As a busy professional and mother, I was constantly juggling multiple responsibilities. It often feels like there aren't enough hours in the day to excel at work, spend quality time with my family, and take care of myself. But with the right strategies, I created a harmonious balance without sacrificing any aspect of my life.
These strategies have helped me gain control of my time and I'll encourage you to try them.
At least, a reasonable level of control over our time is what each of us need in order to gain balance and achieve more.
1. Prioritize ruthlessly
Start each week by identifying your top 3 priorities in both work and family life. Focus your energy on these key areas and ensure you're not distracted by less important tasks.
2. Time-block your schedule
Divide your day into blocks dedicated to specific tasks or roles.
For example:
- 6-8 AM: Personal time (exercise, meditation)
- 8-9 AM: Family breakfast and school prep
- 9 AM-5 PM: Work hours
- 5-8 PM: Family time
- 8-9 PM: Wind-down and planning for the next day
3. Embrace the power of delegation
At work, delegate tasks that don't require your specific expertise. At home, involve your partner and children in age-appropriate chores. Remember, PERFECTION ISN'T THE GOAL – GETTING THINGS DONE is.
Some time management strategies that has helped me to accomplish more tasks are:
Eat That Frog
Start your day by tackling the most challenging or important task (the "frog") first.
Benefits:
- Boosts productivity early in the day
- Reduces procrastination
- Builds momentum for other tasks
- Improves overall sense of accomplishment
2. Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule)
Focus on the 20% of tasks that will produce 80% of the results.
Benefits:
- Helps in identifying high-impact activities
- Improves overall efficiency
- Reduces time wasted on low-value tasks
- Enhances strategic thinking and prioritization
3. Eisenhower Matrix
Categorize tasks into four quadrants based on their urgency and importance:
1. Urgent and Important
2. Important but Not Urgent
3. Urgent but Not Important
4. Neither Urgent nor Important
Benefits:
- Helps prioritize tasks effectively
- Reduces time spent on unimportant activities
- Improves long-term planning and productivity
4. 2-Minute Rule
Explanation: If a task takes less than two minutes to complete, do it immediately instead of scheduling it for later.
Benefits:
- Prevents small tasks from piling up
- Reduces mental clutter
- Increases overall productivity
- Builds momentum for larger tasks
How can you remember what task is next to accomplish?
After you make your plans:
✓write them down in a place you can see them
✓put a copy in your handbag as you go to work.
✓set your phone alarm with a caption for the next task at the time allocation.
Try these and you'll discover that you have accomplished a lot with much time left for you.
See you next week!
I am Hilda Yechiel
I Coach Leaders, Professionals, Mom's and Students to overcome their obstacles early enough so they can live a life by design rather than a life by default.
Connect with me today, and together we'll unlock the insights to create a NEW YOU!"
Ready to Master the Juggle?
These tips are a great starting point, but achieving work-life balance is a journey, not a destination.
Experiment, refine, and find what works best for YOU!
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Schedule a free consultation call with me, I have some strategies that'd help you achieve Balance!
Let's start a conversation! Share your best work-life balance tips in the comments.
Hilda Yechiel
Specializes in coaching professionals to set clear boundaries and improve communication, transforming stress into success both at work and home. She has helped 50+ women.
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