Floral skirt is sold out at Old Navy, but here is a similar fit keeping with the floral theme, white sleeveless top from H&M, jean jacket Old Navy (similar here), earrings old (similar here), shoes from a small boutique (similar here).
This post is quite fitting, as I haven’t posted in a week. Yes, you read that correctly. Last week was quite sparse in the posting department. I had a crazy busy week with work, and the blog had to come second. It made me really start thinking about how I manage time, and I decided I should write about my time management tips. It’s actually a very good reminder for me.
Okay, so how do I keep it together and stay on track? Well, here are a few tips that I use to ensure I have enough time to do it all.
- Make a list. I make a to-do list on the daily. On my to-do list, I have tasks for work, blog tasks and personal tasks. As they get done, I cross them off the list. If for some reason, I cannot get to that task the day I plan for it, and I move it to the next day. I still use good ole’ pen and paper for my lists. There is something about writing it down that helps me stay on target.
- Use your Google or Outlook calendar and color code everything. For work, I have specific colors for specific types of activity. Client meetings are red, internal meetings yellow, etc. All of my personal actions are gray, and blog activities are purple. Okay, you get the drift. I also occasionally put lists in activities in my calendar.
- Have a hard copy of a calendar or planner. I used to print out my calendar, but now I just use a monthly wall calendar. My husband and I use this to write major things down, such as vacay, dates we are traveling for work, dinners with friends, when company is coming; pretty much anything so we both always know what is going on.
- Get up early. I tend to get up earlier now because I have so much to get done on any given day. I think I mentioned this in my “Monday Blues” post. I am usually up by 5:30/6 AM and will use the morning hours to work on the blog. Other times, I will start working earlier so I can get done earlier. I like to have a cup of coffee and relax a bit before starting my day. This helps me be more productive and get that to-do list checked off.
- Delegate, delegate, delegate. I’m so very lucky to have a husband who helps with everything. If I’m deep into a blog post, he will make breakfast and walk the dog. Other mornings, when he’s in the weeds, I help him out. It is the same for throughout the day and into the evening. We are true partners which helps me SO MUCH! Having some time for fun is important, so for cleaning, we’ve been using a cleaning lady. This keeps our schedule more open to do the things we enjoy.
- Take a break…kinda like the Hamilton song. We all need to step away from the screen and go for a walk, or have some daily meditation/relaxation. Taking a break to re-set and gain perspective is so important. There are some days I am super stressed. I’ll leave the computer and take Dakota for a walk. It does wonders for my mood and my productivity. Seriously, try this. Next time you are feeling burnt out, stop what you are doing, take a little stroll outside.
- Plan Ahead. I am inherently a planner, so planning ahead comes naturally to me. Its very annoying to some though. LOL! Because we have so much going on, I like to plan out vacations. When will we have Trent’s kids, when will I write my blog posts, when are we working out, and when will we get the grocery shopping done? …and on and on. Some of this I try to do well in advance. Don’t get me wrong, I can be spontaneous and if a plan falls through it’s all good. But, all in all, I do better with a little structure. This may not work as well for you, but I think planning things out helps maximize time. It also keeps me sane (kinda).
Ok, so I never really have enough time. Who does?! Overall though, these tips help me tap into our 24 hour day and get the most out of it.
I am sure you all have your own tips for keeping your sh@# together. Please do tell…
