In a world full of distractions, learning and development (L&D) professionals may find it challenging to set aside time for their own professional development. We all face competing demands throughout the day, from work emails, text messages and phone calls to family responsibilities and social media after hours. Each one competes for our attention, often pulling us away from opportunities to grow. Most of these distractions should be bowing down like Wayne and Garth in “Wayne’s World,” saying, “We’re not worthy.” In reality, they’re not worthy of the time and attention we give them.

There are several popular time management approaches that can help us advance our skills and reach our goals. It never hurts to reevaluate your work-life balance, set new goals and find more effective ways to use your time for professional growth.

Goal-Setting Tips

Writing a goal down offers a distinct advantage. The hand-brain connection — the relationship between motor skills and cognitive processing — supports memory through the neuronal pathways activated during handwriting. As L&D professionals, we understand the value of tactile learning. Writing goals by hand can strengthen memory, improve focus and reinforce commitment in ways that typing on a device often does not.

Goal setting may seem straightforward, but adhering to it is the challenge. A Training Industry Conference & Expo (TICE) 2025 keynote speaker and author of “The 6% Club,” Dr. Michelle Rozen, gave great advice: Prioritize your goals, and stand firm for your most important ones.

There are no deal-breakers when the most important goal is prioritized. However, arranging goals according to importance can be difficult. We may find ourselves feeling like the popular ’80s toy Stretch Armstrong, pulled in multiple directions at once. At times, it can seem as though every demand is tugging for our attention, stretching us to our limits — we’ve all been there.

By setting priorities, we can decide where to focus our attention instead of letting competing demands make that decision for us.

TICE 2026 keynote speaker, Jess Ekstrom, also offered helpful advice from her book, “Making It Without Losing It.” She shared how to sustain motivation and proceed to achieve success without sacrifice. In her book, she states that if you only set goals based on uncontrollable outcomes, you might feel like you’re in a pinball machine bouncing from side to side without any control. Thus, it’s important to create a goal based on a controllable outcome. So, before setting a goal, ask yourself, what can you control?

Fostering Time Management Skills

Time management, the dance of balance, can offer many benefits, including: reduced anxiety and stress, greater job satisfaction, improved focus, more time with family and friends, and enjoyment of hobbies.

There are many time management methods to choose from. In the well-known bestseller, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, Steven Covey wrote about a time management grid. He recommended having two axes: urgency and importance. That’s an ingenious approach if you don’t know where to begin; start by categorizing your goal. If it is not urgent or important, remember Wayne and Garth’s famous one-liner. Those goals are clearly not worthy of your time.

Writing a checklist on paper or a whiteboard provides a tactile experience and a satisfying sense of accomplishment when you cross off a completed task or erase it from the board. Others may prefer a visual system, such as a digital app or online task board. Whatever method you choose, the key is to create a system that helps you stay organized and motivated.

Another effective strategy is to set a timer while working toward your goal. Dedicating a specific amount of time to a task can help minimize distractions and improve focus.

To take it one step further, try reducing the time you spend scrolling social media. Think about how many hours you spend on your phone each week. Those cringeworthy screen time reports can be a real wake-up call. You can put that screen time to good use if, by chance, you have a boring train commute. What a great time to focus on your professional development by listening to a podcast or audiobook or watching a video or virtual event.

Ultimately, effective time management skills can help L&D professionals reduce stress, prioritize tasks and meet deadlines. Even small changes can create more space to stay organized, improve productivity and, most importantly, achieve a healthier work-life balance. By managing time more intentionally, L&D professionals may discover they have more opportunities for their own professional development.

Intentional Professional Development

To grow as individuals and as skilled L&D professionals, we should be intentional about enhancing our skills. It may be challenging if company budgets have been reduced, leaving little to no room to attend a conference or register for a certificate program. Those scenarios can be disheartening, but they shouldn’t weigh us down.

Seek out opportunities to learn from others. If you have attended a conference, you have likely met someone who is willing to share their knowledge and support your growth. Conferences bring together professionals who are eager to connect and learn from one another. If attending a conference isn’t an option, consider joining online communities or roundtables where you can exchange ideas with peers.

Lastly, look for tools such as templates, job aids and on-demand webinars. Information is available at our fingertips.

Conclusion

Prioritizing your own development starts with intentional action. Strategies such as writing down goals, focusing on high-impact priorities and seeking support from peers or mentors can help L&D professionals make meaningful progress. Tools like time management frameworks can provide structure, but lasting growth comes from building consistent habits that protect time for learning and development.

By intentionally managing their time, L&D professionals can continue strengthening the skills and capabilities needed to succeed in their careers.