There is an old adage that states, “You have to spend money if you want to make money.” I think the same can be said of time. You have to spend a little time to save a little time.
We all have the same amount of time in a day: 24 hours, 1,440 minutes, 86,400 seconds. What makes our days different, for better or worse, is how we plan these moments.
The days I let my kids wake me and roll over in bed trying to get a few more minutes are always the days that seem to run away from me. But, when I wake up an hour or even just a half-hour ahead of them I feel a sense of control.
I set my pace. I choose the first things I think about. I have a sip of coffee or get in a little exercise or stretching. I write out my gratitude list or journal or make a list of goals –depending on my mood.
As a writer, I try to write 500 words a day. I usually get them in if I get out of bed before my kids. And I need that. I need to get the words out of my brain–if I don’t it’s like I have an engine constantly backfiring in my mind. I need the release.
The mornings my kids sense the shift in air-pressure and greet me at 5 a.m. I feel cheated. My “me” time has been confiscated and will be interrupted by questions, possible potty needs, or urgent requests for Cocoa.
So, I spend some time –when I can– and that fills me with a sense that I’m driving this train. I think through my day and the most pressing things I need to do. I priorities and then I get shiz done.
I know my day is going to hold surprises, potty accidents, the occasional sick child, but it’s like waking to fire alarm or anticipating its arrival. It’s a perspective shift and it doesn’t have to be huge to feel huge.
The other suggestion I have when it comes to saving time is cutting out the stuff that doesn’t really move the needle in your life. This takes some serious self-reflection (so take time to do that) and calendar evaluation.
If you’re a mom of young kids do you even remember what you liked to do before having children? What would you do if you had a day free of responsibilities? How would you recharge? This is not a day for delayed maintenance like a haircut– nothing wrong with that, but pretend you’re all caught up on those kinds of things.
What does your day look like? Write those things down. Those are the things that recharge your batteries. This is how you get time back. Living recharged helps with so many things. We talk about mom-brain, but seriously– I think that’s code for being severely tapped out.
I know what it’s like living with little or broken sleep. This is not what I’m talking about. I love you and I see you, precious mama.
What I’m talking about is letting go of the things that only drain you and make space in your calendar for things that fill you. It’s simple — I’m not going to design a rocketship on that formula, but it’s foundational; like putting more gas in your tank.
You can start small. I started by adding 15 minutes of luxury reading: i.e. I’m getting out my favorite fiction author and sitting in a comfortable spot with or without a beverage. I’m not scrolling on Facebook or Instagram. I’m not checking email or putting the TV on. This is “me” time. This makes me happy.
When you take just 15 minutes to do something for yourself whether it be reading, praying, walking, stretching –those actions actually help ground you and refill our ever emptying will-power tanks. It helps us make decisions. It helps us keep our commitments. It helps us not yell at our children.
TAKE AWAY:
- Get up a half-hour earlier than normal and do something just for you.
- Assess your life and what you love. Then schedule it in your calendar.
- Tired mamas: tell anyone who’ll listen that you need help, for reals.
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