Let’s play a little bit!
Time management games are a fun way to start being more productive! The easiest kinds of games you can implement are those where you time yourself against a clock to get tasks done, with a reward for speeding up your time.
For example, if it normally takes you several hours just to fold all the laundry, see if you can set goals to help you go faster. Use a kitchen timer and allow 20 minutes to fold the towels, 10 minutes to pair all the socks, and 30 minutes to hang all the shirts and slacks. If you get it all done in an hour, you get 30 minutes to spend doing whatever you’d like.
At work, you can use the same system. Instead of spending the first hour you are there running through your physical or email inbox, count the number of items you have to deal with and allow 2 minutes for each one. Every time you open, read and reply to or otherwise deal with an email or inter-office communication inside 2 minutes, reward yourself with an M&M or other small favor.
Online time management games have become very popular in teaching people to multitask. A ‘diner’ set up is one of the most popular, where you are the only character in the game designated to wait on all customers. A typical diner game requires you to juggle the following actions:
- Greet and seat customers
- Take orders
- Deliver food to tables
- Clear dirty dishes
As levels progress, more and more customers arrive, and if all tasks are not handled quickly, they become irate and points are lost. If you don’t make enough in tips to cover operating expenses, you lose the game; however, if you perform well under pressure you can earn enough to work your way up from a greasy spoon to a five star restaurant.
Other online time management games include farming operations, child care or pet care, cooking or cake decorating, and even real estate management. Of course, the main danger of these games is that they – well – take time. This means if you want to improve your time management, you have to schedule time for such games and not exceed your allotted playing minutes.
Playing games to improve time management skills also works in a team environment, where team members have to work together to figure out the most efficient and fast way of solving a problem.
These games may consist of having to move a lot of objects from one place to another using a prescribed set of tools, or an assembly line type of set up where the quicker things get done, the more points are racked up.
Two teams may be set to compete with each other to make the games more intense.
The main goal of these activities is to accelerate brain function and expand task solving capabilities. If you can use time management games to learn how to better multi-task and take an open-minded approach to problem solving , you are using them appropriately.
Additional time management games
1. Farm Frenzy
In Farm Frenzy, you manage a farm by growing crops, feeding animals, and producing goods to sell. The game challenges you to balance time and resources to meet goals.
2. Papa’s Pizzeria (and other Papa’s games)
You play as a pizza chef who must take orders, prepare pizzas, and serve customers efficiently. There are several other games in this series, each with different types of food.
3. Overcooked
This cooperative cooking game requires players to prepare and cook orders in a chaotic kitchen environment. It emphasizes teamwork and time management.
4. Dash Adventures
A time management game where you help a character rebuild her town by completing various tasks. It involves planning, resource management, and quick actions.
5. Hotel Dash
In this game, you manage a hotel, check in guests, deliver their luggage, and attend to their needs. It requires you to juggle multiple tasks and keep guests satisfied.
6. Youda Sushi Chef
You run a sushi restaurant, prepare sushi dishes according to customer orders, and manage your time to keep the business running smoothly.
7. Virtual Families
This simulation game lets you manage a family’s daily activities, career choices, and home improvements, requiring strategic planning and time management.
8. Delicious Emily’s Series
Follow Emily through various life stages, managing her restaurant and family life. Each level presents different time management challenges.
9. Wedding Dash
Help plan and execute weddings by managing various tasks like seating arrangements, catering, and ensuring the bride and groom are happy.
10. Airport Mania
Manage an airport by directing planes to the correct runways, gates, and terminals. It requires quick thinking and efficient management of air traffic.
These games can be found on various platforms, including PC, mobile devices, and gaming consoles. They offer a fun way to practice time management skills and improve your ability to multitask and prioritize tasks effectively.