How to Manage a Busy Lifestyle

Be mindful of calendars and clocks to help you manage your time.

With a busy schedule, it can be very difficult to pay much attention to anything other than work, and you as well as your loved ones might be feeling the strain. Learning how to properly adjust your schedule to accommodate both your personal and professional lives is a balancing act that takes careful planning.

Instructions

1. Plan ahead. There is usually something left to do before heading out the door, so plan your activities ahead of time so you don't get side-tracked. Figure out how long it takes you to shower, decide what to wear, do your hair and makeup, or eat a meal. Determine and gather all this information in order to achieve a timely arrival to your destination.

2. Create a To-Do list in an appointment book or calendar. Always keep a notebook handy and fit in things you need to do with your schedule. Try to set a time and date to work out at the gym, visit a friend, and/or spend time with your loved ones.

3. Stop and relax. When someone has so many things to accomplish, pressure will only lead to stress. Once you are in this overwhelmed state, getting out of it might take a long time, depending on your level of motivation. Organize your thoughts in order to better organize that tight schedule.

4. Remove temptations, especially when you have responsibilities. Do not start watching a 30-minute show on TV when you know you have to get out of your house in 20 minutes. Checking emails too many times in the day can waste a lot of precious time. Because these things are "quick" in the minds of most people, it can be hard to realize that 10 minutes could be easily taken from you just reading and composing a message.

Tips & Warnings

• Study your habits. Find out exactly what makes you waste time, and what leads you to that behavior. This way, you will be able to determine where the problem lies and try a new way to manage your life.

References

• MedicineNet: Help for the Chronically Late