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If I asked you what you need to get done this week, chances are your to-do list would be pretty long and be focused on more than one aspect of your life. You might need to pay bills, go grocery shopping, close out a client file at work, create graphics for this week’s blog posts, schedule your well woman and the list goes on and on. I don’t care what anyone says I’ve found doing one thing at a time is more productive than trying to do multiple things at a time. Often I receive comments asking me how I do it all I’ll be honest by saying first of all that I don’t do it all I’m not a mom. I don’t have to worry about feeding another human being, picking up another human being or clothing another human being right now. Although sometimes I have to play mom to my friends (and let’s be honest vice versa). It is just me, so first kudos to all the moms out there. That being said, I do have a lot on my plate a lot of people wonder how I freelance, work full-time, socialize, have a romantic life, deal with family and run my blog regularly. Simple, I focus on one thing at at time. I plan and then I prepare for the plan to change.
Find little pieces of time for little pieces of work
One of the biggest things I do is find small bits of time to get things in. I might get my fitness tracker steps in by walking around the coffee table during commercials while I watch TV. Heck even right now I’m using the talk to text function on my phone to write this blog post while I’m in the bathroom (gasp sorry for the visual).
I’m not saying that I am this hardcore workaholic who never takes a break, I’m saying when you have a lot to do you have to find time to get it done. We all get 24 hours a day to work with, so maximize them.
If I’m meeting a friend for dinner and beat them to the restaurant I might answer emails on my phone or call my mom to catch up, I don’t just sit there and play angry birds for twenty minutes.
The big thing about being on the looks out for little slices of time is to not take on a huge task that is hard to pick and put down quickly. Responding to tweets while taking a poo is not the same as trying to create and format your annual survey.
Break things up
I am the first to admit that it is easy for me to get overwhelmed. By nature, I am a very anxious person so daunting things can be extra intimidating for me. I also am a super go-getter and always have a ton of ideas of things I want to do (hence my to-do list never gets shorter it just changes. I cross out one thing and add two more things).
A few months ago I was dealing with some serious blogger burnout, I would go to have work sessions and get hardly anything done, then I realized it was because I was trying to do WAY too much. When I decided that instead of trying to create an e-course, start a podcast and create an e-product all at the same time I needed to put them in a list. Start with the e-course, then focus on the podcast, then focus on the e-product. This I would be better off and more productive. Instead of spending 10 minutes of each thing and switching as soon as I got into a flow I could just spend the whole 30 minutes on one thing and get a lot more done.
Think of a brand that has multiple divisions they didn’t start it all overnight, all at once. Did you know that Maybelline started in 1915 as a result of the founder seeing his sister Mabel mix petroleum jelly, coal dust, and ash to make her her eyelashes and eyebrows look darker after getting them singed in the kitchen? He didn’t wake up one morning and create a full line of makeup. It builds over time.
Cut out the noise
You have to know what is just hype, distraction and a waste of time. This is really something you see with social media and friendships. I’m learning now to cut out the crap. You have to be on social media nowadays if you want any online brand to succeed, it’s just the way of the world but if all you’re doing is hanging out on Facebook you’re doing nothing for yourself but wasting time and running in circles.
It’s the same with the people in your life. It sounds bad but if the people in your life aren’t on the bandwagon they are just standing in your way. If your “best friend” gets mad at you because you can’t drop everything and go to Sunday Funday because you have work to do, then they don’t support your mission and are just standing in the way. You have to be able to know when to say yes and not feel bad for saying no.
If I’ve said it once I’ve said it a hundred times, little by little becomes a lot. I focus on one thing at a time. If I have 10 browser windows open all I’m doing is going back and forth instead of moving forward.
Kate
I laughed when I saw the title of your blog. Although I’m usually decent at time management, in the summer my husband’s work schedule is not regular so I struggle to keep our family in any sort of routine. I haven’t written a thing on my calendar in weeks because we have no pressing appointments and basically housework is our only assignment. Which sounds easy but I am apparently much more productive when we are busy.
Logan
I am a mom and find that things are always easier when you plan ahead. Of course, sometimes things don’t quite go according to plans with toddlers. haha Great tips!
Rena McDaniel
It is hard to fit it all in. My kids are grown, but I am a caregiver to my mom. I have two grandchildren (19-month-old twins). Plus running my own business. It’s a lot but being organized is the only way to go.
KP
I used to think I was good at managing time – but I was totally wrong!
I find that, especially lately, I have a terrible time organizing my priority tasks and sticking to it! These tips are making me rethink my process and want to become better at managing my time! 🙂
Julie
Really good tips Dia!! My biggest distraction is social media. That’s an obvious one huh? 🙂 Other than that, it’s summer and I have three kids, and while I wouldn’t call them a distraction :)…summers are always tricky work wise! But I’m getting better at time blocking and focusing on one thing at a time. That makes a world of difference!
Georgiana
Omgoodness….I can’t stop laughing! Responding to tweets while taking a poo! You really tell it like it is. Some great tips here…and multitasking is such a myth. I agree with you–focus on one thing and power through, then move on to the next. Love it!
Rachael
Great tips! I also like to break up tasks with something rewarding in the middle. For example if I decide to accomplish one task, I’ll get through that and then get up and go for a walk or jump in the pool. Then I feel refreshed and ready to go when I get back to the desk.
Diana Johnson
Thank you for sharing your tips! I’ll have to try these out!
Diana Johnson
Thank you for sharing! I will have to try some of these!
