We’ve all heard the phrase; there are never enough hours in the day. But the simple truth is, there are. And if you feel as though you never have enough time, then something needs to change. If you can’t get through your work and personal commitments in the time available, then it’s time to reassess.

It is possible to have it all. You can have a great career and a fulfilling family life. But to achieve this, you have to be realistic. You also have to prioritize and get organized.

1. Reassess

Sit down with a cup of coffee, a notebook, and some colored pens. Write down a list of everything you do in a typical day, from the moment you get up in the morning. Include everything, including showering, getting dressed, etc.

Go through each item in turn and work out whether there are any things that you can get rid of. Is there anything you’re doing in the day that is unnecessary?

Next, is there anything that could be shared or delegated to someone else? For example, could you and your partner take it in turns to take the kids to school and pick them up? What about household chores? Is everyone doing their fair share? This should also be applied to work.

 

Is there anything you would like to add to the list but can’t because you don’t have time? For example, would you like to time to take a class one evening per week? Or would you like some time just for yourself? Make a separate list of these items in another color.

Why do you think you don’t have enough time? What is taking up the most time? What are the problem areas?

Taking time to reassess and get an overview of your life is a good place to start. You need to know where you are before you can move forward.

 

2. Create Time

Though it is necessary to schedule and be organized, you also need time in your day to just be. Every minute should not be mapped out for you. But, there is nothing wrong in making the most of the time you have available.

For example, how do you get to work each day? And how do you get to meetings etc.? If you drive, you could be wasting valuable time. Instead, consider taking one of the many inter-city bus routes. Many services offer a range of facilities, including plug sockets and wi-fi. If you let someone else do the driving you can get work done on the journey. This could be checking through emails, making notes, drafting correspondence, etc. But it will free up time later in the day. Also, you will be helping the environment by keeping the car at home.

Another example of how you can make time is to identify wasted time. What do you do while the kettle is boiling? Rather than standing and waiting, you could be washing a few pots.

Or, could you get up fifteen minutes or half an hour earlier? This would create some time to complete chores or just relax.

The flip side to this is that you do need downtime. Sometimes you need time just to be and think. If making a cup of tea is the only time you can do this, then it’s fine to do nothing. Similarly, if you have little time to read or listen to music, you could do this on your morning commute. It’s not about filling every minute of the day. It’s about choosing wisely.

 

3. Work

Often issues arise around work. The idea of work/life balance is a distant concept. You need to figure out why this is. Is this what you signed up for? In some professions, working long hours is the norm. For example, the medical profession. Even so, there are limits, and it is important to set boundaries. But if this isn’t what you signed up for, it might be time to rethink.

First, work out why you are working around the clock. There could be any number of reasons for this:

• You are not trained for the job and therefore everything takes longer
• Colleagues are not completing their own workload, and this is falling to you
• Your manager has unrealistic expectations
• You’re covering for absent colleagues
• There is too much work and too few resources
• You find it difficult to say no

Whatever the reason, you need to take action. Sit down with your boss and explain the situation. Go through the reasons why you believe this is happening. Explain how it is impacting on your life. You can then work together to put strategies in place to resolve this.

4. Setting Boundaries

When dealing with situations at work or in your personal life, it is important to set boundaries. Be clear about what you are prepared to do. If you’re talking to your boss about additional work, let him/her know what you are prepared to do. Some overtime may be okay but set a limit. If you’re working late one night, ensure you leave on time the next night. And if you are staying late, be clear about what time you will be leaving.

It is important to do this in all areas of your life. If there are events that you don’t want to go to, be firm and say no. You’re not doing anything wrong. You’re just setting your own boundaries. How you plan and live your life is up to you.

 

5. Find Economical Ways To Complete Tasks

Are you completing tasks in the most economical way? Are there quicker ways to complete them? At home, this may involve looking at smart ways to do the cleaning and chores. Do you have the right tools for the job? Is there another way you could approach it.

At work, do you have adequate equipment and software? Could streamlining processes and systems save you time? If there are ways you can streamline work, try to implement it.

It’s not possible to increase the twenty-four hours we have in the day. But it is possible to make the most of the time we do have at our disposal. Setting boundaries and learning to say no is a good place to start. Work out where the problems are and what is eating into your time. Once you have an overview of this, you can take steps to fix it.