This is a guest post in our latest series, 5 Reasons You Should Guest Blog.
We all get the same amount of time each day to make our mark on the world, 24 hours- right? Which may seem like a lot. It’s suggested that the average person needs 7-8 hours of sleep to fully recuperate though, leaving 16 hours to eat, gather, play or work. Now I’m not great at math, but I’d bet most people aren’t spending all 16 hours working- are you?
Work and life balance is so important, especially for women as technology and gadgets creep into every part of our lives and we start to lose track of precious time.
Balancing is tough, but can be done.
There are plenty of articles flying around the internet about life balance for women and I’m pretty sure I’ve read almost all of them.
Although, achieving balance is different for everyone so here is my take on five simple things to do to be more productive with your day:
Have A Schedule
It doesn’t have to be as regimented as Benjamin Franklin, but giving activities a specific amount of time will help you find time for what really matters. For example, if you know it takes you 45 minutes to get ready each morning but you want it to take only 30, set out your clothes and accessories the night before. Sometimes I set out two different options just in case I wake up in a different mood. Prepping meals in batches in another time saver often overlooked. Give yourself adequate time to finish an activity though, so you don’t feel rushed. I know each morning I like to take an hour to read the news, scroll through blogs and catch up on industry trends. I could try to cut this back to 45 minutes, but that just never feels like enough! I’ve found that between an hour and 90 minutes is best.
As you start to implement a schedule you’ll notice where you waste time and where you need more. Write down your schedule when it works and feels good. Find a good day planner or agenda to track your activities then, adjust accordingly!
Make Time for Rest
Rest doesn’t have to mean sleeping, it can also mean reflection. Try giving yourself at least 5 minutes of rest at some point in the day. Write in a journal, medidate or read a book. It’s amazing how much more productive you’ll feel and how much more focused your brain will be after you do.
Eat
This is a no-brainer but you know what it’s like to get so wrapped up in the day that 3:00PM rolls around and you’re so hungry you could eat a whole hunk of cheese?! (Or, maybe that’s just me….) Either way, block off time to eat in your schedule. LACK OF FOOD WILL MAKE YOU HANGRY (a word I use for hunger-induced anger) and literally nothing gets accomplished when you’re hungry. Nourish yourself with good veggies, green smoothies and healthy snacks throughout the day.
Set Limits
This is one of the hardest parts of finding balance throughout the day. You have to hold yourself accountable and that is tough! Try setting a timer for time on Facebook or watching Netflix. Enlist the help of someone else supportive or even install a tool on your computer that will tell you when time is up. or telling someone to help you. We each have our own time sucks and whatever they may be try to do so in moderation.
Know When to Say No
Email will always be there, so will Google. Family and friends might not be, so spend time with them. Know when to say enough is enough and walk away.
Nothing is ever as life-or-death as other people make it seem. If you cut out all the tony “Oh-I-Think-Have-Time-For-
What are some ways that you try to be more productive? I’m always looking for new tricks and tips!
At the very least try one of these five suggestions for a few days and see if it helps. Leave a comment below and share your best tips for balancing work/life and how you make the most of each day.