The Intention Behind Time Management
Words by Rachel D.
Discussing anything related to time and life balance will always require a personal Q and A of sorts. I’d like to summarize this article with the following: balance is knowing ourselves and what we need; while time management is knowing what we want and how to pursue it.
I’m a single mom of two girls. I work long, full-time hours in dental practice management. I’m also a part-time college student working towards a degree/new career in communication. When my time is not full of dramatic little girls, work demands and school deadlines... I write (pretty much for therapy). In the early years of single parenting, my main goal was to survive and somehow obtain the American dream. Living paycheck to paycheck (or less); created the desire to be both a present parent and a good provider. However, my finances were often in disarray and my time was unequally divided between lazy moments on the couch and panicked days spent frantically accomplishing very little.
Do you know what your time is worth? Even more, do you have a vision for how you TRULY want to spend your time? For many working mothers/women; we work because provision is needed. It can become a rat race, always striving and never winning. The race can and will stop when we become intentional about our life. Intentional living is simply doing things with a sense of purpose. Sometimes that’s all the difference needed for a “blah day” to become an extraordinary day.
While I’m still learning about intentional living and the benefits of time management. These are some tips of the trade that I’ve picked up along the way:
LIST PLANNING
I’m a planner and I love goals, naturally lists are an easy way for me to stay organized. I know this is not true for everyone but please hear me out... There is a cognitive reaction that happens when we use multiple sense(s) to learn or accomplish something. Think of writing: sight, touch, thinking all at the same time. Writing down goals is a sensory exercise, and if you can establish this habit in your routine, you’ll start to manage time better.
There are different types of lists:
-Daily
-Weekly
-Monthly
-Long-term
Example: I have more school deadlines than I do work deadlines. I plan out my semesters well in advance. My semesters are shaped around my free time during the week. Once I get the class syllabus, I mark every major assignment down on a weekly/monthly calendar. This helps me see where I can afford to spend time doing things I enjoy and where I need to buckle down and put the pedal to the medal.
If you have temporary seasons of “busy-ness” (think school semesters, sport seasons, hobby or side-hustle deadlines) it helps to plan out the race. Tracking progress from start to finish is a wonderful way to become more appreciative of ourselves and our goals. It also helps with the work/life balance. If this sounds like your life than weekly/monthly lists and calendars are your best friend.
If you work or have a more traditional 8-5 (daily routine) schedule, then daily/weekly lists are where you’ll find the most help. Having been in my industry well over a decade, I no longer use a work calendar. I’ve become accustomed to the flow of my day, and I keep that list in my head.
Home is a different matter. I do keep a daily chore list, weekly meal menu, and monthly financial budget.
Which bring me to the next topic:
BUDGETS
I read somewhere that self-care is better found in budgets, spreadsheets and to-do-lists, rather than the bottom of a wine glass, or bubble bath. That has truly stuck with me. Self-care is not the lavish expenditure of money and time on ourselves. Self-care is living in such a way that our lives are balanced and fulfilling every day.
Budgets don’t just apply to money; they also apply to time.
Time is money, so if your finances are in order, the rest of your life will follow suit. I keep a monthly list of what bills I have and when they are due. Being on a bi-weekly pay schedule means that I budget out of each paycheck for the expenses due within that time frame. As a single parent, bills come first and everything else comes after. The money I have leftover gets divided up into three categories: “giving”, “saving” and “myself.” Some months, these three categories are plentiful and other times they are very scarce. However, I am consistent and that’s what matters. Eventually, these savings fund will hold a down payment towards a home, funds for a long vacation, and give me the ability to help someone in a meaningful way.
Equally, my time is also divided (or budgeted) into daily categories:
Quiet time (6:00-6:30 ish a.m.), work (7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.), exercise (5:30-6:30 p.m.), family (6:30-8:30 p.m.), school (8:30-10:30 p.m.), creativity (10:30 p.m. to whenever I am done) and rest (hopefully 7 hours). I do my best to stay consistent and I try to balance my day with a variety of things that are important to me. During intense seasons at work or during final exams, I will omit somethings to make room for others. However, I usually follow up with the reward of a lazy morning, a special outing, or extra-long bath.
Balance the budget (both time and money) and you will balance your life.
DO IT TODAY
Consistency is key. One of my hardest lessons in life has been procrastination. Nothing good comes from procrastinating, nothing. I’ve learned to take my showers at night, pack lunches the night before, lay out clothes the night before and check on my car - well in advance of my morning departure. Sure, it can be more work, but it’s the little things we choose to do that create or limit our time. Knowing what needs to be done and doing it ahead of time is the same as depositing money into your savings account. Using your time wisely keeps everything running smoothly. Some things we can’t control- like kids getting sick in the middle of the night, waking up to a flat tire, or having hours cut at work. The goal is to be above these situations (or one step ahead) and not under the weight of them. Whatever things have held you back before, look for ways of getting ahead and beyond them.
DREAMS, GOALS, AND PASSIONS
Now that the hard stuff is out of the way, we can talk about the good stuff. The purpose of time management and intentional living is balance. The purpose of all this is NOT so we can cram more into our free schedules, the purpose is to do less so we can enjoy more.
Our dreams and core values/beliefs should always be at the heart of our lifestyle. What is necessary to accomplish this lifestyle should be the areas where we invest the most of our time and energy.
In addition to all the daily, weekly, and monthly planning. Dreams and goals should also be a part of our mental and physical planning.
Slow and sustainable living is one of my dreams. I work towards this dream by reading on the topic, taking classes on things like sourdough starters, natural home products, and holistic medicine. Also, saving towards certain purchases that support this lifestyle. I fuel this dream intentionally, and I know that one day I’ll get there.
Travel is another dream of mine, it’s a passion really. A large part of the budget is a “myself” fund towards an annual trip to somewhere I’ve never been. Sometimes I cram in more than one trip. Right now, these trips are hasty weekend stays out of state, but as my finances improve these trips will expand and eventually, I hope travel will become part of my routine.
Someday, I’d like to write a book. Every day I let my mind run over ideas and stories. At least weekly, I make time to journal my thoughts and feelings and practice developing my own unique style of writing.
Whatever your dreams and goals are, whatever your passions are- make time for them!
Time management and life balance require intention. Feed that intention like you feed your body and soul. Feed it with motivation, with passion, with rest. Feed it with knowledge, with learning, with love. Feed it through daily being thankful, aware, and ever intentional of the progress towards your goals and dream(s).
About the Author:
Rachel is a single mama of two. She works full-time, is a student part-time, and dreams/writes all the time. She strongly believes in the power of honest conversation and story-telling. She is passionate about women's health, and helping others overcome. She enjoys deep conversations over morning coffee.
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