Working and trying to take care of the kids? That’s a recipe for stress for any parent! However, a parent that manages their time wisely will find a great reduction in stress, and, dare we say it?, they may even find a few minutes for themselves!
If you are a working parent who always seems to be struggling to do 10 things at once, here are some tips for effective time management that can help you eliminate stress.
Make Lists
Lists? Who has time to make lists, you say! Well, even though this may seem like an extra step that will take time out of your day, it will save you in the long run.
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Making a list will help you plan so that you can do everything as efficiently as possible. It will also keep you from having to go back and do something on another day that may not be as convenient.
When making to-do lists, be sure to limit them to what you can get done in a day. Taking on too much can add to stress. Prioritize tasks that are important and delay or eliminate those that are not.
Learn to Delegate
Delegating tasks can be difficult, especially for a busy parent. Parents are used to taking on tasks themselves and it isn’t always easy to let things go. You may feel bad giving your chores to someone else or you may feel like the person you are delegating to won’t be as capable.
Well, the guilt has got to go and the risk of delegating to others may be worth taking when you consider your health and sanity!
And you know who may be great for delegating your tasks to? Your children! As they get older, they will be better able to take on whatever life hands them and getting them used to this concept will be helpful to both of you as time goes on.
Learn to Say No
A lot of people have difficulty saying no. This can especially be the case when you consider the relationship parents have with their children.
But things come up during the day and stopping to pay attention to every one of them can keep you from being productive in other ways.
It’s important to learn to say no when things come up that might interfere with your productivity. It’s also a good idea to set aside an hour a day to devote to getting to things you might not be able to deal with right away.
Try Being Mindful
Being mindful helps us become more focused in the moment. It stops our minds from wandering and allowing stressors to come in. It reduces anxiety and boosts productivity.
Meditating is a great way to increase mindfulness, but if you can’t make time to mediate, there are plenty of other things you can do to become more focused.
Deep breathing for a few minutes every day can be helpful. Simply taking the time to pay more attention and focus on what’s around you can help achieve mindfulness as well.
Don’t Try to Multitask
It may be irresistible for a busy parent to multitask, especially if the opportunity arises. However, taking on too much at once is stressful.
And more than that, not taking the time to focus your attention on one task can mean that that task will be done inefficiently causing you to spend extra time and money in the long run.
Let Go of Perfection
A busy parent will never have a house that is perfectly clean. They also may not always be able to be the perfect parent or have the perfect child.
Setting your expectations too high will only add to stress and trying to achieve perfection can be a waste of time and money. Learn to accept what’s good enough. Perfection is for suckers!
Step Away from the Internet
The internet is somewhat of a black hole. Even though it can help us become more productive in certain respects, it can also suck us in so that we lose precious hours of the day.
Limit the amount of time you spend on your computer and make sure your children do the same. If you are logging on for something specific, stay focused on that task so you can get on and off quickly.
If you are a busy parent, it can be hard to get things done every day. But managing your time wisely and setting realistic goals can help you be more productive and efficient. What do you to do in your life to improve time management and boost productivity?
What do you think?