How to make more time in your day: 10 tips to find time
Clinically reviewed by Dr. Chris Mosunic, PhD, RD, CDCES, MBA
Explore 10 tips to help you make more time in your day. Plus, how to identify time wasters and use time blocking techniques to help you find more time.
Many of us feel like there are never enough hours in the day to juggle work, family, hobbies, or time to relax. But by learning effective time management techniques, you can discover how to find time for relaxation and have a more balanced, fulfilling life.
How to make more time in your day: 10 tips to find time
With the right strategies, you can create a more structured and efficient daily routine and carve out more time for necessary tasks and activities you enjoy.
1. Examine your attitude
Your perception of time can significantly impact how you use the time you have. Reflect on how you view time and think about whether shifting your mindset might help you view your day more positively and productively.
2. Analyze your time spending
Log your daily activities to gain insight into how you spend your hours. This can highlight patterns where you might be losing time to unproductive activities, or reveal areas that could be optimized.
3. Plan ahead
Spend a few minutes each evening planning for the next day. List your tasks and allocate them to specific time slots. This can reduce decision fatigue and help you start each day with a clear action plan.
4. Manage interruptions
Interruptions can disrupt your flow and consume valuable time. Minimize distractions with strategies such as setting specific times to check emails or putting your devices on silent mode.
5. Embrace the two-minute rule
If a task can be completed in two minutes or less, tackle it immediately. This can prevent small tasks from piling up and taking more time later.
6. Combat procrastination
Identify why you procrastinate and address those reasons. Break large tasks into smaller, more manageable steps to reduce the urge to delay.
7. Be realistic
Be honest about what you can achieve in a day. Overestimating your capacity can lead to frustration and wasted time.
8. Know when to multitask
Some tasks lend themselves to multitasking without a loss in quality. Recognize these opportunities to save time, but be aware that focusing on a single task is often more efficient.
9. Personalize your approach
What works for one person may not work for another. Use time management strategies that fit your personal preferences and lifestyle to help improve productivity and focus.
10. Leave room for flexibility
Unexpected tasks or emergencies can arise. Allow flexibility in your schedule to accommodate unforeseen events.
What you need to know about time management
Trying to balance multiple responsibilities needs effective time management. Optimizing your day to ensure your activities align with your personal and professional goals is a skill that can be sharpened. By understanding and applying key time management strategies such as prioritization, goal setting, and task organization, you can transform your daily routine into a more efficient, fulfilling experience.
Prioritization can help you distinguish between tasks that demand immediate attention and those that can wait. It can help you focus on what's truly important and help to reduce the clutter of less significant activities. Set clear goals to provide you with a sense of direction and purpose. When you know what you're aiming for, it's easier to align your daily actions with your long-term objectives.
Categorize and arrange your tasks effectively to streamline your workflow and reduce the time spent on decision-making. This organization can boost productivity and minimize stress as you gain a clearer understanding of your responsibilities and deadlines.
By mastering time management techniques, you can be better equipped to make the most of your day, enhancing your ability to achieve your goals while maintaining a healthy balance in your life.
How to identify time wasters
Track your daily activities: Record how you spend your time each day, including work tasks and leisure activities. This can help you see where your time is going and identify any patterns of behavior that might be using time without adding value to your life.
Evaluate your commitments: Ask yourself which of your regular commitments align with your goals and which don't. If you're spending time on tasks that don't contribute to your broader objectives, consider whether you can cut back on them or stop them altogether.
Reduce tech distractions: Pay attention to how much time you spend on your phone, computer, or watching TV. If you find that aimless scrolling or channel surfing is consuming a significant chunk of your time, set limits for yourself. Allocate specific times for checking emails or social media to prevent these activities from spilling over into the rest of your day.
5 mindful time management techniques
1. Practice meditation for enhanced focus
Bring meditation into your daily routine to train your brain to focus better and resist distractions. Regular meditation can help you stay centered on the task at hand, improving your productivity and efficiency throughout the day.
