Life in Hyper-Drive

Time Management Tips

Whether you're sending your kids back to school, heading back to school yourself, or returning to a busy fall work schedule, September is always a busy and bustling time of year. Cooler weather and shorter days bring a return of focus and order that get pushed back by the lazy days of summer.

September's hectic pace and demanding schedule can be a shock to anyone system, so here are a few time management tips to help ease into your fall schedule.

1. Develop a plan for yourself and your family and post it in a prominent place in your home. Include details that pertain to everyone, such as music lessons, sports practice, meeting dates and times. This way, everyone can see and understand the schedule (and whether it's realistic or not).
   
   
2. If you're feeling overwhelmed by a fall schedule that's bursting at the seams, start dropping activities that aren't absolutely essential. If you're having trouble deciding which activities are essential and which one aren't, take a big picture look and ask yourself who will get hurt. Remember, down time is an extremely precious commodity in today's busy world.
   
   
3. Wake up a little earlier to fit in that quick workout or other "me time" activity that you can never otherwise find the time for. If you give yourself time first thing in the morning, you'll be giving to yourself first and will be in a much better space to juggle other people's schedules and requirements.
   
   
4. Delegate daily activities to those who share your busy world. Emptying the dishwasher, taking out the garbage, setting the table, starting dinner - these are simple tasks that everyone can share to take the pressure off those who are feeling additional stress.
   
   
5. Reduce your expectations. That doesn't mean you have to settle for less, but it does mean that you may have to be more realistic about what can and needs to be done - and in what time frame. If you have big plans to clean or renovate, for example, you may discover that a "ten-minute tidy" or a quick paint job can do wonders for bringing peace of mind and order to your hectic world.