People struggle with time management throughout their lives. It is a skill our teachers and parents attempted to teach us early on and yet, most people struggle with a lifetime of incomplete tasks. Unfortunately, the older we get, the worse it gets until all of the sudden you’ve forgot to include yourself on the list of people to please and your to-do list consists only of tasks for other people.
Think back to your middle school years when teachers lectured you on proper study habits. Most likely, your teacher told you to study for an hour and take a fifteen minute break before continuing. The purpose of this was to let your brain rest, absorb what you studied and go back at it with a fresh new start. Well, the same idea applies to real life. Why is it that we don’t schedule time for our own mental recharging?
In order to lead an effective, productive, fulfilling life, it is important to take some time out for you. If you constantly give and don’t take the time to recharge, you’ll find yourself running on fumes. The most important part of scheduling some time for yourself is identifying exactly what it is that you need in your “me-time?” do you want some uninterrupted running time, an hour to get your nails done, a blackberry free moment to curl up with a book and a cup of coffee?
Once you’ve identified what it is that would help you recharge and reset, look at your list of things to do. Organize the list by blocking off your personal time first. Schedule it just like you would an appointment. Then fill in the rest of the time slots. Whatever you can’t get done today can be moved to tomorrow.
Once you have given yourself that slot, stick to it. Don’t automatically cross it off your list when things get busy. You may have to move the times around or adjust the length of time, but be sure to keep it on the list. Think of it as the most important appointment of the day.
Some women may feel selfish or guilty about taking this time for themselves when there is so much else to get done but personal time will help you do everything else in your life more efficiently and effectively. Think of it as the reward you are working toward each day. If you are still worried about what others will think of your personal needs, just refer to it as an appointment and leave it as that.
Once you’ve reached the point in your day where you get to enjoy your personal time, really enjoy it. Turn off the cell, forget about e-mails for the duration, and put other’s non-essential needs on hold. If all you give yourself in a day is a half an hour to read while the kids are napping or an hour to get your nails done before you return home from work you deserve to fully enjoy this time and be completely in the moment.