Do you ever feel like you don’t have enough time in the day? When I first became a mom, my favorite thing to say was, “I don’t have any time.”

The truth is I did have time, I just didn’t know how to manage it well. Six years later and I’m slowly but surely figuring it out. If you read my blog post: Tips to Help You Prepare for the New Month, then you know this month I’m focused on working efficiently. One way I’m doing that is by mastering time management.

Here are five time management strategies to help you become more intentional, prioritized, focused, structured, and self-aware:

Track your time:

Do you know what you’re spending the most time on? Back in July, I decided to take a break from social media after having a few unproductive weeks. You can read about it here: Why It’s Important to Take a Break From Social Media I lost focus and found myself mindlessly scrolling way too often. I realized that I was consuming more content than I was creating. Tracking my time allowed me to become more aware. You’ll be surprised how much time you waste each day. Figure out what you want to do more of and what you need to do less of.

Eliminate distractions + set boundaries:

One of our biggest distractions is our cell phones. When it is time to work, try putting your phone in another room. If your phone is out of sight, you are less likely to think about it. Your children and your significant other can be a distraction too. Set boundaries with your family and make sure that you stick to them!

Wake up earlier/go to bed later:

As a parent, you must make sacrifices. You may have to wake up earlier or go to bed later to get things done, but you will thank yourself in the long run. Say goodbye to 8 hours of sleep at night! On average, I get about 6 hours of sleep each night and this gives me the opportunity to spend some time alone.

Prioritize your tasks:

When you are creating your to do list, be intentional and realistic. I recommend minimizing your to-do list and focusing on 1-3 things you want to accomplish. The goal is to complete tasks so don’t set yourself up for failure. If you’re anything like me, you have high expectations for yourself which is good but sometimes doing less is more. Having a night routine is just as important as having a morning routine. If you plan your morning the night before, you will wake up feeling more organized.

Time blocking:

Creating a to do list is wonderful but time blocking is even better. Time blocking discourages multitasking and encourages deep focused work. Being a multitasker is great but sometimes it is a blessing and a curse. If you’re doing multiple tasks at once, you’re more likely to make a mistake. Time blocking also helps you set more realistic goals.

I’m always looking for ways to be more efficient so if you have any more time management tips, please share them below!

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