---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Time management is a misnomer, the…"
description: "\"Time management is a misnomer, the challenge is to manage ourselves.\" — Stephen Covey"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/stephen-covey-339_challenge_time-management-is-a-misnomer-the-challe_604517.png"
---

#  Time management is a misnomer, the challenge is to manage…

![“Time management is a misnomer, the challenge is to manage ourselves.” quote by Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/stephen-covey-339_challenge_time-management-is-a-misnomer-the-challe_604517.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/stephen-covey-339_challenge_time-management-is-a-misnomer-the-challe_604517.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/stephen-covey-339_challenge_time-management-is-a-misnomer-the-challe_604517.png)

> “Time management is a misnomer, the challenge is to manage ourselves.”

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Effective time use requires self‑management, not just scheduling tasks.

**In simple terms:** Manage yourself, not just your time.

Key Takeaway

Focus on self‑discipline.

Themes

productivity self‑control personal growth

Mood

motivational practical

Type

self‑help inspirational

When to use this quote

- career planning
- daily routines
- goal setting
- stress reduction

Key Concepts

habit formation self‑awareness

Questions to Reflect On

- What self‑limits hinder your productivity?
- How can you improve self‑discipline?

A Different Perspective

Self‑management is hard; habits are hard to change.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Challenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenge/) [Challenge Manage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenge-manage-2603444/) [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Manage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manage/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Management Misnomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management-misnomer-2420796/) [Priorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priorities/) [Time management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-management/)

## Related quotes

> [The challenge is not to manage time, but to manage ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/the-challenge-is-not-to-manage-time-but-to-manage-ourselves/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [“Category management is something of a misnomer; category understanding may be a better goal. Category understanding should be an effort to see the market…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-thain/category-management-is-something-of-a-misnomer-category-understanding/)

[Greg Thain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-thain/)

> [The challenge is to manage creative people so that the output is fruitful. The challenge is not to have an open environment and simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kao/the-challenge-is-to-manage-creative-people-so-that-the-output-is/)

[John Kao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kao/)

> [The challenge is to manage the Web in an open way-not too much bureaucracy, not subject to political or commercial pressures. The U.S. should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-berners-lee/the-challenge-is-to-manage-the-web-in-an-open-way-not-too-much/)

[Tim Berners-Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-berners-lee/)

> [The essence of the best thinking in the area of time management (practice planning) can be captured in a single phrase: Organize and execute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/the-essence-of-the-best-thinking-in-the-area-of-time-management/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [Where you are headed is more important than how fast you are going. Rather than always focusing on what's urgent, learn to focus on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/where-you-are-headed-is-more-important-than-how-fast-you-are-going/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [Priority is a function of context.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/priority-is-a-function-of-context/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [The environment you fashion out of your thoughts, your beliefs, your ideals, your philosophy is the only climate you will ever live in. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/the-environment-you-fashion-out-of-your-thoughts-your-beliefs-your/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [Most people say their main fault is a lack of discipline. On deeper thought, I believe this is not the case. The basic problem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-people-say-their-main-fault-is-a-lack-of-discipline-on-deeper/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> ['Efficient' scheduling and control of time are often counterproductive. The efficiency focus creates expectations that clash with the opportunities to develop rich relationships, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/efficient-scheduling-and-control-of-time-are-often-counterproductive/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [Our struggle to put first things first can be characterized by the contrast between two powerful tools that direct us: the clock and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/our-struggle-to-put-first-things-first-can-be-characterized-by-the/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [Make time for planning: Wars are won in the general's tent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/make-time-for-planning-wars-are-won-in-the-general-s-tent/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [“There are far too many people that waste their time telling themselves that they don’t have enough time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-willey/there-are-far-too-many-people-that-waste-their-time-telling-2/)

[Daniel Willey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-willey/)

> [“You have to be skillful in your time management to be productive”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/you-have-to-be-skillful-in-your-time-management-to-be-productive/)

[Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/)

> [“You have to be skillful in your time management to be effective in life”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/you-have-to-be-skillful-in-your-time-management-to-be-effective-in/)

[Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/)

