What’s the one wish of every busy mom? More hours in the day, right? Ironically, time is the one resource that is distributed equally. Every person on the planet gets the exact same 24 hours each day, and no amount of money can buy even a single extra minute.
So we multitask, and we skimp on self-care. We take on too many responsibilities knowing it will overwhelm our already-packed schedule because we feel guilty about saying “no” – especially to things that involve our kids. But what message is this sending to our families? And what is this doing to our stress levels? Can we solve this problem with a few tweaks for better time management?
Our bodies are not meant to run at full throttle around the clock. When we fail to give ourselves time and space to relax and unwind, we run the risk of all sorts of stress-related ailments. Since we can’t add more hours to the day, perhaps the answer lies in how we manage the time we’ve been given:
- Plan your day the night before: My dear friend and life coach swears by the “High Performance Planner” by Brendan Burchard. By mapping out your daily schedule ahead of time, you not only get mentally prepared for the activities to come, but you know you will have time to accomplish all of them. Her pro tip: Every night before bed, jot out the top three things you absolutely MUST accomplish the next day. The one you are resisting or dreading the most? Do that one first!
- Build a buffer for better time management: Stress happens when we find ourselves running late to pick up kids or screaming into a parking lot on two wheels because we didn’t allow for traffic on Highway 41. Adding an extra five to 10 minutes into your schedule to arrive early (and calmly!) can work miracles when it comes to soothing stress and anxiety. I leave early to get a good parking spot when I pick up kids from school every day, which gives me time to check email or even play a game on my phone. Which brings me to …
- Find your time killers: Whether it’s a little habit or big addiction, we all have that one “thing” that sucks up our free time without us even knowing it. Like watching Netflix, for some, or scrolling through social media. Whatever vice is killing your time management productivity, maybe give it a rest for a week or during set hours of the day? When I’m working, I’m on a strict social media blackout from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and I only play my WordScapes game before school drop-offs or when I’m waiting in my van for kids.
- It’s OK to say no: This tip is last, but I think it’s easily the most important. Our society overwhelms us now more than ever with commitments and responsibilities—both in and out of the house. Especially as the school year gets rolling. The fastest way to drive yourself crazy is to try and please the whole world by saying “yes” to every volunteer role or work opportunity that crosses your path. Be selective with your yes, moms! How often do we give the majority of our energy, our passion and our drive to our companies or charity or school functions, and then have nothing left in the tank to give to our families? Finding that balance is critical, time management can help, but it starts with setting priorities that work for you—then saying “no” or “not at this time” without guilt to the activities and commitments that fall outside of the sphere of your “yes.”
What’s your best time-management tip? Share it with us in the comments!
