Simplify Your Time
You’re busy. I get it. Too busy to read a bunch of nonsense introduction on a blog. So I’m just going to get down to the point. Here’s how to simplify your time in 3 steps!
Know your why.
Why do you want to simplify your time? Do you want to spend more time with your spouse? Your kids? Do you feel like you don’t have time to exercise or take care of yourself? Are you drowning in activity and just need a moment to BREATHE? Really consider this. Know that your time is sacred, and think through how you want to honor that. If you don’t know your why, you won’t be able to make sustainable changes.
2. Write down the things you do daily.
All of them. Don’t write “get ready for work.” Be specific. “Shower. Dry my hair. Put on makeup. Pick my clothes.” Estimate the time it takes to do each one. Here’s a sample:
Spend time browsing my phone to wake up (10 minutes)
Prepare breakfast (10 minutes)
Eat (10 minutes)
Wrangle my children to get them ready for school (20 minutes)
Pick my clothes and get dressed (5 minutes)
Brush my teeth (2 minutes)
Put on makeup (how long does this take? I don’t even know anymore.)
Gather all the kids' things. Load them in the car. (10 minutes)
Drive kids to school. (20 minutes)
Drive to work. (10 minutes)
Work (8 hours)
Etc.
Continue through an ENTIRE DAY.
3. Ask the hard questions.
Is this a societal expectation I can get rid of? Am I actually nourished by this thing (ahem… time spent on social media)? Is this something that HAS to get done for my family to function? If so, can it be delegated? Can this be hired out? Can the kids do this for themselves? Is there a way to simplify this thing? If I were living my dream life, would I be doing this thing? Do I enjoy this activity? If not, how can I get rid of it, reduce it, simplify it, or make it more enjoyable? Can this be stacked with a more enjoyable activity (waiting in the car for my kids = podcast time for me!)?
I get that the questions may not change everything. There are some things you just
can’t get rid of, and life isn’t enjoyable all the time. But if you are able to change just a
few activities in your day, I think you’ll find that your time is simplified immensely and
you will be able to enjoy life more.
If you go through these steps, I’d love to hear: what changed for you? Did this bring anything to your awareness that you need to change?
If you want to go through this with someone, I can work through this with you in a coaching series, or you can do parts 1&2 on your own and I can help ask the hard questions in a one-off session. Visit my services page for details.
