Time-Poor? Know These Tips
Time – it’s a precious but limited resource. Every one of us has the same ‘time budget’. We all have 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. However, not everyone spends their time the same way. Whether you work full-time or part-time, are a working parent or stay-at-home parent, live alone or not live alone, life is very busy!
Here are some tips to help keep your busy life on track, and feel more manageable.
Prepare and plan
The first step is to identify everything that consumes your time. Write down all the tasks that need to be completed. Remember to include events and appointments that need to be attended, and situations that need to be solved. Now you can break this down even further. Make a list of all your monthly, weekly, and daily goals. This makes it easier for the next step.
Prioritise
The next step is to prioritise the tasks on your list. Highlight those that are indispensable. You may want to use the 4 Ds of time management here. Put each of your tasks into one of these 4 groups:
- Do – tasks that are important and urgent.
- Defer – tasks that are important, but not urgent.
- Delegate – tasks that are urgent but not important.
- Delete – tasks that are neither urgent nor important.
Remember to be realistic when setting goals and making a task list. There’s nothing more disheartening than seeing half-done lists time after time.
Be productive
Now it’s time to be productive. Time-batching may help. You may want to batch similar tasks together and get them all done at once. For example, you may choose to group house chores together, and allocate a Saturday morning for this. However, if you’ve allowed yourself 2 hours for housework – stick to it. Find something, such as music, to boost your motivation and add oomph to your productivity.
Make time for yourself
One of the most important tips for the time-poor, is to take some time for yourself. With a little self-care you can recharge your batteries and be ready to take on the world again. To free up some time, go back to your priorities and take a look at the tasks in your ‘delegate’ group. The world’s most successful entrepreneurs have mastered the art of delegating tasks – so why can’t we? It’s time to work smart and lighten your load!
Did you know…we can help
Simply Helping offers a range of services that can help you around the home and garden. Yes, it’s true we provide home help for the elderly and people living with disability; but our services are also being engaged more and more often by people simply making a lifestyle choice. Click here to see our range of services, including house cleaning, gardening, home maintenance, dog walking, and babysitting.
