We know that we have 24 hours in each day and that this should be plenty of time for us to complete everything that we have to do, with ample time to spare. The dawn of each day should bring a fresh outlook to all of us and we should feel rejuvenated and ready to tackle anything that life has in store.
However, for one reason or another it seems that we are always playing catch-up, despite what we might feel are our best intentions. In this way, when the sun sets and the evening approaches, we end up feeling frustrated, wondering why we have not been able to do everything that we had set out to do. As a busy working mum, we certainly know about time constraints and wish we could find an extra hour, each day, somehow. Is this possible?
1. Maybe you need to “screen” all your phone calls, before they reach you? With technology, some great programs are available to help you do this, including Google Voice, allowing you to prioritise the calls that you must take from those that can simply wait. This technology now allows you to block callers that you do not want to be bothered with, in the future. By having your own, personal secretary in this way, you will not waste valuable minutes.
2. Learn about outsourcing. It might be difficult to consider child minding, as it is so difficult to find somebody reliable and you might want to take this task on yourself whenever you are operating out of your home, but there are certainly other chores that you can outsource, including all that cleaning work that you have to get done.
3. It might be time for you to find a good time management software package, but take the time to learn how to use it. At first glance it can feel a bit strange, but if you are prepared to stick with it, it will certainly help you to focus and this by itself will save a great deal of time, each day.
4. Plan as much as you want, but make sure you follow through. If you have a rather muddled list of things that you have to accomplish in your head, you will bounce back and forth between these chores and not be efficient. Allocate time to plan ahead, whether this takes place during the prior evening, or when you first wake up.
5. You need to set aside an hour for communication. This time will include your access to Facebook or other social networks, time to check e-mail and to make all those phone calls that you need to return. It’s amazing how much time can be wasted if you’re answering calls or constantly checking your e-mail accounts, in this unstructured fashion.
6. When you’re planning your time, include a “buffer” at appropriate intervals. This means that you should not plan one task after another within an unrealistic time frame. By inserting your “buffer,” if you get delayed, sidetracked or fall behind your schedule in any way, you will be okay.
7. Combine your exercise time with “catching up” time. Never avoid physical activity and allocate at least 30 minutes per day to do so, but when you do this combine it with time to catch up with anything that is newsworthy. To do this you might have to put a TV in your home gym, utilise that electronic book reader or even just listen to a particular news or media channel as you go.
These days, online coaching experts know full well the value of time management and how adequate planning can help you to free up extra time that you might have overlooked. Not surprisingly, professional coaching is not just for corporate executives, it’s now widely available and recommended for people in all walks of life. Don’t forget, professional coaching for women is particularly recommended in your case!
Amanda Alexander is the Director of Coaching Mums and a widely renowned ICF-accredited coach who delivers professional coaching programmes to working mums across the globe who long for more time, balance and fulfilment in their busy lives. Download our free eBook especially for working mums with 5 easy ways to achieve balance.
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