The sun’s shining through your window bright and early. You look at the clock at 7:30 a.m., ready to be productive, enthused to get things done, and excited about life. Ten minutes go by and before you know it’s 8 p.m. Time seems to be a trap. Maybe this is familiar to just me, but either way, I’ve quickly found time management is crucial. Setting realistic expectations for yourself, listing tasks out (and the ever so satisfying checking them off), as well as rewarding yourself, are three tips that have changed my productivity immensely. 

Our first goal to manage that race against the clock is to set realistic expectations. I know you’re a go-getter. You’re a ‘get down to business’, hit the ground running type of person. I love that energy, but sometimes the reality of the real-world clock ticking down can affect that. Ruts happen, but when you are able to set realistic goals and expectations, hitting those goals feels like such an accomplishment. It catapults that energy to the next day, then the next, then you’re checking everything off your list like the rockstar you are!

Now that we’ve got our expectations in check, we can tackle our second goal to write out tasks by creating a list. Let’s say after work you sit down and write a list of things to get done: go to the grocery store, cook dinner, take that workout class, clean the bathroom, write content for your side hustle, research stocks, take the dog for a walk, call mom, and read a devotional before bed. PHEW! Although these are all important things, prioritizing which ones are necessary and erasing the ones that can get done tomorrow will avoid the disappointment of not reaching the expectation you set. 

Okay, hear me out. This may seem counterintuitive, but trust me, take out the list you have for tomorrow and write on there ‘target run.’

If you can manage to steer clear of the ever- so- tempting home decoration section, bee-line it to the office section. We’re getting you a planner!

I’ve done some shopping and picked out two extremely helpful planners to help you beat the clock race.

Look at the big picture. Break your months down before they start, thinking of all the crucial things that must get done.

Grab your fanciest ball point pen and write everything in, PTA meeting, dentists’ appointments, project deadlines; whatever they may be. When you look at it from a month glance and break down the smaller things to schedule on the slower days, that time management piece works itself out already! And I already know all my fellow Type A ladies will ROYGBIV those pens to color code each month. 😉

The third and final piece of advice to leave you with is a fan favorite. REWARD YOURSELF!! You deserve it. 

Time management is important, and distractions will never go away. Aside from the simple to-dos of life, worry and fear can creep in on major goals as well.  Opening a business, or going after your dream role takes grit, long days, and hard work. Taking care of children takes love, patience, and balance. Schooling takes commitment, vision, and discipline. Whatever it is YOU are trying to reach in your time management venture, you are doing it, and that’s something to celebrate. 

Planning a facial for when you submit that business plan, or making reservations for your favorite restaurant after finally cleaning the garage, might boost that motivation. 

So many successful people have written about the importance of time; how we can never get time back. They’ve written such things to inspire individuals to never take it for granted, but rather utilize it in a way that creates memories and productivity. As far as I’m concerned, if you’re using your time in a way that creates happiness and fulfillment, then you’ve already mastered time management.