## More by Stephen Covey

> [You can't have the fruits without the roots. It's the principle of sequencing: Private Victories proceed Public Victories. Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/you-can-t-have-the-fruits-without-the-roots-it-s-the-principle-of/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [Empathic listening takes time, but it doesn't take anywhere near as much time as it takes to back up and correct misunderstandings when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/empathic-listening-takes-time-but-it-doesn-t-take-anywhere-near-as/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [The fire inside people is like a match; the way to ignite that flame is initially through friction, then other matches are lit through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/the-fire-inside-people-is-like-a-match-the-way-to-ignite-that-flame/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [In a very real sense, there are only two roles in organisations: customers and suppliers. Everybody functions simultaneously in both roles, whether inside or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/in-a-very-real-sense-there-are-only-two-roles-in-organisations/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [To blame and accuse other people, is to choose to empower them, to control us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/to-blame-and-accuse-other-people-is-to-choose-to-empower-them-to/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/be-part-of-the-solution-not-part-of-the-problem/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [If you are an effective manager of your self, your discipline comes from within; it is a function of your independent will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/if-you-are-an-effective-manager-of-your-self-your-discipline-comes/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [I believe in Coach Louis Wong. He is so much more than just a football coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/i-believe-in-coach-louis-wong-he-is-so-much-more-than-just-a-football/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [Most people struggle with life balance simply because they haven't paid the price to decide what is really important to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-people-struggle-with-life-balance-simply-because-they-haven-t/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [Highly proactive people don't blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/highly-proactive-people-don-t-blame-circumstances-conditions-or/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [When it comes to developing character strength, inner security and unique personal and interpersonal talents and skills in a child, no institution can or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/when-it-comes-to-developing-character-strength-inner-security-and/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [Most people define greatness through wealth and popularity and position in the corner office. But what I call everyday greatness comes from character and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-people-define-greatness-through-wealth-and-popularity-and/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [Contrary to what most people believe, trust is not some soft, illusive quality that you either have or you don't; rather, trust is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/contrary-to-what-most-people-believe-trust-is-not-some-soft-illusive/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [We are limited but we can push back the borders of our limitations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/we-are-limited-but-we-can-push-back-the-borders-of-our-limitations/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [Many people seem to think that success in one area can compensate for failure in other areas. But can it really?... True effectiveness requires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/many-people-seem-to-think-that-success-in-one-area-can-compensate-for/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

[Explore all 663 Stephen Covey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

## More Challenge quotes

> [Politics only makes the difficult challenge of marriage even harder, with the demands of the job and the public spotlight it casts on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mckinnon/politics-only-makes-the-difficult-challenge-of-marriage-even-harder/)

[Mark McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mckinnon/)

> [I personally think if something's not a challenge, there's no point doing it, because you're not gonna learn much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-personally-think-if-something-s-not-a-challenge-there-s-no-point/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Men want a challenge, but they want a challenge they can win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-gaskell/men-want-a-challenge-but-they-want-a-challenge-they-can-win/)

[Whitney Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-gaskell/)

> [After 'Pink,' I wanted to do something that would challenge me further as an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirti-kulhari/after-pink-i-wanted-to-do-something-that-would-challenge-me-further/)

[Kirti Kulhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirti-kulhari/)

> [Nobody challenges me. I challenge myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakuntala-devi/nobody-challenges-me-i-challenge-myself/)

[Shakuntala Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakuntala-devi/)

> [Our whole thing was that we wanted to challenge ourselves and go out of the box that everyone else was doing, and even what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-real/our-whole-thing-was-that-we-wanted-to-challenge-ourselves-and-go-out/)

[B-Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-real/)

> [I wake up every morning fearing I am going to fail. But I love a challenge, big or small. There's so much I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-mone/i-wake-up-every-morning-fearing-i-am-going-to-fail-but-i-love-a/)

[Michelle Mone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-mone/)

> [I don't know about the rest of the world, but I know in our region everyone is gunning to beat us. We have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/landon-donovan/i-don-t-know-about-the-rest-of-the-world-but-i-know-in-our-region/)

[Landon Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/landon-donovan/)

> [Sometimes the challenge of beating the jet lag and getting a decent sleep can be as hard to solve as finding the right setup…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-grosjean/sometimes-the-challenge-of-beating-the-jet-lag-and-getting-a-decent/)

[Romain Grosjean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-grosjean/)

> [LMS is like PMS but totally different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lms-is-like-pms-but-totally-different/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Accepting the challenges in life makes it interesting and overcoming them makes it eloquent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accepting-the-challenges-in-life-makes-it-interesting-and-overcoming/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I do not underestimate the difficulty of the challenge that global climate change presents to us. It will take a significant effort and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-pena/i-do-not-underestimate-the-difficulty-of-the-challenge-that-global/)

[Federico Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-pena/)

> [I never back down from a challenge or oppenent!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-never-back-down-from-a-challenge-or-oppenent/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Every scene is a challenge. There are technical challenges, but often it's the simplest challenge where you feel a sense of achievement when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/every-scene-is-a-challenge-there-are-technical-challenges-but-often/)

[Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/)

> [Creating something new is easy, creating something that lasts is the challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-braun/creating-something-new-is-easy-creating-something-that-lasts-is-the/)

[Adam Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-braun/)

[Browse all 2,839 Challenge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenge/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Time management is a misnomer, the challenge is to manage ourselves.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Stephen Covey"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/time-management-is-a-misnomer-the-challenge-is-to-manage-ourselves/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Challenge"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/time-management-is-a-misnomer-the-challenge-is-to-manage-ourselves/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/stephen-covey-339_challenge_time-management-is-a-misnomer-the-challe_604517.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/stephen-covey-339_challenge_time-management-is-a-misnomer-the-challe_604517.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/stephen-covey-339_challenge_time-management-is-a-misnomer-the-challe_604517.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Time management is a misnomer, the challenge is to manage ourselves.” — Stephen Covey",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Stephen Covey",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Time management is a misnomer, the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/time-management-is-a-misnomer-the-challenge-is-to-manage-ourselves/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/time-management-is-a-misnomer-the-challenge-is-to-manage-ourselves/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
