I started writing this about how ‘lack of time’ affects me but it was turning into a novel so I decided to just identify some common issues and reflect on ways in which people can overcome them.
Do we really lack time?
We all have the same amount of time in a day, it’s how we utilise that time that matters. Some people have very busy lifestyles with work, family and social commitments but that is not a lack of time is it? that is how we spend our time. Thinking of ‘not having enough time’ puts into a negative thought patterns that cause us to feel deprived and resentful in some way, leading us to feel stressed and overburdened etc. Obviously, many of us would prefer to spend our time doing other things and may compare other people’s situations as better than ours but it doesn’t help us deal with day to day life.
Even now whilst writing this I find myself ‘wasting time’ because I keep digressing into more detail about the way we use our time, but I’m trying to keep this post short so I have to reel myself back in and try to get to the point so I’m not taking up too much of your time whilst you read it!
Time we can control
Maybe, a better way to think about our time is to firstly break down how we spend out time and see if we can make little changes to the things we have control over. For example:
Shopping – Try to buy in bulk and freeze where space and finances allow. Consider online grocery shopping and have it delivered, this not only saves time but money too as you won’t be as tempted to buy more if not actually in the store. The cost of delivery will be compensated by not having to pay for public transport or using you own car.
Cooking – when making meals like casseroles, pasta and soups etc. make larger quantities to eat another day, it takes the same amount of time and gives you free time later, just make sure to separate it before serving otherwise if you have a family like I have, they will eat all the leftovers!
Housework – do you have to have a perfectly spotless house? It’s quite easy to do living alone but if you have a family you can be spending the whole day just trying to keep on top of it. Delegate some tasks to other family members, don’t worry what visitors think, true friends won’t care if you have washing up in the sink or haven’t dusted and hoovered. Think about what you’d rather be doing and do that, the world won’t come to an end.
Organising Your Time
The best way to make the most of your time is to try to organise it as best as you can, sticking to a good schedule is not always possible and if we don’t manage to keep up with it then we can fall behind, forget to do important things and feel like we are not in control.
To-Do Lists – these are great to remind us to get things done but be careful not to put too much on there as it can be overwhelming. Prioritising is the key, if there are urgent jobs to be done, ones you have to do but really don’t like, then do them first because once they are out of the way you will not feel stressed about them.
Do things that take the least amount of time first – If you can only spare a few minutes before work, do things that only take a short amount of time. E.g. paying a bill either or putting a on load of washing.
Add unplanned activities to your list – if you do something that wasn’t on your list, add it and cross it out. This will give you a sense of accomplishment even if you didn’t manage to do everything.
Choose a happy colour pen to cross out your completed tasks. Using a bright colour that cheers you up will highlight all your achievements and focus on the positives.
Other ways to save time
Have a core list of meals – write down all the meals you like to make that you find quick and easy and always have the ingredients in. It’s good to have 3 or 4 options available. Meal plans are good but we don’t always feel like eating what we planned.
Organise your wardrobe – if you work, keep all your work clothes together and have them ironed and ready to wear at the beginning of the week then you won’t need to think about what to wear in the morning. If you do a lot of socialising then always have one of two outfits ready to wear for when an occasion arises.
Limit time on social media – social media is great for keeping in touch with friends and family, especially if you don’t see them regularly. However, it is all too easy to become lost in reading articles, watching videos and links that pop up on news feeds and before you know it an hour or more has slipped by without even realising it. These platforms are created to keep your attention and record everything you look at so they can put even more tempting content your way. Allocate yourself a set amount of time to do this and set an alarm if necessary. This can also be applied to reading and replying to emails.
Delegate – you don’t have to do everything yourself, if you live with people they should be contributing to the upkeep of the home so get them to take on some of the workload. If people refuse then don’t do things for them such as cooking and washing.
Have a To-Do FOR YOU list – make a list of all the things you love doing but never get around to. It can be anything like reading a book, having a bath or spending time on a favourite hobby. Have a variety of things that take different amount of time and try to do at least one thing a day just for you. There is nothing selfish about doing things for yourself in fact it should be a priority because if your needs are not met then in the end you will be no good for anyone else.
Doing a bit is better than doing nothing – Break down large tasks into smaller steps so that you feel like you are progressing and the overall task isn’t too overwhelming. When it comes to leisure time, if you really don’t have time to do that hour long exercise session you planned then just do five or ten minutes, even if it’s just a brief walk at lunchtime or a few yoga stretches in the morning and evening. If you planned on reading a chapter of a book and only manage a few pages you are still getting through the book. Don’t give up and think it’s not worth doing because you will benefit from the smallest amount of time and effort.
Acknowledge your accomplishments – As well as crossing things off your To-Do list, make sure you add any additional things you do to it, and cross them off too. If you planned on getting on top of your filing at work but other things came up, then put those things on your list of achievements instead. If you planned on writing a new blog post but haven’t got the time you can at least note down a few ideas of subjects you want to write so you will have a plan ready to use. By doing this you will see that even though you may not have done everything you planned to do, you did achieve a lot. Make sure you add things you do for relaxation and leisure too!
Getting the Balance right
If all your time is taken up working and doing things for others then you will eventually feel exhausted and demotivated. So it is very important to do things that make you feel good, whether it’s a form of relaxation, exercise, hobby or social event. Looking after yourself should be a priority even if you can’t control how you spend you time at work. You can control your mindset and just taking a few minutes to breath and empty your mind can help you get through a stressful day. If you try to incorporate some of the methods above you will feel in control and will hopefully have a better quality of life.
Thank you for taking the time to read my post. If you like this article please take look at some of my other pages or blog posts where I talk about different therapies and my own wellbeing journey and if you’d like to see future posts then please enter your email address and click on the subscribe button below and you will be notified of future content. I have no plans to use your email address for any other purpose. Feel free to share my page with anyone you feel may be interested and if you have any feedback about what I write or suggestions for further articles then please use the comment box further down the page. Warmest Wishes, Janet x
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