Time Management
TIME MANAGEMENT IS LIFE MANAGEMENT - AND HOW YOU CAN CONQUER IT
With age, maturity, and the increase in responsibilities within work and my family- I tend to show life through
social media, and I constantly get asked the question, “How do I get it all in?” From the outside looking in, it
seems easy. However, I face the same obstacles you do! Because of the curiosity, I realized what may feel
natural to me at this point, is hard for others to perceive. Ultimately, time management is life management
and because of that, is an important skill to learn and continuously work towards perfecting it for your own life.
Plus, it is proven to benefit overall health as well, especially a decrease in stress and an improvement in quality
of life. I decided to take a deeper introspective look into what makes me tick and broke it down into the
following areas to help others manage their time:
1) A HEALTHY DIET AND FITNESS ROUTINE:
The biggest excuse I hear about why people do not to exercise is because they don’t have enough time. The
reality is that keeping a healthy routine which includes exercise makes you manage your time more efficiently!
If you do a Google search, you’ll learn most habits of successful people (who are obviously really busy),
includes having a consistent exercise routine. A healthy routine also boosts your focus and concentration in
other tasks, not just at the gym.
2) MAXIMIZING TIME THAT YOU CANNOT CHANGE:
With our multiple BWN locations, I spend a lot of time in the car. I use the opportunity to make necessary
work or personal calls for my kids or myself, and sometimes intensively use it as a meditative opportunity. I
blast old or current tunes from my Spotify, and rock out to clear my mind. My daughter goes to physical
therapy twice per week and another has voice therapy during the week, so I use that time to update social
media, reply to emails and texts, or other responsibilities. Utilize use your time wisely, whether you are
physically doing something or opting to do nothing - just make sure it’s with intention and you won’t waste it.
- Say no to nonessential tasks and prioritize the others
One of the best things I’ve ever done, and the hardest, is learning how to say “no”. This girl, who has major
FOMO (fear of missing out), took a long time to learn that if a task does not meet your personal or
professional goals, it is a waste of time that derails you from focusing on other things that do. Not only can you
be more productive if you turn non-essential things down, but be more fulfilled as well.
- Dedicate time blocks and limit distractions
If you follow my journey, you’ll see that I love coffee shops. Besides for my love for coffee (or contributing to
it), I found that in those shops I work the most effectively. There’s something about the smell, taste, lull of
chatter, and location that allows me to focus. Find the place that works for you and turn off your distractions
like a cell phone or TV (funny how a TV in the background actually helps me!). Another big distraction is the
web- try not to browse social media or browse online while working on something else.
You may need a break.
If you notice you’re taking a lot longer than usual at a certain task, zoning out, or feeling frustrated, you may
need a break. Take a walk, go to the gym, get some fresh air or take that ‘sick day’ from work. It’s amazing what
minutes can do for clarity of an overworked mind and recharge our bodies to give us that next big productive
push. For some, scheduling a break consistently can be helpful such as a 10 minute break for every 50 minutes
of work. Some good ideas with a break would be to do a few bodyweight exercises such as squats or push ups,
watch a short funny clip or even surf Facebook or Twitter. Just do something that will take your mind off work.
This will help your mind stay fresh.
-Turn off notifications on your smartphones and tablets
This could have been the best thing I have ever done. Most people find it hard to concentrate with Facebook,
Twitter or Instagram notifications every 10 minutes. So by turning them off, you can ensure nothing will
distract you once you are performing work. If you need a more extreme move, you can uninstall social media
apps on your phone.
-Just Go to Sleep
I learned in high school, as I watched my peers stay up all night and cram for exams, that losing sleep wasn’t a
good strategy to do better. Sleep is a highly overlooked aspect when it comes to productivity and health. A lack of sleep decreases cognitive performance, stores fat and makes you more susceptible to getting sick. The
recommendations have been consistent - get in those 8 hours of sleep per night. Another thing I try to do
when I can is incorporate short power naps lasting 20–30 minutes which actually helps keep fatigue down.
Whatever you decide to incorporate as a routine, know that finding the right one is completely individualized.
What works for me may not work for you, but at least it is a place to start!
