Kiddipedia
Since the dawn of the ages, mums and dads have been asking the same question: How do I manage my time with kids? Sharpening your time management skills is essential. It’s the difference between collapsing face-first into your pillow at the end of a gruellingly tiresome day, and sinking your head back with a contented smile.
Developing a tried and true method for managing your time can be a challenging endeavour. After all, where do you begin? This article aims to provide you with eight simple time management tips that will help structure your time more efficiently, freeing up more of your day to spend with your children or carve out some of that all-important me-time.
1. A 2024 diary is your new best friend
Prioritising your time between the hustle and bustle of work, children, aspirations, and a social life can be overwhelming. A 2024 diary will keep you in check (literally and figuratively) for the year ahead. A structured diary will optimise your time efficiency, by helping you schedule your tasks, and keep important dates on the horizon in mind so they don’t become a last-minute shock. You’ll be able to complete your tasks within organised time periods and keep on track with what you need to prepare for more.
2. A time audit
Have you ever wondered where all your time goes? Are you dedicating too much time to one task? A time audit is a way of tracking how you spend your time, so you can make more intentional choices to make the most out of your day. For instance, you may be slowing your pace with all-consuming tasks. Even if this isn’t the case, finding out how much time you spend on tasks is both informative and helpful. A time audit app can track this. As a result, you can rectify any behavioural patterns that affect your time efficiency.
3. Set your limits
Procrastination and distraction can be a common culprit for parents struggling to manage their time effectively. And who can blame you? With your child asking you a billion questions a day and always keen to show you something, it can be hard to feel like you’re ever able to get anything done. Set a time limit for each of your tasks, or for a period of time to get as much done as you can. This helps your brain to focus when it’s time for work, and allows it to relax when it deserves a well-earned break. It’s as simple as setting an alarm clock on your phone.
4. Plan ahead
Planning ahead of the day is essential to managing your time efficiently. People tend to make schedules the night before; but if you just don’t have the energy at the end of a long day, do it in the morning when you can. Make a to-do list in your diary and determine how long each task will take to complete. Planning will always put you ahead, no matter what, and who doesn’t want to sleep stress-free every once in a while? Don’t stress if things get in the way of your day, and be flexible when you need to. Simply having a structure in mind will help more than you realise.
5. Change your routine
If you are seriously struggling with managing your time, putting a spinner in your routine might do the trick. Sometimes, what used to work no longer works — or maybe it never worked to begin with. Children get up at different times or join different clubs that start and end at different times. By changing your routine to adapt to what you’re currently juggling, you could free up more time in your day. For example, if you don’t have a set bedtime, but wake up at 9 am every morning, try setting a bedtime and waking up earlier. The switch in routine could mean you’re starting your tasks earlier, which in turn could reward you with more free time in the evening.
6. Breathing time
Setting a routine does not mean you need to sweat hard by working on tasks one after the other. Instead, you should ensure there is ‘breathing time’ between each task. Fill in the gap with a relaxing activity. Go on a long walk or cuddle with your children or pets. Your brain needs to reset before you can go at it again, and this will increase your productivity and stamina overall, instead of burning out halfway through the day when there are still things to be done. You should dedicate twenty-thirty minutes to soaking up that sweet completion victory.
7. Eliminate some, accomplish others
The reality is, no one has enough time in their day to achieve all of their ambitions and also find time to spend with their friends and family. It’s impossible. Being specific with the tasks you choose and eliminating the others is achievable, and something to strive for.
Just because you eliminate a few tasks, don’t feel tempted to abandon them completely. Be selective with the tasks you choose to undertake each day. If you eliminate a task on Tuesday, accomplish it on Wednesday or Thursday. And factor in that there will be some days, like birthdays or big events, where you just won’t be able to tackle anything on your to-do list – and that’s ok! And remember: there is no definite rule. You can experiment with how you manage your tasks. But there’s a good chance you’ll free up time where you didn’t know you had it.
8. Communicate with others
One of the most important steps, communication is vital to your success with time management. Family, friends, co-workers and children need to understand and respect that you will be adapting your lifestyle to best suit yours and their needs. Sometimes you need someone close to you to keep you grounded, to motivate you, to make you smile. The people in your life will help you achieve success. It is with their love, support, and compassion that goals cross the finish line. Ask for help when you need it, and set boundaries where necessary.
There you have it. In this article, we’ve covered 8 easy time management tips: from using a diary and time audit apps, to limiting time spent on mundane daily tasks, planning ahead of the game, changing and adjusting to routines, eliminating tasks, and communicating with those closest to you.
Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to come up with the perfect routine that is incapable of letting you have a bad day. Everyone works differently, and developing time management skills is about finding what works best for you through trial and error. Hopefully after reading this article, you’ll have a better idea of how to structure your days and weeks, and make your time more productive.
