Have you ever felt like you just don’t have enough time? Do you stress about getting where you need to go in the day and keep feeling like you are never going to get done? It's not uncommon for us to feel that way, especially in these times where things seem to be moving faster and faster.
When we feel rushed for time, we often think we can’t do the things that will help us take care of ourselves. Of course time stress is one of the things that throws us off and increases our overall sensation of stress. Making it harder for us to feel well. It becomes a vicious circle. So many people I see tell me that they don’t have time to eat well or exercise regularly because they’re just too busy.
In the world of financial advisors, you are often advised to “pay yourself first”. It means to give money to yourself before you give it to others. The standard advice is to take 10% of your income off the top in order to create a savings account. In my experience, time management works much like money management- you have to give yourself time first.
In that light, today I’m suggesting some time management tips so that you will be able to take care of your health, which will in turn help you feel less stressed. As with money management, you need to set aside time in each day to take care of yourself. As you review your plans for any given day, or better yet, the week. Look at your schedule and find time for exercise and healthy eating. Put those times down in your calendar, in ink. Don’t let anything else interrupt that part of your schedule.
If you have to get up a half hour earlier to do half an hour of exercise, do that and get the exercise out of the way for the day. I usually have to get up earlier to get my writing in or I won’t do it.
Other suggestions for time management include:
Evaluate how you’re spending your time – keep a diary for three days of everything you do, including time for shower, brushing your teeth, getting ready for bed, cooking your meals, and sitting in front of the TV. At the end of those three days, see how you’re spending you time and evaluate to see if you’re getting what you want out of your days. Perhaps a half hour less TV might give you the time you need to do everything.
Keep a daily schedule – this should include your workout and eating times, and other things that have to be done
Prioritize your tasks – make sure you have time for the most important things you need to do by setting them in order of priority.
Delegate what you can – if you have things you can delegate to someone else, do that.
Take the time you need to do a good job – when you have an important job, make sure that you give it enough time to make sure you do it well.
Break large tasks into smaller chunks of time – if you have a big job, schedule it into your days in smaller amounts of time.
Take a break when you need it – if you know that you need breaks, schedule them into your day. Schedule some breaks where you step away from your tasks and take deep breaths, look outside, or even stretch so that you can continue your work in a better way.
When you allow yourself the time to relax, your day will flow more smoothly and you will actually feel like you’re getting more done. My mom used to joke about expanding time when we were driving somewhere and we were late. She’d say “lets expand time now so that we’ll get there.” Oddly enough, it always worked; we’d end up being on time for our appointments without her having to drive faster! Of course that didn't stop her from speeding anyway.
Having practiced medicine and acupuncture for over 20 years, I empower people to listen to their bodies, create a plan for their health, and have happier, healthier lives.