💙 Try this simple, yet powerful, meditation on Deep Concentration to help sharpen your focus.
2. Implement self-care to boost energy
Self-care is important in effective time management. Rejuvenate your body and mind by exercising, getting enough sleep, and eating well. These can help enhance your physical and mental stamina and equip you to tackle your daily tasks with more vigor and clarity.
💙 Learn how to build a nourishing self-care practice during the Radical Self-Care series with Lama Rod Owens.
3. Stay present with mindfulness exercises
Anchor yourself in the present moment, especially when you're feeling overwhelmed or distracted. Use techniques like mindful breathing or focusing on your senses to help you regain concentration and make more deliberate, thoughtful decisions about how you use your time.
💙 Take a moment to come back to the present with Chibs Okereke’s Pause to Check In exercise.
4. Slow down to speed up
While it might seem counterintuitive, taking the time to slow down and engage fully in your current activity can lead to more efficient outcomes. Avoid multitasking and give your full attention to one task at a time. This may help you produce higher-quality work and reduce the need for revisions or corrections, ultimately saving time in the long run.
💙 Slow Down during this meditation to help you to prioritize a steady pace and focus on the present moment.
5. Try time blocking
Time blocking is a time management method where you divide your day into blocks of time, each dedicated to accomplishing a specific task or group of tasks. Instead of working with a general to-do list, schedule when you’ll work on each task, creating a structured plan for your day.
Identify tasks: List all the tasks you need to complete.
Prioritize: Determine which tasks are most important or urgent.
Estimate time: Estimate how long each task will take.
Block out time: Schedule blocks of time on your calendar for each task. During each block, you focus solely on the task at hand.
Include breaks: Take breaks to avoid burnout.
Review and adjust: At the end of the day or week, review your time blocks to see what you accomplished, and adjust your planning as needed for the future.
How to make time FAQs
How do you make time when there is no time?
Making time when your schedule seems fully packed involves reassessing your current commitments and priorities. Examine your daily activities and identify areas where you can cut back or optimize. This might mean delegating tasks, saying no to additional responsibilities, or reorganizing your schedule to eliminate or reduce time spent on low-priority activities. It also involves being efficient with the time you do have, perhaps by consolidating tasks or using small pockets of time effectively.
How can I make a lot of time?
Creating a significant amount of time requires a strategic approach to your daily schedule. Look at how you spend your time each day to find patterns or activities that aren't essential or aligned with your goals, then eliminate or reduce these activities to free up substantial time. Optimize your routines and habits to make daily tasks more efficient, and batch similar tasks together to reduce the time spent transitioning from one activity to another.
What is the 50/30/20 rule?
The 50/30/20 rule is typically applied to budgeting, where you allocate 50% of your income to necessities, 30% to wants, and 20% to savings or debt repayment. However, when adapted to time management, it can suggest dedicating 50% of your time to essential tasks, 30% to personal interests or hobbies, and 20% to planning, development, self-improvement, and self-care. This framework can help ensure a balanced approach to how you allocate your time.
How can I maximize my day?
Maximizing your day involves careful planning and prioritization.
Identify your most important tasks and allocate time to complete them.
Use tools like calendars and to-do lists to structure your day and minimize wasted time.
Look for opportunities to streamline your processes and routines
Be proactive in managing distractions to maintain focus and productivity throughout the day.
How can I make my life go by faster?
If you want to make time feel as though it's passing more quickly, engage in activities that keep you fully absorbed. When you're deeply involved in tasks or hobbies that you enjoy or find challenging, time can seem to move more swiftly. However, it's essential to consider why you wish to speed up your perception of time and ensure that you're also taking moments to appreciate the present and not wishing away time that could be spent enjoying the world around you.
Can time change your life?
How you choose to use time can significantly impact your life. Making intentional choices about how to spend your time can lead to personal growth, achievement of goals, and improved wellbeing. Changes in how you allocate your time can alter your daily experiences, influence your long-term outcomes, and ultimately shape the course of your life.
Calm your mind. Change your life.
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