Optimizing Your Time
There are 168 hours a week and 24 hours a day; this will not change; time is finite. It is essential that we make the most of that time while still having healthy priorities. Here are a few tips to help you recognize what things in our lives need immediate attention, what things are a priority, and what things are not essential to our wellness.
Wake up 15 mins earlier than your usual time; this will give you 75 minutes a week to do something essential to your well-being, maybe meditation, prayer, or yoga. Think self-care!
Identify your ideal work time; this is the time of day when you have the most energy. Schedule your most demanding tasks during this time. Often, we are distracted by things that are much less important and then become stagnant in our progress on essential items.
Monitor "Timesucks"; this includes text, social media, YouTube, Pinterest, and all the things that keep you from doing the things you need to do. Remove notifications and log out of Social Media accounts if you have difficulty self-regulating. Schedule a specific time to do these things to manage your time more effectively.
Have realistic expectations. If you place more things on your schedule than one person can accomplish, you are setting yourself up for failure.
Keep track of your time; keep track of every hour of your day for one week. At the end of the week, you will be surprised about where you spend your time. Click here for a worksheet to assist.
Time management is one of the pillars of having a better work-life balance. We create healthy boundaries when our tasks and time management are prioritized. Boundaries give you structure about what you are doing and what you are doing next. While prioritizing creates clarity about the tasks that should be accomplished next.
Good time management creates a healthier work-life balance and lowers your stress level and blood pressure. The five steps above are simple but not easy. Dedication is key to the process, and it can be transformative when done correctly.
Here is a link to download a worksheet to assist with prioritizing your daily tasks!