Samantha
Setting a mini-schedule works for me most days 🙂 but it’s still a struggle managing time sometimes! Thanks for sharing
xoxo, Sam | thehauntedhousewife.com
Justine Y @ Little Dove
These are such great tips on time management! I totally agree with the first two especially, I love filling little pockets of tiem with answering emails or connecting on social media.
Renee Alexis
This is exactly what I need to read today. Thanks for these tips, Dia!
Alix Maza
I’m totally horrible at having distractions around me when I need to get something done lol.
Alix
Aileen @ Aileen Cooks Blog
Social media is a huge time suck for me! If I can just turn it all off and focus on my ACTUAL work, I get so much more done.
Jenny
These are all so important! I try to do all of these things 🙂
xoxo, Jenny
Kelsie
Yes yes yes! I think I often forget to break things up and it all becomes kind of overwhelming. It’s so much more manageable that way!
Aishwarya Shenolikar
This is brilliant! I think breaking things into slots helps a lot! I think most of my time is wasted in TV and random over-thinking sessions.
Jessica Bradshaw
These are great! Managing time is so important for success.
Shane
I am so bad at cutting out the distraction… Great tips everyone should implement!
Brittany
These are perfect. I am going to try to implement one a week.
Roxy
This is great advice. I’ve really been struggling with time management lately b/c I need a new planner/one place to keep everything. Plus I just have way too much going on to think I’ll get it all done after I’ve been at hell…i mean work…all day. I’m going to try to start incorporating your tips into my life again!
Fatima
I’m a firm believer that just because it works for one person doesn’t mean it’ll work for you as well. Some people think you need to be on all the social media channels out there. You really don’t. Find out what works for you and own it. 😉
Rebecca Swenor
These are all great tips for managing time better. The thing I need to start doing is writing a to do list each day. Thanks for sharing the tips.
Mistle
Yes to all of these! I have to break things up into smaller tasks. If not I become extremely stressed out. Which is not hard to do most of the time. I agree that finding a little bit of time to do something is better than nothing! Great tips!
Cori
I LOVE the voice to text option. Saves me so much time! I can write stuff while doing other things and edit later! WHOO! And since I have Google Drive on my phone, I just save stuff there and edit on the computer later!!!
Brianna Picard
Amen to all of the above!
Dia
It is such a lifesaver!
Dia
Thanks Brianna 🙂
Dia
Thanks Mistle. I’m the same way.
Dia
I feel like my to do keeps me calm.
Dia
VERY TRUE! Regardless of what works for us I think we can all agree that sometimes you have to cut out the noise.
Dia
Haha hell. I have been there. Much love to you Roxy you’re doing great.
Dia
Hope they help 🙂
Dia
I feel like they are the hardest to spot. We have a hard time seeing the difference between productive work and busy work.
Dia
I’m glad you found them helpful 🙂
Dia
Right any time you can knock something off the list.
Dia
Hope they help 🙂
Dia
I agree some days are harder than others but nothing like going to bed feeling achomplished.
Rosie from Blog To Taste
For me it’s all about prioritizing to fit my needs and schedule. I definitely try to fit small projects or me time in when i get a slice of time to myself. I carry around my sketchbook with me in case I get a moment to myself and take that as time to make magic instead of wasting it on games or social media.
katie
Great tips, lady! Could not agree more.
xx katie // a touch of teal
valmg @ Mom Knows It All
I always do best with lists. I keep everything on a main calendar and todo list, plus I have a checklist for the day.
Allison
These are really great tips! I used to be so good at this and then summer came along and totally threw me for a loop!
Kristie
Very helpful- good time management is key when you’re balancing a full time job & blog!
Leslie Rossi | alifewellconsumed
i make schedules and lists and check them off by priority.
Leslie
http://alifewellconsumed.com
Dia
You have to figure out what works for you! 🙂
Dia
Make magic instead of wasting it on games lol I love that!
Kenia
Gosh I need to keep these tips in mind! I am so disorganized it’s insane lol time management has always been tricky for me, especially when I have a lot going on.
karissa Ancell
I set a daily to-do list on my phone. It keeps me focused throughout the day on what I need to be working on.
Dia
Thank heaven for our smart phones 🙂
Dia
Thanks Shane
Dia
Thanks Jenny!
Dia
Hope they help.
Dia
Haha we will call loved ones… majority shareholders of our free time haha
Dia
Thanks KP. Some days are more productive than others.
Dia
You should a lot like my mom about a year ago. It’s easy to get burnt out when you have family depending on you. I feel it sometimes too.
Dia
Haha may as well be honest I say. Thanks Georgiana 🙂
Dia
Luckily I get annoyed with it pretty quickly (except Instagram) so I can hop off petty quick.
Dia
Oh hey there I am also apart of the overthinker club. I’ve started making my tv time fit time lol I do laps around the table on commercials.
Dia
Thanks Katie!
Dia
Truth Kristie!
Dia
It’s kind of funny I’ve just always been a bit f a planner so it helps.
Dia
You reall have to decide what’s important.
Victoria Stacey
I would always write blog posts on the subway when I had no Internet access. Now that my commute is done by walking, I need to find new ways to manage my time. Love the idea of using small pieces of time to work on smaller projects! LOL at you in the bathroom haha
Dia
I think it’s because you know you have to keep going.
Dia
Haha right plan and then prepare for changes.
Dia
My calendar is my best friend lol
Dia
Haha no shame at all.
Dia
Haha I hear that a lot and totally get how certain seasons throw life off.
Dia
It does help to break it down.
Dia
Haha I like to break it up with a show lol
How Adding to My Schedule Got Me Organized - All The Things I Do
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