Time Wasters
Time Wasters
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Time Management Activity: Time Wasters Strategy Game
Category: Games & Activities
Estimated Time: 15–25 minutes (depending on chosen activities)
Group Size: Four teams recommended for core activity
Learning Objectives
- Identify common workplace time wasters and reflect on their impacts.
- Collaboratively develop practical, creative strategies to manage or eliminate time wasters.
- Encourage team accountability for improving time use and reducing distractions.
Materials Needed
- Four envelopes labeled with major time wasters
- Four blank index cards inside each envelope
- Markers or pens for each team
- Slips of paper with various time wasters (for charades)
- Flipchart or whiteboard (optional for collective notes)
- Timer or stopwatch
Core Activity: Envelope Swap
- Select four major time wasters from your session (examples: drop-in visitors, travel time, lengthy phone calls, unproductive meetings).
- Write one time waster on the back of each envelope and place four blank index cards inside.
- Divide participants into four teams and give each team one envelope.
- Each team writes one solution for managing that time waster on an index card, returns it to the envelope, and passes the envelope to the next team.
- Each round lasts 3 minutes. Continue for 2–3 rounds so every team addresses every time waster.
- End by reviewing all solutions and voting on the most practical and impactful strategies.
Facilitation Tips
- Demonstrate one round to ensure teams understand the process.
- Use visible or verbal timers to keep rounds lively and on schedule.
- Encourage equal participation within teams and diverse idea generation.
- Capture final solutions on a flipchart or digital board for easy review and voting.
- Set voting criteria like ease of implementation, impact on productivity, and creativity.
Debrief & Discussion Questions
- Which time waster inspired the most creative solutions?
- What solutions seem easiest to implement immediately?
- How can teams hold each other accountable to reduce these time wasters?
- Did you discover any surprising new time-wasters or management tactics?
Alternative Activity 1: Time Audit Swap
Estimated Time: 15 minutes
- Have participants list five routine daily tasks.
- In pairs, exchange lists and categorize each task as Essential, Automate, Delegate, or Eliminate.
- Partners provide at least one actionable suggestion per non-essential task.
- Reconvene and discuss surprising or insightful “delegate” and “eliminate” discoveries.
Alternative Activity 2: Time Waster Charades
Estimated Time: 10 minutes
- Prepare slips of paper with common time wasters (e.g., constant email checking, multitasking, social media scrolling).
- Participants take turns acting out a time waster silently while teams guess.
- After each guess, discuss a quick fix to reduce that time waster.
Trainer Tips for Variation
- Choose activities based on available time and participant engagement.
- Use Envelope Swap for deep brainstorming, Time Audit for personal reflection, and Charades as a fun energizer.
- Adapt activities for virtual settings with breakout rooms and digital collaboration tools.
Related Training Material Package
Explore additional time-saving strategies and resources in our comprehensive Time Management Training Material Package designed for trainers and teams seeking enhanced efficiency and focus.
Get Started Now
Incorporate this engaging strategy game and its variations to help your team identify, manage, and reduce time wasters for improved productivity, focus, and well-being.
Download Time Management Training PackageTraining resources from TrainingCourseMaterial.com — instant download, fully editable, trainer-friendly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if our teams pick vague time wasters like “too many meetings”?
Force specificity: who, how often, and which outcome is harmed. Then design a solution per meeting type (stand-up, sync, review).
How do we make solutions stick after the workshop?
Create one-page team norms, a 30‑day review date, and an owner for each change (e.g., agenda template, quiet hours).
Remote-friendly adaptation?
Use shared docs for envelopes, 3‑minute timers in breakout rooms, and emoji voting for impact × ease.
How do we handle time wasters tied to leadership habits?
Frame as experiments, not ultimatums. Share data (time logs), propose a pilot, and invite leaders to co‑design norms.
What’s a good starter set of time wasters?
Unclear priorities, meeting sprawl, constant pings, multitasking, rework from unclear briefs, and overlong email threads.
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