We are all about following your happiness. As we traverse into adulthood, responsibilities, finances, and family matters demand our time and we no longer prioritize or have the hours in the day to feed our passions. However, taking the time to enrich your mind, body, and soul--whether it be reading a book, painting a portrait, or even just enjoying a cup of tea--helps to keep you both happy and fulfilled, which benefits all other aspects of your life. This blog post is devoted to helping you carve a bit of "you time" out of the everyday with some of our favorite tips on maximizing your time management. After all, we lost an hour jumping ahead this weekend, so let's find a way to get that hour back!
Don't procrastinate. Even if you aren't a chronic procrastinator, the urge to put something off until the last minute strikes a chord in all of us. The logic behind this is simple. When we complete a task, we enjoy a feeling of accompaniment and--craving these positive emotions--are inherently motivated to successfully conquer something else.
Turn off Facebook. (And all social media while you're at it.) I'll be honest: this year, my New Year's Resolution was to deactivate my personal Facebook account. As soon as I did, I found time every day to sit down with a book I'd been trying to finish, slept longer at night, and had more time to spend with my family. Even though I was far from "addicted" to social media, I was nonetheless spending a great time of time on these sites, scrolling through mindlessly, instead of enjoying real activities in realtime. During the workday, avoiding social media and even scheduling times during which to check your email can help you increase productivity, finish more projects, and have more time away from your desk when it's time to go home!
Log your time. I monitor my time every week so that I can see exactly where my hours are going and what tasks are requiring the most time. This helps me stay on top of long-term projects so that I'm not scrambling at the last minute to complete something (in college we call a similar task "cramming" and that is exactly what it feels like). My work is thoughtful and when I log my activities my private life, there is a written reminder to "make breakfast from scratch" or "read an extra book to the kids at bedtime."
Ask for help. While working independently is also a useful skill, asking for help when you need it and collaborating with others is an incredible asset to yourself and your team. When you have the ability to divide and conquer, you can work with someone whose strengths lie where your weaknesses do so (and vice versa) so you can both produce your best work with the least amount of difficulty (and perhaps even revision). Not only that, but support is a great morale booster and motivator since you're working to benefit a team, and not just cross something off your lone to-do list.
Take breaks. Physically, it does your body good to get up from your desk or to close your computer and take a walk around the office or change your activities otherwise. Increasing circulation or getting a bit of fresh air can revitalize and refocus you, energizing both your mind and body into high gear when you sit back down at your task. When you walk away, you get to clear your mind and you will surprised how many times this will help clear things up--you may even clear that hurdle that was keeping you from finishing your work just by taking a stroll to the break room.
We hope that these tried-and-approved ways of managing your time, tackling tasks, and re-prioritizing your life help you find the much-needed time for the things you'd like to do after the workday is over. We hope that adopting a few of these habits lead to more hikes, more chapter read, and more masterpieces worked on as we head into warmer weather, longer days, and longer nights!
Posted by Erin Schwartz
