Why does there never seem to be enough time? Here’s how to find more time for the things you love.
Each week, we have 168 hours. And once you take away eight hours’ sleep each night and the average 40-hour work week, there are still 72 hours of free time left over. So why does there never seem to be enough time to do the things we love? We all have the same amount of time each week; the difference is how we manage it, or better put, how we decide to prioritise it.
Sometimes, we become so accustomed to our timetables that how we spend our time is often wildly different from how we think we spend our time. That is why it’s so important to check in now and then to see what tweaks and adjustments can be made.
The neat thing is that when you become excellent at managing your own time, you are by extension, investing in yourself and shaping how you wish your future to be. Without this skill, it’s no wonder we feel overwhelmed with schedules packed to the brim. Truly productive people aren’t focused on squeezing more into their day. They make a point to do fewer things with greater intention.
Rise early and allow yourself a quiet moment before the day starts. Morning self-care is a beautiful way to fill your cup and allows good feelings to overflow into the rest of your day. Taking the time to start the day well can also profoundly impact our mindset, the experiences we attract, and the energy we give to others.
Before I start the day, I like to sit in bed with a cup of tea, sometimes journalling and allowing 5-10 minutes to visualise how I imagine the day unfolding. There’s no particular formula for building your morning ritual – the most important thing is that it’s achievable and something you continually look forward to – otherwise, it won’t happen. Check out The Miracle Morning method if you need inspiration.
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Work out what time of day your flow state occurs, and ensure you schedule all creative pursuits for this time. For me, it’s in the morning after the kids leave for school. When I’m in my flow state, it’s like time slips away, and I can create and deliver my work efficiently. I have no hope of working in the evenings as my brain wants to switch off. For this reason, I reserve relaxing pursuits for the evening, such as reading, baking or watching a movie.
Set a time each day to check your emails and stick to it. I usually check mine twice, once first thing at 8.30 am when I start work, and then again after lunch at around 1 pm. This helps me be more productive and I feel like I’m in charge of my work rather than it owning me.
Become excellent at eliminating distractions. While social media can have many beautiful benefits, including a sense of community, inspiration and support, I’m fully aware of how addictive and distracting it can be. There’s also a sense of longing and not having enough that comes with comparing your life to others on a screen.
Check screen time on your phone to see your daily average and set a new goal for yourself. I have a limit set of one hour per day, including posting for my work, meaning I must be clever with my screen time. Utilise the ‘Do Not Disturb’ or ‘Airplane Mode’ settings on your phone for when you need to take some time to yourself or be productive in a project. Turning off all notifications also helps you to avoid getting distracted.
Learn to say no to things that aren’t life-giving. And I’m not talking about the dishes here. There’s an art to saying no gracefully: being polite and upfront without needing to explain yourself. The more you do it, the easier it becomes. And trust me on this, I used to be the ultimate people-pleaser. These days, it feels so good to be in my power and to be able to say no when I need to.
Self-discovery questions to help you find more time and craft your ideal day
- How do I start my day, and is there a screen involved? If so, is there a more soul-enriching ritual I could be doing?
- What is working in my current schedule?
- What needs to be fixed in my current schedule?
- What time-wasters can I eliminate?
- Where can I implement more self-care?
- What other changes can I make?
Words: Eleanor Cripps
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