Time, time, time. There is always too little of it, or it is going by too quickly. Time is never just right. People are always asking me how I have time to do it all. First, I remind them that I don’t do it all. Not even close. But I can admit that I do a lot. I’m the dayside executive producer at the ABC affiliate in Miami, I manage two websites (this blog and another collaborative site, Strong Girl Collective), I also have two young kids, a husband and a dog. I’m pretty active on social media, love to read and have a new obsession with meditation. It may seem like I have a lot on my plate, but I also feel like there is plenty of time in a day to get everything done. (okay, okay… I could use one 28 hour day a week. Just one.) Here are a few of my favorite tips to help wrangle yourself more time!
How to Make The Most Of Your Time to Get Stuff Done
Figure out where your time goes: This is the most annoying part of the process, but it also the most important. Almost every time management book out there starts with this exercise, and for good reason. You need to figure out exactly how you are spending your time, to find out where you are wasting it. This means for at least 3 days you need to write down what you do for every single hour in the day. From the time you wake up until your head hits that pillow and every second in between. Get a planner that segments your day in 15 minute increments or make one yourself in a notebook or journal. It is tedious, but worth it.
I quickly realized I spent way too much time scrolling through social media on my phone. I also noticed that I was waking up pretty late considering all the things I wanted to get done in the morning. The final takeaway from time tracking was that I am NOT productive at night. I just don’t get quality work done in the evening. There were a number of small things I was doing daily that were taking up a good chunk of time when you added them all together. It was the first time I realized maybe there IS enough time in the day.
Pick Your Top 3: Each day I decide on 3 must-do items. I try to put the item I am dreading the most at the top. This usually involves some sort of phone call, since for some reason I HATE calling people. Making doctors appointments, requesting records.. basically any dealings that require a phone call, I dread. So if I have to take care of something by phone, I put that first. That way I KNOW I will get it over with.
Be sure to select things that you will be able to complete that day. If you have a large task you need to get done, split it up into smaller segments over a few days so you don’t feel overwhelmed. Don’t set yourself up to fail. I have a rolling to-do list that is very long, but not time-specific. When you have a blog, there is always something to learn or try to upgrade. So if I ever have a day where I only have 1 or 2 things to do, I go back to my “master list” and select something to add.
Time Block Tasks: Time blocking has made a huge difference in how I get things done. I have 3 set times during the day to work on projects. I decide early in the day exactly what I am going to work on and when. Maybe I want to draft up some blog posts. I will take my 30 minute block and just write. If I get caught up in the wording on one post, I move on to another. When the 30 minutes is up, I am done. My timed tasks are usually something that don’t have a set end point. (like scheduling social media or editing pictures) Once time is up, whatever I have done is what will have to do. If there is a deadline, like a blog post that is due, I will make that the top task of the day and work on it during my scheduled times until it is done.
Stop Multi-Tasking: Trying to do everything all at once, usually leads to nothing gets done. If you put your focus on one project at a time, you will be more effective and the end result will be better overall. Jumping around from task to task is pointless in my opinion, and when you have a lot of unfinished projects, it can feel overwhelming. It feels GOOD to get things done and when you eliminate multi-tasking it helps you do just that.
Know your Strengths: As I mentioned, I realized from my time tracking that I did not get very much done at night. Once I put the kids to bed, I just want to hang out. Catch up with my husband, veg out on the couch… whatever. But the last thing on my mind is working or writing. So I made a change to my routine and decided I needed to start waking up earlier. Like, 2 hours earlier. Now I wake up around 5 or 5:30. Which gives me time to get things done… like meditate and drink my coffee in peace. (which is totally included in my morning schedule)
Trust me when I tell you that there IS enough time in the day to get everything done. You just need to cut out the time-wasters and prioritize what it is you want to complete. What are some of your best time management tips?
Omg this is so helpful! Especially with blogging, motherhood and all the other things on my plate! Stop multitasking is a good one for me. Thanks!
Omg I am SO guilty of multi-tasking! Half the time I don’t even remember with what chore I started with! And I wouldn’t say it’s a strength because everything is always half done lol! These are great tips!
Mornings are my most productive time, knowing this I plan the task I don’t really care to do first thing in the morning.
I really need to get better about multi-tasking less! Thanks for these tips!
great tips. I need to set working hours. & not do late nights either. It’s a catch 22 as it’s quiet & easy to work but, I pay the price the next day. I already get up early but, not productive until after I drop off my HS kiddo. Ya, I hear you on mulit tasking too.
