Good Time Management Eases Stress and Encourages Happiness
Time management is very much a product of effective planning and balancing of your life activities, but there are also plenty of tools and resources that can help you in your quest for a more peaceful life.
Below are a few simple ideas that can help you save time and get more focused:
Planner or date book.
Sometimes getting focused is a simple matter of having a clear system to organize the activities and tasks you need to get done each day. A good planner can help, but even a simple blank notebook can do wonders too. Start by keeping a list of your daily chores and obligations, and check them off as you get them done.
Dry erase calendar.
You may also find it helpful to buy a large dry erase calendar and hang it in a prominent location in your home. The kitchen or a frequently-traveled hallway would be good locations. On this calendar, mark down important activities and commitments for all members of the family.
Record your kids’ activities, your own meetings, doctor and dentist appointments, special functions, etc. You can plan a week ahead of time, or even a whole month at a time. After each event has passed, erase it so you have a clear, at-a-glance view of the things coming up next.
Software programs with reminders and alarms.
Many of the email and organization software programs available today offer great little settings that can remind you of important activities. You can schedule everything from birthday and anniversary reminders to notes of encouragement for yourself!
Or, use a reminder service.
There are also reminder services out there that are absolutely free to use. You simply sign up for a free account, set the dates and activities you want to be reminded about, and they will send an email notification on the date and time you specify.
This is a handy tool worth using if you need help remembering activities and special occasions. One such popular service is www.memotome.com; or try an internet search for “reminder service.”
Mini-recorder (or notebook).
Get into the habit of carrying a mini digital recorder in your pocket or purse, or alternatively a small notebook and pen. When you find yourself waiting in line, stuck in traffic or you simply have a few minutes to kill, use your recorder or notebook to record ideas, strategies and plans to save time later.
This also works well to remind yourself of things to do later, like picking up a few things from the store on the way home, gift ideas for upcoming birthdays and holidays, etc.
Outsourcing services.
If your daily schedule is packed full of chores and obligations that you can’t seem to pare down or delegate, consider outsourcing some of them to individuals or companies that can help.
For example, if you find that you spend a lot of time nagging your spouse to do the yard work (or you’re forced to do it yourself and it poses a real drain on your time and energy), call a few local landscaping companies and check out their rates.
Likewise do the same for housecleaning services, dog walkers, grocery delivery services, and more. You might think these services are too expensive, but you’d be surprised at how inexpensive they can be. Besides, when you consider the increased time and peace of mind you gain by letting others shoulder some of the load on your behalf, you’ll quickly feel justified about the extra expense.
Organizational tools.
If you spend a lot of time hunting for things you need because you’re swimming in a sea of clutter, consider investing in a few good organizational systems (or even hiring a professional organizer to get you started on the right foot). Once again this will involve some extra expense at first, but in the end your peace of mind will be worth it.
All of these tools may seem overly simple, but don’t be fooled! They can go a long way toward helping you balance your life activities. Remember, simplicity is what you’re after anyway! The simpler and more efficient you can make your daily schedule, the less stress you’ll have to deal with.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=d94811fd-8084-4a79-8e70-00d40c9973ce)
