Have you ever wished that you could bring time to an indefinite halt and take your own sweet time to do everything you have ever wanted to do? Do you feel like time is running away while your tasks are only piling up with each passing day? Do you have to juggle around different roles and responsibilities in your life-parent, full-time employee, student, wife, sister and the list never ends. Here are some time management techniques which can help you reclaim some hours from your hectic life.
Knowing which activities takes most of your time
Before knowing how to save and better manage your time, you first need to find out which activities are consuming most of your time? Is it the household chores? Cooking time? Time spent chauffering the kids around?
Prioritize your activities
Obviously not everything needs to get done the same day. From your list of activities prioritize the ones that need to get done first and shift the others to other days. For example with regards to household cleaning, and not having to clean up for hours every day, you can cut down the cleaning time by simply organizing the house better. Encourage your children and partner to keep everything organized and clean.
Mix relaxation and chore
Certain mindless chore like ironing the clothes can be done while watching your favorite serial on TV or taking some time off to discuss with your spouse. Also, while helping your kids with their homework, you can at the same time read your favorite book. That way, you are fulfilling your responsibility as a parent as well as pursuing your passion.
Routine work
Assign everyone his own responsibility. For example your older kids can be asked to help more with household chores. Your spouse can take care of getting the younger kids ready for school while you prepare for breakfast. When everyone knows what he has to do, time is ultimately saved. Also setting a routine gives everyone an idea of what to expect for the day.
Keep dinner simple
Prepare a menu list for say two weeks and allow for only two surprise meals. This will not only save you on cooking time but also allow you to better manage your grocery list and save time on running errands since you already have a plan of what you will be needing for the next few days.
Maintain strict bedtime for your kids
You should set a daily bedtime for your kids and have to make sure that under no circumstances they should be awake beyond that time. By maintaining this routine, this will not only allow you to have more free time to spend with your spouse, but at the same time make sure that you no longer have to devote more of your time to your kids. Once they are in bed, you can now have few hours for other activities.
The key to maintaining the right balance in your life when you have to maintain different responsibilities and roles at the same time is to make sure effective management of your time. If responsibilities and tasks are shared, and everyone knows what is expected of him or her, this will definitely contribute in saving everyone's time.
Troy Price
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