My dad always said “time flies whether you’re having fun or not,” and if that ain’t the damn truth… Lately, my life is BUSY (notice my last post date). Aside from working full-time, I coach a varsity sports team 6 days a week, work a part-time job (though minimally), and do freelance writing.
Since my work days are 12 hours long and I have to fit time to eat in there, I’ve had to find ways to best make the best use of my time and here’s how I do it.
1. Utilize Driving Time
I make tons of phone calls while I drive (hands-free, don’t worry) because it’s really just free time that I can be doing something other than scream-singing Ed Sheeran. I use this time to call my family, doctors offices, etc. so I can take care of anything that doesn’t involve me being there in person.
2. Lunch Hour
Between work and commute time, I’m gone from 8am to 730/8pm every day – which means there’s not a lot of time for me to get stuff done after work. I get an hour lunch so I use that time to run errands, go to the gym, get my nails done, or go to offices that have bank hours. Of course, I find a few minutes to eat here and there.
3. Budget Your F*ck Bucks
I’m in the middle of reading this book, The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck, and it’s truly going to actually change my life. Author Sarah Knight explains how you don’t have to do everything including things you don’t like for people you don’t care about. This seems rude, right? But she teaches you how to prioritize and value your time without being a jerk about it. This is HUGE for me because I’m the person who’s always trying to do things for others and spend no energy on myself. I’ve learned that since I get so few free days, it’s okay to say no – like last weekend when I laid in bed til 2pm with my boyfriend – I earned that. I said no to doing something with people I actually love because I honestly needed time to mentally recharge – and that’s okay.
4. Plan Plan Plan
I’m super non-commital to plans (that’s the introvert in me), but I try to do my best to make a plan for the week ahead. Most importantly, I write weekly and daily to-do lists at work. My ADD kicks in big-time in the office especially when I’m working on several different projects. It’s vital that I write out everything that I’m working on and need to get done. Keeping a detailed to-do list is wildly beneficial in helping to keep you accountable, minimize stress, and help you stay organized.
5. Slow Down
Going a million miles an hour can only work for so long before you burn out or make a mistake (or worse – expelled). By rushing through things to get them done or not giving things an adequate about of time, you can make more work for yourself. You’re doing yourself a disservice by not putting full effort into things by rushing through them, and for me, rushing through stuff makes me even more stressed out and feeling pressed for time. My advice – slow down, take a breath.
Happy Friday! Enjoy the weekend