Smart Time Management for Busy Moms
When people complain that they do not have enough time to do something, what they are really saying is that the thing is not a priority, and what they are doing is choosing another activity in its place.
Lets face it, time cannot be managed but people can!
You can tell time to last longer but it just will not do it. So instead of managing it, we must manage ourselves and use our time well. The best way to begin the discussion of time management is to take a look at your busy life and then develop a plan, a vision, or a program.
Whatever you want to call it, it will give your life good direction. If you do not have a plan or at least a distant goal, you will not know which path is the right path to take in your daily life. Whether it is going to the grocery mart without a shopping list, or deciding whether to work full time, a game plan is what is needed most or decisions are haphazard and just will not work so well.
1. Establish priorities.
Write each priority down if it helps (and it usually does). This creates a road map to life and will enable you to easily see how to spend each of your days. For example, if you are clear that your priority is to have an outing as a family, then you will be able to say no to activities that take place during that planned time hour.
If free time is a priority, then you may choose to limit the amount of extracurricular activities a child participates in. Set your priorities with integrity and then stick to them. You will also be able to see when you are straying from any designated path. If you are often straying, then perhaps it is time to reevaluate your plan and then see if it is still working for you.
2. Decide whether you want to be the Chief, Cook and Bottleawasher. Alternatively, perhaps you prefer to be the MANAGER.
A family manager wears a number of different hats, from chef to accountant to personal shopper to nurse to teacher. That does not leave much time for taking care of yourself. The way to claim more time for yourself is to become a great manager and train others in your household to do more of the work in your place. Then (the hardest part) be brave enough to let them do it even if it is not exactly the way you would want it done.
3. Eliminate Time Drainers.
Be realistic about how you spend your time. It sometimes helps to set a timer when doing certain activities to keep track of just how much time you are putting into any activity. A good plan is to work for 45 minutes of any hour, then take a break for some 15 minutes and use that time to watch TV, surf the web, write e-mails, read magazines, etc. Give yourself a time limit for time off and then get back to doing productive tasks. You will feel more refreshed this way.
4. Dealing with Phone Calls and Other Interruptions.
Make use of a stopwatch when you make non-essential telephone calls or when you are interrupted by a call. Be stern with yourself on this and you will save lots of time. Give yourself a time limit so you can move on to the next important thing. Gracefully say I need to take care of something and then excuse yourself from the conversation.
5. Shopping Trips
People who love to shop can lose track of time and can lose a whole day without really noticing. Approach shopping as a chore and not a hobby and you will find time you never thought you had. Shop with a list or even a timer. Go into the store for the things you need only. If you are at a shop to take advantage of a sale, set a timer and when the timer goes off, you are done. Go directly to the checkout counter and then head off for home.
6. Coordinate Your Errands
Do your errands when the stores are the least busy. You will be amazed at how many essentials you can take care of at 9:30am and at 9:30pm. Banks and post offices all have slower days than others, too.
Avoid shopping on the busiest days and the busiest times and your errands will speed along much faster and you will not be so frustrated.
Group tasks by type and location. This means you need to have your list of errands.
Determine where you can do each. In addition, go to the area where the most tasks can be done. Or go to the do-it-all-giant-super-mega store where you can do grocery shopping, house wares shopping, get glasses, take pictures, and enjoy your dinner. You will save valuable time.
7. Accumulate Free Time
We usually think things will pass along faster than they actually do. Leave free time in your day for when life is unpredictable. Also, leave small wedges of time between appointments in case of traffic or other unknowns. If there is no emergency, then you can relax, read, make calls, listen to the radio, or sip some coffee or tea.
8. Refuse the Last Minute Madness
Always plan ahead for what you will need. Planning ahead does eat up some time, but not nearly as much as not planning at all. Living your life by accident leads to more of the same.
Live with purpose and intention and get more done. You will gain a sense of control when you can quickly lay your hands on what you need and know ahead of time that you have everything you need.
Create a launch pad area where you keep your to do list, returns & receipts, directions, and anything else you will need for your day. Kids need these for backpacks and school items. Make grocery lists so you do not have to stop and think on the spot and avoid impulse buying.
9. Spell it any way you Like N-O Spells NO!
Four-year-olds can say it, so why can't we? Stop saying yes to every club, PTA, and acquaintance that asks you to do something. There are still only 24 hours in your day. Make yourself a priority and say NO to someone today! Give back to yourself for a change. A good rule is never say yes immediately unless you really feel you want to do it. You can always call back and say yes later.
When you do not say NO you end up overscheduling and this makes everyone a little nuts. Keep this in mind for children as well. Too many activities may be more entertaining, but it certainly comes with the cost of stress. Even if you are raising the next whiz kid, every child needs time to do homework, go to school, sleep, eat, and have free time to engage in creative play and thinking without be overbooked.
10. Delegate that Authority.
As soon as your children are old enough, teach them how to take care of
organizing, cleaning, and other household maintenance. Teach your spouse as well. This will blend harmony into the fabric of your lives.
It is the harmony you are after and not the things.
Get Organized Office
Decide on a suitable place for items you have accumulated over the years, which are waiting to be sorted, filed or acted on.
Emails or Ezines that you want to keep, ideas you found on the Internet, school papers, notes of ideas that popped into your head as you waited to have a tooth filled, newspaper clippings. They love this! Being a list person is a great help. 2) Use Good Telephone Habits: Establish a time limit for each telephone call and make sure you tell your caller. Perhaps you are speeding along at the blink of an eye.
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