Hey, working mom – your time is valuable!  Four simple time management tips can literally change your life.  Your worst enemy is not the mother-in-law who won’t stop criticizing your parenting skills.  Well, she’s close!  But, your worst enemy is mismanaged time. If your day comes to an end and you have no idea what you did, you probably need to improve your time management.  No worries!  Make your life easier by following these simple time management tips :

1– Set Realistic Goals

 As a working mom, there is always more to do than the 24 hours will allow. Still, there are only 24 hours in the day.  One of the quickest ways to get out of balance is to overbook yourself.  As a working mom, I have two full-time jobs – the one outside of the home and being a wife and mom when I get home. Not to mention my job as a writer and blogger!  Let’s be clear – something is not going to get done!

If I have a writing deadline, I’m making easy meals which allow for leftovers or we’re eating out.  When I set my weekly exercise goals, I know I won’t have the time or energy to exercise every day.  While I prefer to exercise in the mornings, with an infant, a six-year-old, and a job that starts at 7:00 a.m., it’s not happening! Since my weekends are more flexible, that’s the time when I focus on my workouts.

If you want to improve your time management, be realistic about the  amount of time you have.   Don’t overextend yourself by setting goals which will be impossible for you to accomplish.  It will only leave you frustrated and overwhelmed.

2 – Eat the Frog

There’s a quote by Mark Twain that says if you eat a frog first thing in the morning, everything is uphill from there.  Well, the idea is to do the thing that you want to do least – first.  If you tackle that thing  first, the rest of your to do list should be easy peezy lemon squeezy!  When I keep delaying a task, whether it’s cleaning the fridge, organizing the closet, or folding laundry, it just takes longer.  It’s also more stressful because it’s in the back of my mind as something I need to do.  Once I can cross it off the list, I feel much better.

Believing you have all the time in the world to get things done is like believing you have all the money in the world to spare. For years, I struggled with time management.  If I had a deadline, I rarely started early.  I really thought I worked better under pressure.  Lies!  Now that I understand time management, I’d rather get it done and leave time to correct any mistakes – minus the pressure!

3 – Be Intentional

Okay, working mom, before you start your day, you should know your goals are and have a plan of action.  My most productive days at work and home are when I know exactly what I plan to do and have actually put together a plan to get it done.  If I need to cook after work, I have a meal in mind and the ingredients prepped or at least ready.  If I have a major project at work, I make a list of what I need to get done and prioritize the list.

You can even plan your “free time” (I’m not being sarcastic) to maximize every minute.  Good time management requires you to be intentional.  As a writer, I always carry a notebook in my car or purse.  And, I use my phone to take notes!  While I’m waiting at the doctor’s office, I use the time to brainstorm or write. As I’m ironing my son’s uniforms, I usually catch up with a friend or watch a show on DVR. When I’m exercising, I try to listen to a podcast or an inspirational teaching.

It might sound like I’m multi-tasking, but I call it maximizing.  I’m making the most of every minute by getting all I can get out of it.  That also means being still and present in the moment. I know, it’s very hard to do!  But, when my six-year-old asks me to watch a movie or spend time with him, I am all in.  When my husband and I spend time together, it is purposeful and without the distraction of electronic devices. Every day, I intentionally walk my dog without my cell phone because it’s an opportunity to breathe in my surroundings. Be intentional about how you’re spending your time to be more effective.

4 – Develop a Schedule

I’m a list kind-of girl.  I love to make a list and cross out each task once it’s done.  If you have an assistant at work, he likely keeps a calendar or schedule with all your meetings and appointments.  You can do the same for your family life and personal goals.  Developing and maintaining a schedule will help you with your time management.  And, don’t forget to put yourself on the schedule!

Each day, you should set aside some time just for you.  It could be a relaxing bubble bath, a phone conversation with a friend, a heart-pounding workout, or engaging in some mindless entertainment.  Do something which makes you feel happy, relaxed, calm, or centered.  If you see there is time left unmanaged, you can be more intentional about how you use it.  Having a plan of action will help you achieve more balance in your life.

