5 Ways to Manage Your Time Better

5 Ways to Manage Your Time Better

by | Mar 18, 2016 | Lifestyle

Life is busy. Work is mad. And so, naturally, time management can be tricky. But with a few easy tips, you can become the time management queen (or king)! Here are the tips I use to keep it all together.

  1. Synchronize all of your calendars. Instead of managing multiple calendars from work, school, and other activities, combine them into one system. One place. One look up. One click. Easy!
  2. Schedule time off. Include time for fun in your daily, weekly, and monthly calendars.
  3. Learn to be selective. The constant stream of emails and demands on your time call for being more selective with your tasks. Delegating tasks and rethinking your approach to work will help you discover more leisure time.
  4. Find hidden time wasters and remove them. Are you spending too much time checking Facebook messages (Everyone is. I don’t judge.)? Do you log in to Twitter multiple times a day? Social media can be one of the hidden daily time wasters, and changing this habit will lead to more leisure time.
  5. Use an egg timer or online tools to track time. Certain tasks need to be timed to ensure you stay on schedule.

When it comes to time management it’s important to understand the difference between “finding” time and “making” time. What I mean is: you’ve gotta make space for YOU. Time management isn’t about making time for all the “stuff” you have to do. Being successful at it means YOU time. You need to decide that you are important enough to deserve time. I’m talking BEFORE the kids (gasp!). And BEFORE work (Whoa!). And BEFORE your partner (Oh my!). You deserve your own time. Stand in it and own it. Then choose carefully what you do and don’t take on.

Calendar blocking is super effective when you actually follow it (which takes practice and commitment!) Literally put Me Time in your calendar. And take it. Treat it like you would a Drive The Kids To Soccer task or a Meeting with The Boss task. It’s that important.

When someone asks you to do something, take a moment, breathe deep, and check in with yourself. Do you REALLY want to do this? Are you ok with it? And what is the cost to you if you do it?

Personally, I know that if I don’t have the time for me, I am cannot be as good of a mom, business owner, or friend as I want and deserve to be. Time management starts with making yourself a priority. So… Are you making yourself a priority? (If the answer is No, that’s step 1. Get on it!)

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