Tips for finding more time during your day August 5, 2015
Some days are really filled up with so many tasks you do not know how to get everything done. I want to share some tips with you on how to make time for things, even when you might think you do not have any time at all. Finding more time is possible!
1. Keep a planner and account for how you spend every 30 minutes of your day.
It sounds really weird but only if you have the knowledge of what you actually do on a daily basis and how long it really takes you to do certain things, you can actually organize your daily routines to be more efficient and save time.
Use a planner, notepad, a diary or any tool you like really and write that stuff down. You might be surprised how much you really do on any given day…
2. Find out what it is that eats away on your time
Once you identify your personal time killers you can work out solutions or do a complete makeover of your daily routine so you can spend more time on things that matter to you. You can save time up for that only if you know where to look.
3. Focus on the areas that you actually WANT to make time for
Like studying, or reading or a phone call you want to make every day. You know what I mean. And schedule those time windows. Yes, dedicate a time of your day for those activities you really want to make time for. Either because you love them or it is the number one priority you use your daily planning for.
I find it more effective for me to know why I am actually saving up time or try not to procrastinate for. If you have a goal in mind, it will be easier to find the time for it.
4. Be more conscious of your time
Avoid procrastination by thinking of your planned budgeted time windows that you will do what it is you want to do. The less you procrastinate, the more you can get done NOW. If you spend your time in a more focused way, you will take shorter amounts of time to do things. The more focused on a task you are, the better you can do it.
5. Use unexpected time windows to do things
Did you ever notice just how many minutes every day you spend waiting? Waiting for people, public transportation, phone calls, sitting through your commute until you finally can go home…
All these five to fifteen minutes add up to the time that you can either use or have as a break. But be mindful that they are there at your disposal!
If you are driving a lot during the day, you can still use that time to listen to audio books or connect with the person you are driving with.
6. Plan time more generously
Do not set up a schedule that is too optimistic because it creates more stress and makes you unproductive. Over-scheduling creates more stress and makes you unproductive. An unrealistic schedule is a time killer! You set yourself up for failure that way and have to reschedule tasks that will overthrow your plans fort he week. As a result, the time will probably come from your free time or scheduled personal life events.
7. Plan ahead
If you plan your days out you can coordinate things to save you time and schedule appointments more efficiently. And if you have a very busy week, try to run one errand during your lunch break
8. Find new ways of doing things
Listen to audio books or study on your commute or put calls on speaker in your car drive. Listen to podcasts while you do your makeup or clean the house.
9. Really make use of your planner
Schedule and make time for free time activities you want to spend time on like date nights, hobbies or even times you do not want to do anything. If your partner has a busy schedule too, you really need to sit down and go over your weekly plans together to make sure you spend time together! It is also a good idea to be one step ahead of your schedule. Do not only write things in your planner but really make sure you know what is coming up today, tomorrow and this week. Really use your planner and only keep one! Not one in book form and another online and another on your phone. Commit to one planner and make it yours.
10. Block out distractions
Phone calls, internet browsing and checking in on social media are one of the biggest if not the biggest distraction people have. Schedule the exact times when you work on emails and schedule blog posts and so on. Do not check your email every two hours. Or Instagram, for that matter.
11. Get up earlier
Even if it might hurt you even to think about it: Consider getting up a bit earlier. It pays of to not rush your mornings and actually use the time before you start your workday to read, exercise or meditate and have a calm, real breakfast. The more rushed your mornings are the more you are stressed out before you even leave your house in the morning.
Photography by: © Viktor Hanáček / https://picjumbo.com/