What Are Your Time Management "Rules"?
We talked in a prior post about our approach to time management and introduced the principles we have in place to manage our time. We mentioned how one of the most important principles is to have good boundaries around what we do and when.
This is the principle behind magic hours. Magic hours are magic because they're JUST YOURS. You get to spend them doing whatever you want. You are not to be interrupted during that time and your family should respect those hours because YOU respect those hours.
In the same way, the time you dedicate for being present with your kids or spouse has its own boundaries. I rarely work while I'm with my kids because I know I can't give my kids what they need when half of my attention is on work (and my work won't be good when my kids are fighting for my full attention).
So these are boundaries, or time management "rules" that help me be more effective in each area of my life because I honor them.
What Great Boundaries Offer Me
It allows me to spend guilt-free time on my business during dedicated times of the day because my kids got my full attention at different dedicated times of the day. And it allows me to not be stressed about work things piling up when I'm hanging out and having fun with my kids. I know I've dedicated time to take care of everything.
I have my own rules or guidelines about things I DO and things I DON'T DO at certain times. Then I can be confident that it all will get done.
How to know where you need better time boundaries
You'll know you need to set guidelines around certain things when you have feelings of guilt, frustration, or resentment about the things on your schedule and what you are/aren't getting done.
4 Examples of Time Management Rules
Maybe during time you've dedicated to giving your kids your full attention, they get frustrated with you for being on your phone or you feel guilty about wanting to keep one eye on your phone and the other on them. What could be a guideline you put in place to solve for this?
Keeping your phone in another room during present mom time
Deciding in advance types of things you like to play with your kids that keep you engaged with them and not tempted to grab your phone
Maybe you spend every evening after the kids go to bed cleaning up the kitchen and their messes from throughout the day. You end up feeling irritated, resentful, and angry because it leaves you no time to do anything for yourself before you go to bed exhausted.
Rule for yourself: no cleaning when kids are asleep.
Implementing clean-up time before bedtime or job charts and a consequence for not doing them
Maybe you feel like you're always getting interrupted when you try to read your scriptures or have some alone time.
Creating a guideline that your family respects your personal time and space. When you're in your room with the door closed, they know to leave you alone. (If you don't take your alone time seriously, they won't.)
Finding a time when your family is occupied or sleeping that you reserve for JUST what you want to do. Not allowing yourself to "be productive" during that time instead of what you truly want to do.
Maybe you feel guilty that you don't have time for meaningful conversations with your older kids. You worry that your relationship with them isn't as close as it could be.
Make time in the car more intentional. Maybe phones are put away, podcasts are off, and it's a time for chatting and catching up on things.
Maybe you re-commit to family dinners together with everyone present as often as possible.
Maybe you change your bedtime/wake time so you can stay up later and be available for conversation when they're home and ready to engage.
Maybe now you do clean when they’re away from home so that in the limited hours you’re together, you can focus entirely on them.
A Challenge For You!
Come up with one or two new rules/guidelines/boundaries that will serve your time management right NOW.
Whatever area of your life needs more attention -- create a new boundary for that area that will help you reach your goal.
My Time Management Rules Right Now
Right now, I have a rule for myself that I get my spiritual practice done first thing in the morning.
I also have a rule that my kids get my full attention for about an hour each morning when I have the most energy for them.
Last, I have a rule that I don’t work in the evenings unless I absolutely have to. I use that time to totally relax and watch a show or read and go to sleep early.
I promise that if you start to apply your own boundaries, or time management "rules" and honor them — they can help you be more effective in each area of your life. This will lead to more progress, more growth and more joy!
You got this!
Kristin
Ready to make more time for what you love?
Grab our FREE time management toolkit HERE that includes 4 great resources to get you started.
Listen to our conversation!
Click below or on apple podcasts & choose episode 156
You can also search The Progress Project on any podcast app including Spotify!
Episode #156 What Are Your Time Management "Rules"?
In today’s episode, Kristin shares how implementing some rules or boundaries in your time management can help you be more effective in ANY area of your life.
You’ll learn:
How boundaries can help you avoid guilt about how you spend your time
How to discern what area of your life needs better boundaries
How to be as effective as possible in your chosen area
4 specific examples of problem areas and time management “rules” that can solve them
The one thing Kristin never does while her kids are asleep :)
Links Mentioned
FREE Time Management Toolkit -The perfect place to start for free!
Time Management Class $5 - Designed to help you create your ideal schedule from scratch & make plenty of time for your creative work! (During March + April)
*This class is no longer in session but can still be found in our vault when you join our VIP level.
Time Management for Creative Moms Ebook $47- Your guide to finding more time! You’ll find our best practical strategies and mindset tools in this beautiful, easy to read guide. Start enjoying plenty of guilt-free time for your creative projects!
No drama. No extra fluff. Just goodness for your creative self!
