Smart Time Management for Busy Moms Part (1)

When people complain that they do not have enough time to do something, what
they are really saying is that the thing is not a priority, and what they are
doing is choosing another activity in its place.

Let’s face it, time cannot be managed but people can!

You can tell time to last longer but it just will not do it. So instead of
managing it, we must manage ourselves and use our time well. The best way to
begin the discussion of time management is to take a look at your busy life
and then develop a plan, a vision, or a program.

Whatever you want to call it, it will give your life good direction. If you
do not have a plan or at least a distant goal, you will not know which path
is the right path to take in your daily life. Whether it is going to the grocery
mart without a shopping list, or deciding whether to work full time, a game
plan is what is needed most or decisions are haphazard and just will not work
so well.

1. Establish priorities.

Write each priority down if it helps (and it usually does). This creates a
road map to life and will enable you to easily see how to spend each of your
days. For example, if you are clear that your priority is to have an outing
as a family, then you will be able to say no to activities that take place
during that planned time hour.

If free time is a priority, then you may choose to limit the amount of extracurricular
activities a child participates in. Set your priorities with integrity and
then stick to them. You will also be able to see when you are straying from
any designated path. If you are often straying, then perhaps it is time to
reevaluate your plan and then see if it is still working for you.

2. Decide whether you want to be the Chief, Cook and Bottleawasher. Alternatively,
perhaps you prefer to be the MANAGER.

A family manager wears a number of different hats, from chef to accountant
to personal shopper to nurse to teacher. That does not leave much time for
taking care of yourself. The way to claim more time for yourself is to become
a great manager and train others in your household to do more of the work in
your place. Then (the hardest part) be brave enough to let them do it even
if it is not exactly the way you would want it done.

3. Eliminate Time Drainers.

Be realistic about how you spend your time. It sometimes helps to set a timer
when doing certain activities to keep track of just how much time you are putting
into any activity. A good plan is to work for 45 minutes of any hour, then
take a break for some 15 minutes and use that time to watch TV, surf the web,
write e-mails, read magazines, etc. Give yourself a time limit for time off
and then get back to doing productive tasks. You will feel more refreshed this
way.

4. Dealing with Phone Calls and Other Interruptions.

Make use of a stopwatch when you make non-essential telephone calls or when
you are interrupted by a call. Be stern with yourself on this and you will
save lots of time. Give yourself a time limit so you can move on to the next
important thing. Gracefully say “I need to take care of something” and
then excuse yourself from the conversation.

5. Shopping Trips

People who love to shop can lose track of time and can lose a whole day without
really noticing. Approach shopping as a chore and not a hobby and you will
find time you never thought you had. Shop with a list or even a timer. Go into
the store for the things you need only. If you are at a shop to take advantage
of a sale, set a timer and when the timer goes off, you are done. Go directly
to the checkout counter and then head off for home.