I hate making phone calls too. I might try your get them out of the way first method. I’m just not sure I have the willpower! Ugh.
My top time management tip is to write down my to-do list on paper every single day. I am so used to my computer and phone being attached to my hip that it made sense to put it all in my calendar. Except for me, that did not work at all. I have some sort of mental block that if it’s electronic, it’s fine to push off to the next day. Crossing off each item as I do it with the knowledge that if I don’t finish, I’ll have to write it down on tomorrow’s list seems to motivate me much better.
SO guilty of being unproductive at night. I save that time to relax with the fam. I get up at 5:00 every morning to have silence and schedule social media stuff. Figuring out where the time goes is a great tip!
Great tips! I also spend too much time on social media. Getting up a little earlier is excellent advice and I love the time-blocking idea.
I love this post! Time management is such a big deal sometimes! I love to pick 3 things a day too, but I pick 1 for my biz, 1 for my fam/kids, and 1 for myself. It works great for me! And I love that say not to multi-task!! I have been saying this FOREVER!! Love everything you shared! 🙂
Yes, multitasking is the WORST! That is a great way to split it up!
I am really struggling with this right now! I’ve read so much about time-blocking, but have yet to try it. I have trouble sticking to it, but I think I may have no other choice!
It has made a huge difference for me, I even set a timer on my phone sometimes! (for shorter blocks!)
I wish I could get more stuff done. I know I could, but I just get so sidetracked all the time. My lists, have lists. 😉
I have a lot of lists to… but choose only a few to accomplish that day. It makes a big difference when you actually get things done!
I am always multi-tasking and I think that needs to be changed! Lol Especially as I’m getting older, I’m forgetting which tasks need to be done and when!
I used to be better at multitasking when I was younger too, but now I just get distracted and discouraged when I dont accomplish anything! Single tasks all the way!
These are great tips! Picking the top 3 is something I seriously need to start doing. With my kids, time seems to just disappear!
I bet! Since I have started the top 3, I have gotten SO much more done! Its crazy!
I have the worst habit of multitasking!!!!! I catch myself doing 62892 things at once all the time…. Not a good lol
I used to be the queen multitasker, but I ended up feeling like I was getting nothing done, which made me do even less! ha!
If I’m being honest…I’m actually SCARED to see where my time goes during the day. Am I ready to face the fact that I spend wayyyy to much time on Facebook. I plead ignorant on that one 🙂 BUT your tips are great and they are a great reminder that you must wrangle your time to make the most of it!
When I was doing the journal, I was actually embarrassed by how much I picked up my phone. I stopped writing it down at one point, but I knew the truth! ha! My next goal is to put my phone in a drawer or something when I get home from work and no to look at it until the kids are in bed. I have been trying (& failing) so it is next on my list!
We’re like the same person lol!!! I think it’s so important to take time to do some time tracking so that you can better figure out how to time block. I try to do this whenever I’m going into a new season where my schedule is going to look different
I had to reevaluate this year now that Mila is a bit older and I have to be into work earlier that I did before. These tips helped me so much to stay on track!
Thanks for this list! I needed the reminder 😀
A little motivation is always a good thing!
These are all great tips. I make a list for the week every Monday and then each morning that week I pick 3-5 things that would be amazing if I could get done that day. I always pick things that would have the biggest impact or are time sensitive. It has been a HUGE help and I go to bed much happier now. Still adjusting to not being able to get much done as a mom to 5 though.
You had me at “figure out where your time goes!” I did this exercise last year where I wrote down everything I did for an entire week…OMG! It was just more proof that I was not taking care of myself at all. It was a huge eye opener. I agree that knowing how and where we spend our time is the first step to making a difference…and getting things done for yourself and others. Thank you.
Thanks for these tips, Lauren! Things are getting so crazy lately and I needed this 🙂
These tips are fantastic!! I have been having such a hard time with time management lately!
Have you ever read EAT THAT FROG? Ruth from “Living Well Spending Less” spoke about it at a conference I spoke at a few years back. It’s all about dividing up tasks and eating the frog first, the one thing you DON’T want to do. For me, it’s editing posts for eBay that I’m writing for! But I have never time blocked and may start. Thanks for the helpful suggestions!!
Oh the social media time suck!! I cannot tell you the number of times I “ran out of time” for something because I was on social media (or burnt dinner BECAUSE I WAS INSTAGRAMMING IT!).