With the holiday season quickly approaching, it can be hard to balance our work, with our family and friends. How can we possibly juggle it all? Today we are going to talk about some ways that you can get some hours back in your day.
Say No To The Abyss Of Social Media
Let’s be honest, ladies. How many times have we scrolled through Facebook or Instagram for “five minutes,” which quickly turned into an hour? It can be so easy to get lost in the sea of memes, social media posts, and photos, that we forget what time it is when we come up for air. Try to limit your social media intake. Maybe set a time when you will check your social media each day. Set a timer for the amount of time you want to spend online, and turn it off after the time is up. This is going to save you so much time, especially in the morning and evening.
Don’t Be A Slave To Email
With the invention of the smartphone, we have found it far too easy to check our emails, even for work, when we are at home and snug in our beds. But, why not try to limit the amounts of time you check your email each day? When you are at home, work just to check your email one time, or let it go when it appears on your screen. If you are trying to limit the amount of time that you are online, it might be a smart idea to turn the push notifications off.
Take Breaks
I know that this sounds counter-intuitive, but taking breaks helps us to be more productive. Our brains need to have breaks throughout the day so that we can think properly. Try taking a five-minute break every couple of hours to let your brain relax. Because you took some time to relax, it causes you to be more productive during the times you’re working.
Prioritize
Are you doing more than you could handle? Be honest. We can only manage so much of our jobs, families, kids, and other activities. Make sure that you haven’t bitten off more than you can chew. Look at your planner and monthly schedule, and see if there are any things you can eliminate. Think about what needs to get done and that you need to do, and things that are just getting in the way. By clearing the way in your schedule for what matters, you will be able to put your best foot forward in the things that are important to you.
Get Enough Sleep
You’re not your best self when you are tired and cranky, not to mention much less productive. Get between 7-9 hours of sleep each night. This is perfect if you are looking for more ways to relax, but also be more productive at work.
Have Hobbies
Don’t be completely consumed by work, work, and more work. Look up from your stack of paperwork and never-ending emails sometimes to find joy in the things that will last. Invest in your family, friendships, and other relationships. Carve out time for people. Though you may have started to believe that you don’t have time to do anything but work, it may be time to reevaluate your priorities.
Make A To-Do List
Try making a to-do list at the beginning of each week for the two main areas of your life. The first to-do list is all the things you want to accomplish or need to get done during your work week. The second to-do list is a personal one. That means that you write down the workouts you want to do, meals you want to cook, friends you will meet up with. Anything that isn’t directly related to work, goes on this list. This will help you to prioritize your time into what matters. And, if you are unsure if you should do something, you can consult your list to see if there would be any potential conflicts.
Meal Prep
Set aside a time each week( preferably a Saturday or Sunday) and make up your meals for the week. Baggies, ziplocks, and containers are going to be your new best friend. You can also meal prep to pack your lunch or your kid’s lunches all at one time. See our article for even more tips.
I know that it feels impossible ever to get any time back in your busy day, but hopefully, these tips can help. If you have any other suggestions, feel free to write them in the comments below!
