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Organize your schedule—and claim carefree minutes for yourself—in three steps.
Step 1: Step Back (For a Second)
Figure out why you want more free time. You'll be more motivated to change if you have a specific goal.
- Make a wish list. Write down all the activities that you long to do more of. Rank the items in order of importance, then pick one or two to focus on. (Once you get the hang of this system, you can address the rest.)
- Now write down how you really spend your time. If it's all one makelunchcarpoolrunaroundlikecrazy blur, keep a detailed diary for a few days. The key question to keep asking is, Are you spending your time on the right things?
Step 2: Give Up What You Can
Research shows that to be productive and creative, you must make time for recreation and relaxation. Trying to skimp on them hurts your motivation and often leads you to procrastinate. To find ways to free up time, look at your list of current activities and ask yourself four questions:
- What can I delegate? Have your 10-year-old load the dishwasher and you've got 10 minutes to spend on something more fulfilling. Plus, you're teaching your child responsibility. Try a similar strategy at work: Give junior staffers assignments that stretch their capabilities rather than doing the job yourself.
- What can I outsource? Housecleaning is an obvious answer, but also think about things like tutoring for your kids. Before you decide you can't afford this, scrutinize your spending. Chances are, there's a way to reallocate your resources.
- What can I do less well (at least sometimes)? When something you're working on is good enough, stop. It's a waste of time to do everything perfectly, such as polishing the underside of the banister. Instead, focus on doing important things adequately.
- What distractions can I limit, if not eliminate? Shut the door. Seriously. If you have work to do, make it clear that you need to be left alone. At work, check your e-mail only twice a day—at noon and at 4 p.m. And use the auto-respond feature: When you're swamped, direct e-mailers to an assistant. At home, give your BlackBerry a rest.
Step 3: Reschedule Your Schedule
Now that you've freed up precious minutes, decide how you want to spend your energy.
- Establish one or two "nonnegotiables" and work your schedule around them. For example, eight hours of sleep a night or two hours of exercise a week.
- Create your daily to-do list on an index card. Write down only what you can realistically accomplish in a day—three to five items. Then make sure at least one item from the top of your wish list is part of your weekly plan.
- Schedule a quick and brainless task first. This lets you start the day feeling accomplished.
- Schedule your most onerous task second. Whether it's a difficult conversation with a friend or a tedious e-mail to a colleague, get it over with next.
- Challenge the list. Sometimes all it takes to keep your sanity is to drop just one thing. Ask yourself: "What item here least reflects what matters most to me?"
Copyright 2010 Time Inc. REAL SIMPLE is a registered trademark of Time Inc. Used with permission.
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Start Making Choices does not provide medical advice.
Information is intended for educational purposes only. See additional information.
Break out your slow cooker. Slow cooking allows you to use less expensive cuts of meat while retaining great flavor and texture.
