5 Practical Tips To Maximize Your Time

Time is a valuable thing, especially for those of us who never seem to find enough of it.  Am I right?

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A while back, I read the[amazon_textlink asin=’0910226016′ text=’ 5 Love Languages‘ template=’ProductLink’ store=’poms2moms-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’21563be9-41dc-11e8-b42a-713df7af35d0′], by Gary Chapman. It resonated with me. While it was meaningful for my marriage, I saw striking applications to other relationships throughout my life. Altogether, I came to realize that my time spent – one language of how to express your affection for another – can be invaluable to any relationship.

I truly believe one of the most special gestures you can make for another (and yourself) is by giving them your time. However, I always feel guilty terminating my time with one person, only to feel guilty that I’m late with another. There’s never enough time.

Case in point:  It’s 6:30 p.m. I have plenty left to do at work and could probably [amazon_textlink asin=’B001UDMSKG’ text=’stay there for hours‘ template=’ProductLink’ store=’poms2moms-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’56a0330e-41dc-11e8-9c8f-03bde7611b14′]. I leave feeling guilty for not getting everything finished. Still, I walk through the door also feeling guilty for not having been home longer, as my husband and fur-baby have been home alone for a while now. It’s enough to drive me crazy!

(Actual text my husband sent me while I was at the office late one night.)

The problem is, I’ve wasted a lot of time accidentally. With a resource so precious and invaluable, I wanted to share what I’ve come to acquire as helpful tools to effectively manage your time.  Because, after all, we want to feel as though our time is well-spent on those we care about the most.

So, here are 5 PRACTICAL WAYS to get the most out of your day.

1.) AT WORK, SET YOUR ALARM. And quit checking the clock.

Ever had a meeting with someone, but knew you needed to end it NO later than a certain time?  And then you just end up checking the clock – over and over again.  It’s distracting and rude, and before you know it, you’ve whittled away your already minimal time with someone by continually checking said, time.

Instead, set an alarm.  If you know your phone is going to beep exactly at 12:45, you can truly quit worrying about the clock and pay attention to the conversation without anxiety.  Set your phone before going into the meeting, put it on vibrate, and when you feel your pocket buzz, politely but directly, wrap things up.

Give yourself a few minutes to schedule a follow-up meeting, but move out in the time buffer you’ve provided yourself. No one even has to know you’ve set your alarm, but it’s a good way to make the most of the time available.

2.) UNDERSTAND THAT [amazon_textlink asin=’0983364761′ text=’MICROSOFT OUTLOOK‘ template=’ProductLink’ store=’poms2moms-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’8b07ba27-41dc-11e8-aeec-23db08933ca3′] IS A GODSEND:  Drag-and-click your day into order.

Regular to-do lists aren’t helpful.  I am not exaggerating when I tell you, it would take me all morning just to write my to-do list.  By then, I’ve WASTED THE TIME I need to actually DO the task.

Planning when to do your task, however, is critical. For example, say you know you need to finish a report, and there are a couple tasks key to getting it completed. Open up your calendar and block off the time you’ll take to finish the implied tasks, and then the overall tasks.

In other words, don’t just write your list but put it into practical blocks of time that you know you can complete it.

And for those Type A out there (like me) that enjoy marking things off the list, Outlook has this handy color-coding business that I like to use when things are finished. And when things are high priority. And when things are supposed to be FUN.  Yes, I color code them all.

3.) BEFORE YOU LEAVE WORK:  Sign off for the day, in fashion.

Seinfeld is my favorite, and one of his episodes makes me think of this time hack.  Here’s the clip. Jerry Seinfeld talks about Night guy vs. Morning guy, and whose problem is it, really?

What I mean by this is, when you’re hard at work and you’re in the zone, you don’t want to stop!  You don’t want morning gal to be concerned with that evening gal’s problems.  Personally, the way I operate, is, I want morning gal to just get all her work finished.  But it never-ever-ever works out like that.

So how do you know when to call it quits?  Or when to step out?  And where to pick up the next day?  My life hack reinforces tip #2:

When you’re wrapping up work for the day, assess where you are in the project.  Think of what you need to do, or what your next step should be. Open your calendar, and pick out when you are going to finish that SPECIFIC task.  Jot your thoughts down on a sticky note and leave it in a place on your desk.

As you input your tasks into your calendar/jot your thoughts down, be sure to actually “sign off.”  It’s a physical manifestation that you’ve concluded work for the day.  Then you can head home, rest assured that you’re able to pick up with the ball still rolling.

4.) STRUCTURE YOUR COMMUTE HOME:  Pick a sign, any sign.

My brilliant, hardest-worker-senior-superlative of a mother shared this tip with me.  I think you’ll really like it, too.

Often, at the end of a long day at work, your commute home is your decompression where you think through the day and harp on what occurred.  It’s a case of preoccupation, and you remain focused on all that you did and still have left to do. This is, in my opinion, just part of the normal reaction to investing yourself so much throughout the day.

The problem?  Your brain is still on work when you get home.

Instead, consider this:  Pick a sign or a landmark on your drive home.  As you commute, allow yourself to think of everything work related UNTIL you reach that point. Then, switch your focus.  After passing the landmark, only allow yourself to think on things at home. Think of your husband (wasn’t he supposed to have that important meeting today?), or your kids (how’d their science project grade come out, you wonder?).

This will help prime you for your introduction at home, so you’ll feel less distracted and more present when you arrive.

5.) DON’T CANCEL ON YOURSELF:  She won’t appreciate it.

My favorite[amazon_textlink asin=’B002JUFPUE’ text=’ Christmas movie ‘ template=’ProductLink’ store=’poms2moms-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’b3b7d565-41dc-11e8-aa08-4f49247c9141′]ever, The Grinch, laid it out perfectly:  “The nerve of those Whos. Inviting me down there – and on such short notice.  Even if I wanted to go my schedule wouldn’t allow it.  Four o’clock, wallow in self pity; 4:30, stare into the abyss; 5:00, solve world hunger, tell no one.  5:30, jazzercize. 6:30, dinner with me.  I can’t cancel that again!”

Don’t cancel on yourself!  The easiest thing to do when you’re getting really busy is to skip the gym.  Quickly grab food, instead of getting the good, healthy ingredients at the grocery store.  Go to sleep late, instead of getting your full 8 hours.

Honestly – I’ll be the first to admit I’m hypocrite #1 for this tip. But, for what it’s worth, when I don’t cancel on myself, I find surprising productivity and energy. Investing in yourself truly is worth the time, even when you have to push other things off your calendar to squeeze it in.  Personally, exercise is the most important one to me and I attend my gym religiously.

However, you know your body and your heart the best – don’t allow the pushy calendar to invade what you find so special.

How do you “make more time” in the day? Leave a comment below!