5 tips to find more time in your day

5 Tips to managing your time better

“Hi how are you?”

“Good thanks, just super busy”

It’s kind of the norm now right? We all like to compare how busy we are and it’s how we answer how we are.

Gone are the weekends for just relaxing, it’s either trying to catch up on work, running the kids around to sports, cleaning the house and food shopping, it all gets a little much right?

I get it and fall into the same traps as well. But what’s the point of life if we are constantly hurrying, stressing, and time poor to do what we really want in life.

Here’s 5 tips that can help you get off the hamster wheel and gain some control back over your time.

1.     Stop the scroll/binge watching

I know, I know it’s so hard right? We like to check in on social media to see what’s happening, compare ourselves to everyone else, use it to escape what’s currently going on, or out of boredom. Before we know it ,that quick five minute scroll has turned in half an hour and now we don’t know how we ended up watching cat videos! It’s time to gain some control back!! If you have time to scroll you have time to do the things you really want or that are on your to do list-seriously

My tip: Turn notifications off on your phone so it’s not a distraction. I have no notifications pop up for social media or emails anymore.. it’s gained me so much time back in the day.  Also block out set times or allow time limits for social media/emails and time yourself so there’s no excuses.

2.     Meal prep like a boss!

Yes it’s not sexy I know, but it will definitely save you a lot of time in the long run. Get savvy in the kitchen, make larger quantities of dinners and freeze them so you have meals in the freezer on the days you’re in a real rush or use them for lunches the next day. If the oven is on cooking dinner, always have something else cooking like a batch of cookies for lunchboxes, , roasting nuts for snacks, a chicken for lunches ready to go for the week. You’re already in there prepping dinner, use that extra space up in the oven while it’s on!

3.     Brain dump

  I love this technique I learnt a little while ago. You know the feeling when you’re just         in overwhelm with the to do list and just can’t imagine it all getting done. It’s keeping you up at night with worry. This is the perfect time to brain dump. Take a piece of paper and pen, and literally get all lists, thoughts, feelings, jobs, out onto that paper. It doesn’t need to be in order, but get it out of your head. This technique will free up space in your brain, give you a minute to breath and find more clarity. Once it’s all out, prioritise the list, what’s most important that needs to be done first, what can be dropped? Sometimes when it’s out of our head, it can actually surprise you at how much you can get through when you’re not in the constant overwhelm state. Tip only ever have 3 things on your list for one day. Anything else is an added bonus. It helps eliminate that nagging voice and inner critic that tells us we aren’t good enough for not getting everything done.

4.     Stop telling yourself your busy!

Yes sister, you need to stop telling yourself and everyone else that you are busy! What we focus on, we manifest and create more of. So if it’s busy, busy, go-go, stress, overwhelm that’s what we are going to attract more of. It’s time to change the story, you have to believe with every fibre of your being that you’re not busy, but in deed getting through everything you need to with grace and ease. Start telling yourself that everytime you feel your busy or telling someone you are. Look up time management affirmations and repeat them. When someone asks you how you are come up with another word for busy or just say “I’m well thank you”.

5.     Ask for help

You know the old saying it takes a village to raise a child. It’s so true, we don’t have to do it all alone. Get your partner and kids to help around the house. Hire some help if it’s within your budget and will give you piece of mind. Getting a cleaner in or someone that can do your ironing is a great place to start. Ask friends, family, neighbours to help out. Maybe it’s easier and less hassle to do the shopping on your own. Ask for someone to watch the kids so you can go do it. Do a food swap with other mums, all bake a large quantity of something and devide it up and share around so you all get a portion of different meals. The options are endless when you’re looking for solutions. Take the mum guilt away, it’s ok to not do it all.

Let me know what you think of these tips and if they are helpful next time you’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed that you don’t have enough time.

Live well

Kirsty xx