Juggling a family, busy career, home and trying to fit in self care can be exhausting. How many of us have woke up in the middle of the night remembering you forgot to do something – work assignment, an email, doctor’s appointment, kid’s schedule, etc? Do you ever look forward to the weekend and then remember all of the things you committed to and now your weekend feels more like work?
How do you prioritize your time? It sounds like heaven to sit at home with your dog and binge watch your favorite show but you feel guilty. Is it okay to say no? How do you get it all done? What does balance look like in the real world? When is it enough?
We all think like this, don’t we?
Secret
It’s never done and it (whatever “it” is) is never enough. There is always something to do and something to catch up on. Whomever you think is doing it all and better, likely is not. Rather than worrying about getting it all in, how about thinking about what you want to do and insuring you work that into your day? Setting priorities is an important part of being successful and feeling accomplished.
Priorities
How do you make sure you are spending your time on the things that matter the most to you- both professionally and personally? Time will not stop and we will not get more time in the day. It is easy to get wrapped up in being busy and having “so much to do” that you don’t get anything meaningful accomplished. Intentionality is a word I like to use – be intentional about your time and how you spend it. Here are some tips to being more intentional with your time.
Quick Tips
- Plan in your big things first. This works for work and home. Pick the day/time and add it to your calendar.
- Block time in your calendar to complete key tasks otherwise your calendar will be filled and you will have no time left to work.
- What do you need to get done – presentation for work, doctor’s appointment? Knock those off as soon as you can. Thinking about them and writing them on multiple lists takes up time.
- Write on a post-it each morning what you have to get done that day. It helps!
- Wellness goals? Get up 30 minutes earlier in the morning and start tomorrow. Set you clothes out the night before and do it before you can think about why you shouldn’t.
- Get in the habit of following a schedule – maybe you put in a load of laundry before you head to work and order groceries every Thursday. A schedule will make it easier to complete monotonous tasks.
- Have a goal to read more? Try audio books. You can listen while you are commuting or even better – while you are out walking.
- Order your groceries to pick up or have delivered – you will eat healthier and save money not buying impulse items.
- It’s okay to say no.
- Oh and put in time to relax. Binge watching your favorite show or just doing nothing is okay and it is needed!
Kids under 10
Busy Mom’s with young kids will always hold a special place in my heart, so I had to add a special section for them. Today I am very close to being an empty nester. I have two kids in college and a sophomore in high school, but I remember the kids under 10 years. Those years are especially hectic. The backpack, the school notes, kid Birthday parties, lunches, oh my! I knew I couldn’t be the Mom who picked her kids up after school and volunteered at the school. Instead I chose selectively what I could do and what I thought would be remembered by my kids.
Definitely quality over quantity. Maybe you take off Halloween to help your 1st grader with her costume or you take off on a Friday to go with your son on the school trip. Look ahead at the schedule and pick what you can accomplish. A tip I learned from a friend, at the beginning of the year block out your calendar for school out days. You may not take all of them off, but you will have your calendar cleared for when you want to spend the day with your child.
I made a comment to my son recently that I felt bad for missing so many of his events when he was little. Do you know what he said? He looked at me like I was crazy and said he remembers me always being there. All the Mom’s out there – give yourself a break, you are doing a good job and your kids love you. #yougotthis!