Brace yourself everyone. It’s back to school time.
That’s right, the lazy days of summer are almost over and with that comes rushed mornings, nights of endless homework, shuffling the kids to and from activities, whipping up some semblance of a meal, and telling your kids to go to bed already!
Every year around this time, I have all these grand ideas of how my two kids and I are going to be super organized and ready to start the new school year fresh. And every year my plans fall into the trash, along with the “First Day of School” signs my kids refuse to hold so I can snap the annual first photo.
Whether you have kids or not, you will definitely feel the impact, especially if you drive I-240, which can make all of us stressed and wishing we had more time on our hands.
I find myself thinking of ways to improve my time management skills so I can be more efficient and less rushed all the time.
Recently, I located some practical tips that could be beneficial to all of us.
- Wake up at the same time every day: Studies show that keeping the same sleep schedule, even on the weekends, is a great way to optimize your efficiency and manage your time.
- Find out where you’re wasting time: Do you spend too much time texting, browsing the internet or binge watching Netflix? Do these time-wasters prevent you from being efficient? If so, recognize your time-wasters and work on decreasing them.
- Prioritize: Overwhelmed by your to-do list? Try breaking it down into manageable categories such as one thing I MUST get done today, two things I SHOULD get done today, and three things I would LIKE to get done today.
- Plan your day the night before: Pick out your clothes for the next day, prepare lunches, get backpacks/assignments ready to grab, etc. Preparing the night before will minimize last-minute changes, rushing, and frustration and will enable you to start the day off on a positive note.
- Utilize calendars and reminder alarms: If you have a smart phone, utilizing the calendar feature can keep you stay on task or if you’re like me, utilize a paper calendar instead. You can also utilize the alarm feature on your phone to help keep you organized. I also have a strong relationship with Post-It notes (which is an office joke among my colleagues) to keep me efficient and on task.
- Just say “No”: Repeat after me: “it’s OK to say NO”. Only take on tasks that you know you have time for and that you truly care about. So when the PTA president asks you to bake six dozen cupcakes for the meeting tonight, just say “NO”.
Remember, no matter how organized we are, there are only 24 hours in a day. All we can do is manage ourselves and what we do with the time we have. Don’t strive for perfection, strive for progress!
If you would like help with time management or other life issues, please call the Methodist Healthcare EAP at 901-683-5658 to schedule a free, confidential appointment.
Allison White, LCSW
Living Well Network Supervisor
Allison received her bachelor’s degree in social work from Mississippi State University and her master’s degree in social work from Jackson State University. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over fifteen years of experience working with children and adults in a variety of settings including community mental health, school-based counseling, adult and juvenile justice, and therapeutic foster care. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, baking, and crafting.