There’s never enough time in the day. It’s one of those unavoidable facts of life. Even if you had extra time, you would struggle to fit everything in. Why? Because that’s the way it always is! How many things have you never gotten around to because you don’t have the time? How many times have you given up something important because it didn’t fit into your day? Whether you want more time to do fun things with the kids or spend quality time with the one you love, it’s time to make room for what matters!
All you need to do is make a time machine. Only kidding. Though a time machine would be fantastic, it’s not going to happen. But, you don’t need one to make more time. All you need to do is work out how to make the most of the time you do have. Once you turn your attention to each hour, you may find there’s more time than you thought. You know the saying ‘You make time for what you love’, right? Well, you wouldn’t be able to make the time if it wasn’t already there! So, we’re going to look at the ways you can use every hour to its full potential. Time wasting will be a thing of your past in no time!
ORGANIZATION
Nothing is so good for time management as a little organization. If you have never delved into the world of organization before, now is the time to start. Work out if you would be better off with a Filofax planner, bullet journal, or an ordinary diary. There’s nothing wrong with having fun with your organization. Be aware of taking up more of your time with an elaborate option, though. It can be best to keep things simple. You are trying to make more time, after all.
Once you’ve got the equipment, start by working out how many free hours you have during each day. That consists of any time you aren’t at work. Even if you work full-time, there should be some free hours to play with. Once you know how many free hours you have each day, you can start to plan your life around those. The use of those hours will vary from day to day, but it might help to plan individual factors of your free time. This is the perfect way to get around to those things you never have time for. Sketch in when you plan to spend time with your kids, man and friends. It may seem strange scheduling personal time this way, but it’s worth doing. And, you’ll soon get used to the habit! This will allow you to make the most of every moment. It’ll also ensure you can fit in everything you need.
CUT OUT UNNECESSARY HABITS
Another thing that may become obvious during your organization journey is how much time you waste. That’s good. Knowing when you spend time is the best way to stop the habit. Do you spend an hour scrolling through your phone each day? Stop it! If you waste your evenings in front of the television, you can stop that, too. To get a good idea of where this wasted time goes, take an hour-by-hour diary of your free time one day. It may surprise you to see how much time you spend on unnecessary habits. Clearing these wasted hours will free up a lot of space! It may be a hard habit to break, but it’s worth the effort. That’s not to say that you need to fill all your free time. There’s nothing wrong with sitting in front of the television now and again. Even so, it’s not something you need to do on a daily basis. Again, turn to your organization here. Schedule one evening for television if you feel the need. Then, make a conscious effort to do other things during the rest of the time! With your evenings free, you’ll be able to pursue those things you never get around to. Join a social club, or get into the habit of reading during your evenings. These are more efficient ways to spend your time!
LET SOMEONE ELSE DO THE CHORES
Chores can be a massive drain on time. Do you feel as though you spend too many hours each week on things such as cleaning and doing laundry? It’s time to get control of the problem. If you have the money to spare, look into a cleaning service and decide whether it’s a practical option for you. It’s important to note that, yes, this will save you time. But, it will also mean having a stranger in your home. If possible, arrange for a cleaner to come when no one else is in the house. That way, there will be no impact on your day-to-day lives. The cleaning will be done as though by magic! If it’s not possible to arrange a cleaner while you’re out, give serious thought to how you would feel having someone around. Many people admit that they wouldn’t feel comfortable sitting back while someone else does their chores. If you think you would fall into that category, this option may not work for you.
If that’s the case, there are other ways around the problem. Remember that you are part of a family unit. For that reason, there’s no need to take on all the house chores yourself. Return to your organization journey here. It’s worth taking a little time to set up a cleaning rota for your home. Handing out jobs to each member of your family will save you a lot of time. It’s better to have each family member working for a short period than having to do it all yourself. Whether this works depends on how old your children are. Younger children aren’t going to be able to do any cleaning. For older kids, this rota could offer a fantastic chance to learn cleaning skills. Take the time to talk them through each chore. That way, you can ensure each part of the house is cleaned properly. Keep on top of the rota to make sure it’s being done. To start with, you may have to chase family members to complete their chores. With a bit of luck, though, they’ll get bored of your nagging!
If a chore rota isn’t the way to go, there’s still hope. You can still create a rota for yourself to follow. Setting yourself deadlines is a sure way to get those chores finished fast. Add each task to your daily schedule, and give yourself a time limit. That way, a task that would have taken you hours can be done in no time at all. Instead of doing laundry for an hour each day, try getting it all done on your day off. Working in this way will save you from worrying. It should also free up extra hours when you need them!
PRE-PLANNING
Pre-planning is another fantastic way to take control of your time. Small things, like planning your outfit the night before, will save time when it matters. It can be a hard habit to get into, but it’s worth doing. Think, too, about saving time in other aspects of your life. If you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, think about making meals that you can cook in bulk. Your family may complain about eating the same thing more than once. That’s why you should look for meals that you can make and freeze. Preparation aside, making a bulk batch of a meal shouldn’t take any longer than a typical meal. It will, however, save you time in the long run. Clean a drawer of your freezer for your homemade ready meals. It’s also worth investing in some plastic containers that are freezer-friendly. Many people opt for foil containers, but these can work out quite expensive. With plastic containers, you can ensure you get to use them again and again! If you’re ever pushed for time, or not in the mood to cook, you can take some meals out of the freezer with no problem!
GET INTO THE HABIT OF WAKING EARLY
Waking up early has a lot of benefits. While not getting enough sleep won’t do you any good, a lot of us sleep longer than we need to. Oversleeping can be a hard habit to break, but it’s important you do so! Waking up early won’t only give you extra time. It will also help you feel fresh each day! Oversleeping can lead you to feel groggy and more tired. It can also mean that you don’t have the time you need each morning. No one likes waking up half an hour before work. Start setting your alarm earlier, and force yourself to wake up when you still feel tired. If it helps, get inspiration from other people who wake up early. After your body clock adjusts to the habit, your mornings will be no problem!