You can easily improve your time management by setting realistic goals, avoiding procrastination, being intentional, and developing a schedule.  These simple time management tips will help you maximize your time and continue to live your best life balance.

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Dear Working Mom,

With all you have going on, how can you achieve your goals?  Well, you can start by investing in yourself.  If I told you a $20 investment could yield a return of $1000, would you take the risk?  What if spending $100 today would net you $10,000 in a few years?  Would you be willing to spend $500 if you knew the future payoff could be $500,000?

I’m not talking about stock market investments or even playing the lottery. My question for you is – Are you investing in yourself?  What steps have you taken to ensure personal growth? Do you regularly read books? Have you attended any workshops, seminars, or conferences lately? Do you know your purpose in life?  Are you living life with passion?

You can achieve any goal if you’re willing to take a risk – on you.   While nice things make you happy for a time, they usually lose value and end up being replaced by something equally or more expensive. I’m challenging you to invest in the one thing you can be sure of – yourself! Following these three simple steps, will help you achieve any goal you set.

The first step is to write your goals down on paper.  It is important to make your vision visible.  If you have a goal, you can’t just sit around and expect it to accomplish itself.  You need to develop a plan for how you will accomplish it.  Writing your goals and posting them where you can see them frequently is a great form of inspiration and accountability.  When I began writing my first book, I wrote out a plan including how many pages I wanted to write each day.  I posted the paper on my refrigerator as a reminder to work on my goals each day.  Each time I opened the refrigerator, I saw my goals.  It not only kept me accountable, but it was motivation to keep going when I didn’t feel like writing.  I couldn’t ignore my goals because they were staring me in the face.  In recent years, vision boards have become very popular, and for good reason. I always post my vision board in my bedroom to help me stay focused on my current goals.  When I look over my past vision boards, most of the goals have been accomplished.  Writing your goals and making them visible is a great way to stay focused.

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The second step is to become a lifelong learner.  Whether you have worked in an industry for years or you are new to the game, there is always something to learn.  The top leaders in any field will tell you they read books, attend workshops, take eCourses, and listen to podcasts. If you want to accomplish your goal, you must be willing to learn from others who are doing what you want to do.  Over ten years ago, I attended a workshop, Fiction Writing for Lawyers.  It cost me $500, which was and still is, quite a bit of money.  It was one of the best investments I ever made because it challenged me to write for publication.  To date, I have written four books, and I’m still using some of the techniques I learned in the workshop.  Likewise, I continue to attend conferences and learn from other writers.  Whether it is reading a book for personal development, attending a workshop, or listening to a podcast, you should consistently seek opportunities to help you move to the next level.

The third step is to commit to your goal.  I can’t tell you how many people have asked me about writing a book.  However, when I see those same people a year later, they’re still talking about wanting to write without having taken any action. In those cases, there is no real commitment.  No matter what your goal is, it will cost you.  You will likely have to sacrifice time and money to achieve your goal.  Years ago, I was interested in joining the FBI.  As part of the application, I was required to pass a physical fitness test, which included completing a timed, one-and-a-half-mile run.  To prepare for the test, I ran five to six days a week.  I ran whether it was hot, cold, or raining.  I even ran on Christmas morning while the rest of my family was asleep!  For several weeks, I committed to running at 4:00 a.m. prior to going to work.  While I ultimately decided not to join the FBI, I did pass the physical fitness test.  I’m sure I would not have been able to pass without being committed.  There will always be distractions or reasons for you not to stay committed to your goal.  However, if you want to achieve your goals, you must be willing to sacrifice and refuse to give up.

Whether you realize it or not, you are going to invest your time and money in something.  Choose to be intentional and invest in what matters most.  Will it cost you?  Most certainly.  But, believe me, you are worth it!  As successful investor, Warren Buffet said, “The most important investment you can make is in yourself.”

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