Do you wish you had more hours in the day? I remember that time well. There often comes a point in a family’s life where things just become too frantic.
A few years ago I was in the thick of my children having lots of after school activities, clubs and interests. They were at two different secondary schools nearly 20 miles apart and their friends were strewn over a colossal radius. Believe me when I say I know how complicated it can be to juggle it all. Yes, I chose that life, and I accepted it gladly, but it was certainly complicated for a while.
You want each of your chlldren to have everything they need and could wish for, but you need to keep your business going to keep the wheels on the wagon, maybe see your partner now and again, and look after the house, and the pets and the elderly parents and then the car breaks down and the washing machine is leaking and …. sometimes it all gets a bit too much.
If like me, you struggle to keep your ducks in a row, then this stage of life can be very hard indeed. Here are a few little strategies I have found that help me immensely – I hope some of them appeal to you too.
TopTips to find More Hours in the Day
1. Batch Your Tasks Like a Pro
I’m sorry to tell you, but when it gets past a certain point, multitasking is a myth. Yes, maybe you can feed a baby whilst writing a text and planning your dinner for the evening, but if you pile on too many things all at once, it soon collapses.
I’ve found that batching tasks is a game-changer. Instead of switching between emails, social media, housework, and school runs all day long (and feeling like you’re chasing your own tail), try grouping similar tasks together. Answer emails all in one go, schedule your social media posts for the week in one sitting, and dedicate a block of time to laundry or meal prep. You’ll be amazed how much time you save by not jumping from one thing to the next!
I also find that I have better times of day for different types of tasks; for mental work (for me it’s the morning), for physical work like housework and dog walking (afternoon) and quiet work and planning (evenings) . If you can align your various batches with your body clock, you will get another productivity boost.
Your body clock may not be like mine (my husband works really well when he comes home from his day job – he can carry on doing complicated figures work until midnight if need be) so don’t take my times as gospel – feel your own body clock and go with what it is telling you.
2. Set Timers and Stick to Them
I often joke that my phone is my real brain – the blobby thing that lives in my head is an imposter! Everything I need to do has to go on my calendarand to do list or it probaby won’t get done. I give myself ten minute warnings to leave the house when I need to go anywhere.
I love timers too! I give myself 20 minutes to tackle emails or 10 minutes to tidy up a room. It’s like a mini race against the clock, and it keeps me focused. When you know the clock is ticking, you’re way less likely to get distracted by that cute puppy video on Instagram! Plus, it’s a great way to stop tasks from taking over your whole day. My favourite thing is the phone linking to my Fitbit, giving me a vibrating message when there is something I need to stop and attend to.
3. Plan Tomorrow, Tonight
As an extreme morning person, I’m pretty useless after dinner, but I do take some time to check on the big tasks and appointments for the next day and figure out what I need to remember.
I like to give myself a simple to do list too. Before I go to bed, I take 10 minutes to jot down the three most important things I need to do tomorrow. Just three. It helps you start your day with focus and direction instead of getting caught up in the whirlwind of little distractions. When those three things are done, I feel amazing, like the day was a big success. I swear by this – it’s such a simple habit, but it makes a huge difference.
4. Embrace the Power of Saying “No”
This one’s hard, I know. But be honest with yourself, you simply cannot do everything. If something doesn’t fit with your priorities or it’s going to drain your energy, or wreck someting else that you have planned, it’s okay to say no. Whether it’s turning down a PTA project or passing on a new business opportunity that doesn’t align with your goals, learning to say no frees up time and mental space for the things that truly matter.
5. Use the “2-Minute Rule”
If something will take less than two minutes to do—just do it now! This could be answering a quick email, filing a document, or putting away those clothes you just folded. You’ll be surprised how much you can get done in small pockets of time. Plus, it stops those little tasks from piling up and overwhelming you later.
If you have a little thing like that and you absolutely can’t do it now, make a note of it in your to do system, so you don’t forget it later. It’s so easy to believe you have already done the little thing because you thought about it (guilty as charged here….)
6. Outsource What You Can
We can’t do it all, and we shouldn’t have to! If you can, delegate or outsource some tasks, whether that’s hiring a cleaner, using a meal delivery service for those busy weeks, or even getting help with some aspects of your business like admin or social media.
Think of the jobs that you hate most and get rid of them. Use the time to do the creative and amazing part of your business that lights you up and makes you feel alive. In most cases you can earn more in an hour doing your special thing, than you will have to pay the person who does the other stuff for you.
You’ll also be freeing up time for the things only you can do – like spending quality time with your family.
If digital marketing, social media and other similar tasks are one of your chores you want to dump, consider hiring a virtual assisatant like me. You will probably save time and money, and the person who does the job for you may enjoy it more than you do.
7. Create a Morning Routine That Works for You
I know mornings are chaotic, especially with kids, but having a loose morning routine can really set the tone for your day. If you can, take a short time for yourself before anyone else gets up, it’s such a great way to start your day. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy—maybe it’s 10 minutes of quiet time with a coffee before the kids wake up, or squeezing in a meditation or a quick workout. Find what works for you, something that makes you feel grounded, and do it as consistently as possible.
If mornings really are not your thing and this sounds like torture to you, or if your first people get up at 5am already, and you are NOT doing 4.45, then replace this with a wind down evening routine for a few minutes before bedtime. Or of course, you could do both.
8. Be Kind to yourself
We all have days when everything feels like a mess and nothing gets done. We also have days when we have caught a bit of a bug from the kids and feel meh! That’s okay! You’re doing so much already, and it’s important to cut yourself some slack. Sometimes, the most productive thing you can do is take a break, recharge, and come back stronger tomorrow.
I’m sorry I can’t literally wave a magic wand and give you extra hours (if I could I’d keep most of them for myself, and I would have made millions by now!), but hopefully these small shifts will help you squeeze a little more out of the hours you do have.
Just remember, you’ve got this. We’re all juggling a hundred things at once, but with a few tweaks here and there, you can keep moving forward without feeling like you’re constantly drowning in tasks.
Let’s cheer each other on as we find balance and get things done—one step at a time!
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Love this post! Somehow the tips are not groundbreaking or new, but we still need to hear them again every so often so we don’t drop the ball!