There never seems to be enough time in the day. As we get older and reach certain points in our careers, we start to consider how we’re using our time. While work is important, we want to have more time to spend with family, dedicate to other passions or to just have fun with. For some, when they start to feel like this, they think it’s time to retire. However, there are ways you can manage your time to make the most of it and still accomplish everything you want — from work and beyond. Have a look at what you can do to make the most of your time.
Have a plan.
Planning ahead is always a good first step. Making a plan of attack for the day sets you out on the right track of using every moment effectively. Know what needs to be accomplished for the day and what your priorities are. This will help you avoid needlessly searching for the next task and keep you on a productive schedule for the day.
Don’t sit around waiting.
There are usually a few very significant moments in your day. But the majority of the day is filled with the time in between those moments. If you knew how much time you waste waiting for the next part for your day to start, you’d kick yourself. Put those in between times to good use. Fill them with smaller tasks or chip away at bigger projects. Don’t twiddle your thumbs waiting for a meeting to start. Stay productive and you’ll find you have more time on your hands.
Find family time wherever you can.
Quality time with our loved ones is so important and sometimes the responsibilities of work make it seem like the takes up the majority of our days. It’s true that for most of us, we are stuck to a certain work schedule. However, family time is more flexible and should be taken advantage of. Steal those moments wherever you can. Mornings, weekend, evening, even lunch hours — make it a priority and you’ll find the time to dedicate to those important people in your life.
Don’t neglect sleep.
You might think that sleep is a time-waster and the less you get, the more time you’ll have on your hands. In reality, this approach is likely to do more harm than good. Depriving yourself of sleep drains your energy, so although you may be awake more hours in the day, you’ll be less productive than if you just got a good night’s sleep. Get the rest you need so you can use your time effectively.
Stay healthy.
What is the point of having more time in your day if you’re in poor health? No matter what is going on in our lives, taking care of ourselves is top priority. And good health leads to more time. Just like with getting a good sleep, if we eat right, exercise regularly and cut out those bad habits, we will be able to accomplish more in a day, as well as have more days in our lives.