6 Tips for Managing Time

Here we are in the month that blows us into a space of wondering where time has gone and what we'll do to keep up before summer sizzles its way into our already packed schedules. March seems to gather a collective stressful vibe, not only because of daylight savings, but because time itself seems to speed up and it feels like we have to tackle it down just to accomplish anything. However, if we take a few deep breaths and ready ourselves, time can be our ally. We can manage it, rather than letting it control us. Let’s take a few moments to go through some time management tips: 

1. Brain Dump. Your brain is full of activity. All of the information that you want to do, need to, and wish you didn’t have to do is swirling around inside just searching for a place to land. Find a format to dump it! It can be either a written or virtual list, just be sure to make a list of all of the things going on in your head that need to get out! 
2. Prioritize the list. Look at your list and see which ones are the crucial things that have a time and due date, as well as significance of value of how they factor into your life. The ones that are most important need to be categorized as the ones you will get done first. The least important ones will fall towards the end. Think about how much time each one will take and factor it in as a step for completing the task. If you know how much time you need, then you feel better about how much time you can spend. 
3. Make Time Your Friend. Like any good relationship, you need to have a good set of boundaries and balance with time. It is going to keep ticking, that is a clear element to count on, how you interact and work with this can make or break your relationship with time. Find your balance with time by figuring out how much time each thing on your list will take, and where in your day/week you will complete that thing. Find your boundaries with time giving yourself a set time to work on specific things, using that time to do them, and then stopping. If at all possible don’t overwork yourself. It seems normal to keep pushing, but you can reschedule the work that still needs to be completed into another slot. Time for rest is important too. 
4. Learn Your Patterns. Think about how you operate and what time of day is best for you to perform the skills you need to complete. If you know you are more aware in the morning, schedule in some time to get some things done then. If you thrive in the evening, settle in with the owls and work late. Be aware of how long you are able to work without feeling burnout and not doing your best work. You can start to find the right amount of time blocks you need to set aside based on the workload, and on what you know you are mentally able to accomplish. 
5. Settle In. Find the space that vibes with your work ethic. You need to be able to focus and also feel comfortable, yet determined. Give yourself the lighting you need, as well as any little fidget/stress gadgets you can grab to help with attention. Make your work space look like you and feel like a place you actually want to be. 
6. Refresh and Refuel. Stop and take breaks. Drink water and have a little snack that makes you happy. Get up and walk around the house, or even around the block. Give your brain a chance to refresh so that it can restart when you get back to work. Just be aware of your time and make sure that the breaks are beneficial to your schedule. 

Time does not have to be the enemy. Your busy schedule can be less stressful, more productive, and easier to manage, if you and time work as a team. It does require some crafting, desire to commit, and daily routine, but walking through life with more peace is worth it. Make this the month that you manage your time. 

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