of actual tasks and have a 2-3 hour buffer.
4. Establishing priorities (E)
You have already listed all your activities and assigned time to every task; now, it's time to prioritize these tasks based on their importance and urgency. This also involves deciding which tasks require immediate attention and which can be delegated or done later.
When you prioritize your tasks, it helps you focus on the most important tasks and ensures the most essential ones are done first.
If you have an important call, prioritize this call high and allocate time for it before you start scheduling other tasks.
5. Note follow-up (N)
The last step is to review and evaluate your day's activities at the end of the day. You check if you managed to stick to your schedule and the accuracy of your time allocation for each task and see if you can improve things.
According to this, you adjust your next day's to-do list.
This follow-up helps you refine your planning skills and make adjustments for future schedules. It will lead to continuous improvement and better time management.
3. Benefits the Alpen method
