From the article: Time Management Tips for Moms
Time management is an important part of stress management, and everyone has their own strategies for squeezing a few extra minutes out of a day. Share your best time management strategies (the ones that you come back to again and again), or read on for inspiration from other readers' best tips. Time Management Tips
Big Rocks
- Always work from a list and do the "most" important things first. Do the thing you fear or dread first, now, get it out of the way. It will cease to eat at you all day long and 9 times out of 10 it wasn't nearly as painful as you imagined it to be. If it's a big project, take a bite out of it, just like you eat an elephant, one bite at a time.
- —Guest Russ
Time Management for Moms-key questions
- Before you roll up your sleeves and dive in, ask yourself, "Is this something that needs to be done?" It's vital that you ask yourself key questions about "How" you spend your time. Before you dive in and get to work. This will help you centered yourself, navigate around busy work, and move your toward actions that are meaningful and worth doing. Peace and Blessings, Asia Asia Sharif-Clark Centered Self http://www.centeredselfworldwide.com/blog
- —Guest Asia Sharif-Clark
Get It Done In The Morning
- I work best (most efficiently) in the morning, so I try to do the important things then. It's nice to get the important stuff out of the way and I can relax (a little!) throughout the rest of the day.
- —Guest Cameron
Structuring Time
- I like to write everything down that I need to do, estimate how much time it will take to get it done, and start with the important things first. The trick is to estimate a little more time than I need to get things done--it always takes longer!
- —Guest Anne
Watch Those Distractions!
- One of my best time management secrets is that I am very careful about distractions. When I'm overloaded, I tend to just attend to whatever makes the loudest noise at the time, which isn't always the highest priority. Or sometimes I get done everything I don't really need to do so I can avoid the things that are important, but I just don't want to do them. I limit distractions and then dole them out as rewards when I get things done.
- —Guest Jules
Automate!
- I have a system for most things. I do the obvious--electronic bill pay, for example--but I also have systems that help me keep track of what I'm doing so I don't forget and waste time playing catch-up. I use the 'Getting Things Done' system so I keep track of daily tasks as well as big projects, and I'm going to look into 'Toodledo' for my iPhone. I also multitask in creative ways--I listen to audio books while I drive, I plan my clothes for the week on Sunday night. The little systems really help me to not-think about so many things at once, and manage my time more efficiently.
- —Guest Ruth
Multi-Tasking Exercise
- I don't have as much time to exercise as I used to, but I know it's important. Therefore, I've found little ways to work more physical activity into my daily life--I do squats while I dry my hair, I carry a pedometer everyday and work to get my step count up, I walk while I'm on the phone (one more reason I love my iPhone!). I've found that it all adds up, and I don't need to spend time in a gym!
- —Guest Elizabeth
