9 Ways to Find More Time For Things That You WANT To Do

9 ways to find more time for the things you want to do

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I can’t believe how much writing down my specific goals for our family has already impacted upon our every day. I find myself thinking much more purposefully about ways to incorporate the things I want for my family into TODAY. At the same time, staying mindful that I cannot do everything at once. I have also been thinking about ways to free up time so that I feel like I have more time for the things I want to do (rather than the things I feel I SHOULD do). Here are 9 ideas I have come up with so far;

1. Include the kids: Maybe you are struggling to find time to exercise, could the solution be to take a walk to the park as a family (kids on bikes or scooters should keep you moving to keep up) with a ball to kick around together? Or would your older children rise to the challenge of being responsible for helping you to pack orders for your home business? As parents, looking for ways to include your children in the process of achieving some of your goals can make success much more realistic.

2. Change your routine: This one would have to be the biggest challenge for me as the only way I could really reclaim some time from my routine is to wake earlier. Unfortunately, I am not a morning person and we still have a baby who wakes through the night. I am however thinking that even getting up just five minutes earlier so that I can have a shower before the girls wake for the day would be a good thing.

3. Ask and/or accept help: Why is it so hard for us to ask for or accept help? Have you recently dismissed an offer of help? I know I have! I seem to have a (possibly misguided) sense that the person is only offering to be socially polite or because they feel obligated. This is one that I really need to work on.

4. Swap kids: My neighbour and I have recently started swapping playdates and it really helps to free up time. Immy will go to play or we will have our neighbour’s youngest daughter to play and it is a win either way as it is amazing how much I can get done when Immy is busy playing with a friend.

5. Outsource: Is there someone you can hire to help free up your time? A local teenager to play with the children during the school holidays so that you can get some work done? Or a cleaner? A babysitter so that you can enjoy a much needed date night? I am even thinking of finding an eBay agent to sell a heap of items that I have been wanting to sell for ages.

6. Make technology work for you: Preparing dinner in the slow cooker makes my evenings run much more smoothly – I can actually relax and enjoy bath time with the girls or we actually find that we have the time to sit on the couch and read together instead of me getting increasingly frustrated in the kitchen as AJ wants to be held and Immy is getting tired and more demanding. Another way that I like to use technology to my advantage is with online grocery shopping as I can think of nothing worse than spending an hour (or more) dragging two kids around the supermarket. Is there a way you can make technology work harder for you?

7. Prioritise the important: I am trying to get into the habit of reflecting upon my goals each morning with the intention of finding one task that will take me one step further towards achieving that goal for the day. It might be spending time baking with Immy or organising one drawer or cupboard – whatever it is, I keep it small and achievable.

8. Remove distractions: Whatever you choose to do in the moment, do it with all of your heart by removing unnecessary distractions. Try turning off your email while you complete an important work task or leaving your iPhone in your bag while at the park with the kids, looking for ways to remove those elements that you know are likely to distract you from living in this moment.

9. Make it fun: There are always times when we have to do the things we don’t really want to do. This tip is about motivating you to get onto them and minimising their impact on your day by making them fun! Whether it be putting on some music and dancing as you mop the floors or having a water fight with the kids as you clean the car, or even setting a timer to see if you can pick up a room in under 3 minutes, looking for ways to incorporate a fun element into these tasks will hopefully get you moving to get them done with a smile on your face.

Even if it is just an ‘extra’ five minutes that I find in the day to spend on something that is important to my family, then I see that as a win. What could you do today to find more time for the things you want to do?

11 Comments

  1. Great tips Christie. I would like to be able to get up in the morning when hubby does, but I just can’t!!!! I’m going to start trying to get up 5 minutes earlier each morning and see what happens!

    1. I am all about taking small steps repeated often as the best way to make a change. Good luck with your 5 minutes Laney 🙂

  2. Okay, just a word on the ‘wake earlier’ bit. I dragged myself out at 5.30am last week to do a few things that I really wanted to do but hadn’t found time for. Within 5 mintues (possibly 3) all three children were up wanting breakfast.

    I can’t win!

    I am not meant to rise early.

    And that’s okay by me!

    x

    1. I knew there was a reason that I was only aiming for 5 minutes, Bron 😉

  3. Kellie @ 1000 homes of happiness says:

    Love these tips Christie. Especially the removing distractions. I often fall into the trap of staying up late and then pay the price the following day when I’m exhausted.

  4. Thanks for this, nice and grounding when sometimes you begin to feel like everyone else has it together and it’s only me with no time!
    ^^^ I too have been falling into the stay up late/exhausted next day trap. Really need to make the effort to go to bed at a reasonable time, then maybe I wouldn’t feel so grumpy during the day!

  5. My mum used to always wake before us when I was a child. Until now, I’ve absolutely refused to get up out of bed until one of the kids calls for me. But I agree, if I can at least shower before the kids are up the day seems much better.

  6. Lots of great ideas. We do so many of these already too – definitely makes life easier.
    And I always laugh when my neighbour apologises for her girls coming in to play all the time… and have to remind her that I just cooked dinner, cleaned up, sat and had a cup of tea etc all while her daughter was here! So any time!!! 🙂

    1. I borrowed a friend’s daughter today and got so much done, Bek 😉

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