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Time – it’s one of the most precious resources in our lives, yet it often feels like there’s never enough of it. This is especially true for busy women trying to juggle work, family, relationships, household duties, self-care, and more. We get overwhelmed and before we know it, the days have slipped by without completing everything on our to-do lists or even doing our own tasks.
Having good time management skills can make a huge difference.
With the right strategies, you can take control of your schedule and start feeling less stressed and more productive and fulfilled.
Here are some great tips and tricks for beating common time management problems that busy women face:
Learn to Say No
One of the biggest time wasters is taking on too many responsibilities that you simply don’t have time for. Get comfortable with turning down requests when your plate is already full. This includes social invitations, taking on extra tasks at work, and volunteering for the PTA when you’re maxed out as it is. Be realistic about your bandwidth. Saying no to non-essential things gives you more time for what’s truly important.
Block Out Distractions
From phone notifications to Slack messages to kids wanting your attention – distractions sabotage productivity. Set aside specific “deep work” time blocks in your calendar to tackle big projects without disruptions. Put your phone on silent and hide it from sight, hang a “Do Not Disturb” sign on your home office door, and request that the people around you respect this critical focus time. Talking to your family and friends and setting up expectations will help manage this even easier.
Do a Brain Dump
You simply can only juggle a few thoughts and to-dos in your head at once without dropping a few balls. Every Sunday evening, grab a notebook and pen and write down ALL your tasks, ideas, worries, etc. Getting it out of your mind and onto paper brings mental clarity. Then you can prioritize and schedule everything for the week ahead so you’re prepared to hit the ground running Monday morning.
Schedule in Self-Care
Between your job, household, family, and everything else – it’s easy for self-care to fall by the wayside. But without taking time to recharge your own batteries, you’ll quickly burn out. Make sure to schedule in “appointments” for healthy meals, exercise, relaxing hobbies etc so you don’t keep deprioritizing yourself. Value this time just like any other important commitment.
Leverage Productivity Tools
Take advantage of technology to make time management easier – whether it’s apps to organize tasks and set reminders, digital calendars shared with family members, online grocery delivery, meal kits, or other tools to eliminate time-sucking errands. Figure out where you feel the biggest time crunch or overwhelm and find digital solutions to help. You’ll buy back precious time as a result.
Trusting these tips can help you stop feeling so harried and stressed for time. Use them to take control of your schedule and start feeling more relaxed and on top of everything you need to do.
Check out Liz’s latest video full of tips on the best ways to manage your time here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2aQuf4Dokk
