Time
Management for Moms
By Susie Michelle Cortright
We've
all heard the classic time management advice: Stick to a
schedule. Work smart, not hard…But moms need time management
tricks as flexible as their schedules, since there will
always be those days when your cat needs an emergency trip
to the vet, your infant gets a stomach bug, and your kindergartner
announces that he needs 48 frosted cupcakes by noon.
All
moms have an office that never closes and an inbox that
never empties, whether we work outside the home or not.
This daily grind can put us all on the fast track to burnout.
Here are some time management tips especially for moms.
Organize
Sound
organization is a stepping-stone to time management.
Energize
Exercise
to energize. Spending an hour a day on exercise can actually
save you time. You'll feel more energized and productive
throughout the day, and you may even require less sleep
at night. Cut the time spent working out by boosting the
intensity. Don't cut the workout itself.
Prioritize
As moms,
we dash from one responsibility to another, but there is
an alternative that we often forget: Give yourself less
to do.
The
first step is to figure out what's really important to you.
Schedule several key tasks and outsource the rest.
Delegating
is difficult, but it will get easier with practice. I have
always assumed that I can save money by doing everything
myself, but my husband lives by a different rule. As a businessman,
he bills his time on an hourly basis, and he has no problem
letting me know when the cost-benefit analysis of him completing
a household task doesn't compute. If a plumber would cost
less than it would for him to take the time to fix the bathroom
leak, we call the professional.
Taken one step further, if you enjoy your work and would
earn more money if you spent more time at it, why not give
yourself that extra time (and money) by hiring someone to
do the tasks you don't enjoy?
Just
Say No
We are
here for our children. We are here for our husbands, our
parents, our siblings, and our friends. But nowhere in the
mommy manual does it say we always have to be here for the
lady on the next block who needs us to run next week's PTA
meeting. Nowhere does it say we have to spend all night
in the sewing room, unless, of course, we want to.
Some
experts say "no" is the only word you need for
effective time management. We moms want to please, to help,
and to make life easier for everyone around us.
The
next time someone calls to ask for your help, agree to think
it over. When you no longer feel pressured for an answer,
ask yourself if you really want to help. Make sure you aren't
agreeing solely to please the person on the other end of
the phone.
When
we learn to respect our time, others will respect it, too.
Slow
Down
Learn
how to take life as it comes. When you're faced with a seemingly
daunting task, promise yourself to take your time and enjoy
it rather than rushing through. Time to cook dinner? Dig
for your favorite recipe, pour a class of Chardonnay. Mince
some fresh herbs, and savor the aromas.
For more information on developing this singular focus,
read "Enjoy Your Time," new on the Inspiration
Channel.
Susie
Michelle Cortright is the author of More Energy for Moms
and the publisher of Momscape.com
- a website devoted to helping moms enjoy motherhood. Visit
today for empowering articles, inspiring essays, self-care
tips, and giveaways all designed to nourish and invigorate
a mother's spirit.
