Trial #4 Impossible Time Management

The post's tittle says it all.

Ever since Mr Hubs started working away from home, I began to search for ways to optimize my time management and utilization.

I went through a lot of self-help books, took advice from multiple self-help gurus of Youtube and also tried methods recommended by friends and families alike.

Some were winning formulas but most were not practical enough to be applied in my current situation.

Here are some of the tips that I find very helpful in managing my daily routine:

1. Creating a 'Daily Highlights' list - it's a list of things that I have highlighted for that day and must be completed that day, by hook or by crook. I make it a point to only have a a maximum of 3-4 Daily Highlights to ensure the work gets done. Anymore than that will have to wait for another day - I will write it down in my phone/notebook as pending tasks for another day. By abiding to this 'routine', it helps me focus on more urgent tasks and reduces my mental load, thus avoiding the dreaded burn out (from trying to complete everything all in 1 day).

2. Following the 2 minutes rule. Between concentrating to complete tasks and taking effort to start a new task - I find it harder to start a new project instead of completing one. So I decided to follow the 2 minutes rule - start the new project for only 2 minutes. If I want to continue with the new task for more than 2 minutes, then I will do so. If not, I will stop after 2 minutes, take a rest and then start again for another 2 minutes. It's a different form of self-love - taking the responsibility to start a new project/task and making the informed decision to stop and rest if I don't feel like it instead of forcing myself to continue. This has helped me in taking a more decisive step in completing anything that I have started.

3. Have a block of protected time just to focus on myself - I use this time to blog, scroll through social media mindlessly, facetime Mr Hubs and, at times, just lie down on the bed and shutting my eyes while emptying my mind. This has help my mental health tremendously - after starting this habit, I feel calmer and more relaxed. I am able to control my emotions better when handling my kids and reduce triggers that usually irritates/annoys me. Of course, having an outlet such as this blog is a big plus too.

4. Making an active choice to be satisfied and happy with the choices/decisions that I have taken everyday. Previously, I used to berate myself if I can't manage to complete all the tasks that I have assigned to myself that particular day or if I have failed in anyway according to the standard/benchmark that I have set for myself. I no longer do that nowadays. Why? Because it's a waste of my energy and the sequelae will affect those around me as I become irritable and not good company to sit with. It also made me feel like a failure and that is a downright depressing feeling to have. It does not change the outcome at the end of the day too. So why bother feeling downtrodden right? I changed my perspective and chose to actively be satisfied with everything that I have accomplished for the day, even if it is just 1 small achievement. Tomorrow will be a new day so I look forward to start again tomorrow as a better person.

Those are some of the best tips that I have tried and tested - and they worked well for me.

Main aim of time management (for me, at least) is to avoid/reduce risk of burn out - other benefits that I managed to reap while trying to avoid burn out are huge bonuses that I appreciate.

Hopefully, with continuous practice, I'll become more efficient in managing my time and can even juggle a few extra chores while keeping my sanity (and energy!).

On another note, if only I can record the hurricane that is happening behind me - the kids are jumping on the bed, playing forts and ships (I don't even know what game this is). My background music today is the sound of screaming children with overlapping laughter. While I appreciate that the kids are playing well and allowing me to write my blog - only one question keeps replaying in my mind : at what time will they sleep?

Till next time!