Time management. Oh, how I love these 2 words. If you are someone who struggles with getting all the things done in a single day, you are in the right place. I know that before becoming a mom and launching my business, my time and schedule was SO open! I honestly can’t even believe I used to complain about “not having enough time.” LOL!
Anyways, time management is one of my favorite topics in the whole world and it is something I always need to revisit because of how much my life and schedule evolves over time.
So, let’s get right into it.
Time Management Tips
Have you heard of time batching as a time management tool? If not, you NEED to know ASAP!
Time batching is one of the best things I have ever done for my health, business, myself and my kids.
For most of us moms, it can be a struggle to effectively manage our time to get the important things done. Unfortunately, this leads to inconsistency and therefore no progress made in the areas that we are wanting to work on.
With the constant distractions and interruptions from everything around us, our never ending to-do list, dinner, bathrooms, laundry, technology, and SO much more, finding even just a few minutes at a time to concentrate can feel like a struggle.
That was my life when I used to wake up without a plan and never felt like I was accomplishing anything. I wanted to get healthy and tone up but I would procrastinate and do things that were major time wasters instead like scroll social media. I didn’t catch this cycle for a while and when I did, EVERYTHING changed.
Time Batching
That’s actually when I discovered time batching which has changed the way my days and weeks flow.
Every night before going to bed, I spend 30 minutes writing down the next day’s important tasks, usually just 3-5 priorities that NEED to get done. These 3-5 priorities are very detailed activities that move the needle in the areas of my life that I want to improve on, like working out.
After getting clear on my priorities, I would then find batches of time in the day where I know I can get things done with few distractions. These times were usually after the kids have had breakfast, when my son is at school, or when both kids are having some screen time.
This is a very easy time-management hack that takes full advantage of your concentration because you time block your priorities during times you have set aside when there are few distractions. Taking the time to create a daily schedule with specific times for specific tasks may seem like a no brainer but very few of us actually do it and then wonder where the time has gone.
Here is an example of what my days look like when I batch my time:
Wake up – 9:00 AM coffee, feed kids breakfast, get myself ready for the day
9:00 – 9:30 AM clean house (whatever I can get done in that time period)
9:30 – 10:00 AM review my schedule, journal
10:00 – 2:00 PM work
2:00 – 3:00 PM make dinner (I make dinner ahead of time so my evenings are more zen and less stress)
3:00 – 6:00 PM play time with kids, be present with the family, take an evening walk depending on the weather
6:00 – 7:00 PM dinner with the family
7:00 – 7:30 PM bath time
7:30 – 9:00 PM kids bedtime
9:00 – 10:00 PM maybe a little more work
10:00 – 10:30 PM hang out with the husband & sleep
This effective time management technique makes sense because it helps you feel more organized. It also feels good because you know that you’re spending your time on things you value and care about.
I used to vacuum 70 times per day, do dishes randomly throughout the day, as if that EVER ends. But one day as I was journaling, I realized that I was spending my days doing things that felt like wasted time. This is not to say a clean house is not important, but I do not need to be doing that all day long. Also, please keep in mind your schedule will completely depend on your own goals. If you want to paint, or read, or do your hair, or nap, put that in there!
This system helped me stay focused which felt so good at the end of the day to cross things off my list.
Personally, organizing my time helped me practice good time management skills which saved me so much amounts of time, and reduced my stress levels. I just became a happier person overall. My system allowed me to prioritize the important things and it created space for me to take care of my mental and physical health, my family and my growing business.
Also, I think it is important to practice the power of saying “no.”
One of the most helpful time management tips I practice is treating time as the most precious resource you possess.
This means setting very clear boundaries to people, phone calls, messages and notifications that are not your priority. In this regard, saying no is one of the most important skills in time management. You can even set time limits on your phone which really helps keep you away from your phone at a specific period of time.
3 steps to my time management system:
1. Choose 3 areas in your life that are a top priority you want to improve in. These are tasks that you know you need to be doing but you avoid doing them. Example: workout for 20 minutes, prep a nourishing dinner for the next day, meditate, etc.
2. Next, find times in your day that are low distraction times and schedule in your priorities during those times.
3. Overcome any excuses and get it done.
Here are a few things I love to batch: cooking, cleaning, e-mails, planning and filming content.
Remember, when you batch and practice time management, you actually create more space and time in your life especially in the long term.
Final tip is to watch out for urgent but not important tasks which are described as the “busy work”. These tasks are often based on expectations set by others and do not move you closer to your personal long-term goals.
Some examples of “urgent but not important tasks are”:
- Unnecessary interruptions from coworkers
- Checking your phone or email whenever it goes off
- Responding to emails or texts in the moment
This breaks your concentration and can lead you to waste time instead of completing your top priorities.
Do you time batch? Let me know in the comments below!