Life has become extremely hectic and stressful for most people, largely because they have so many obligations to fit into their daily schedules. Finding time for work, family, and your own interests and responsibilities can seem impossible. While it can be done, it may require reorganizing the way you do things.
Identify Your Stressors
Each thing that causes you stress is a trigger that compels you to look for distractions. This is why you end up wasting 20 minutes scrolling through Facebook, or why you end up taking that extra coffee break. If you can identify those triggers, you’ll be able to eliminate them, or reduce the impact they have on your psyche.
Think About Time
You may think you’re helping yourself by scheduling all of your responsibilities and plans on your calendar, or by making a to-do list. While this helps ensure you won’t forget about important events, it won’t help you use your time more wisely. As you make these lists, add the maximum amount of time you’ll allow yourself to complete each task. This can help you prioritize your activities, so you can fit more into each day.
Eliminate Outside Distractions
Your day is filled with more distractions than you may realize. From your co-worker stopping at your desk to chat several times a day to the social media notifications you get pushed to your smartphone, there’s a multitude of external distractions interrupting your workflow. Turn off those notifications, ask your co-worker to respect your need to get work done, and limit the time you spend responding to emails. You’ll be surprised by how much time this will free up in each day.
Partner with Someone Else
You can also make the most of each day by finding a partner to help keep you accountable. If you work together and help keep one another from succumbing to distractions, you’ll get more work done in a shorter amount of time. By becoming more productive, you won’t have to work all of those extra hours. This frees up your time for other interests.
Incorporating these tips into your life can help you make more time for the things that matter most to you. Eliminating distractions can also help you make the most out of every day. A little planning can help you fit everything you want to do into each day without leaving you stretched too thin.