Burning Your Candle At Both Ends :: 5 Tips for Time Management

Everything was chaos, and I was miserable. More noticeably, I was making everyone around me miserable, too. I was so busy putting out fires, that I couldn’t prevent them.

I was burning my candle at both ends. burning-the-candle-at-both-ends

In the past, I had a cleaning schedule, meal planned, and set aside time for scheduling. I read one to two books a week, but lately, I wasn’t even getting that (my favorite hobby!) done. I was pulled in every direction: work, lesson planning, volunteering, Facebook, Pinterest. I needed a plan.

Here is how I got back on track in just ONE DAY!

1. I set my alarm and put the clock on the other side of  the room!  This ensured I didn’t hit snooze and got up at least an hour before the kids. This allowed me to get my “me time”, get showered, dressed and made up. Seriously, if you haven’t tried this, do! I still have nightmares about putting on make up when my 4 year old with ADHD was supposedly eating in the kitchen only to return and find all the Lucky Charms systematically divided into Charms (marshmallows) filling a cereal bowl, and the “Un-Lucky” pieces in the sink. I left the house that day with one eye lined.

2. I put 5 things on my To Do List. Electronic or paper–have a list. My family knows that if it isn’t on the calendar or list, it doesn’t exist.

If it isn't on the list, it doesn't exist!
If it isn’t on the list, it doesn’t exist!

3. I designated “check in only” times for checking email, social media and text messaging.  This made all the difference in my day!  I aim to pick up my phone only at 10 a.m., noon, and 4 p.m. I’m much more effective if I keep my relationship with my cell phone rigid and electronic devices. You would be surprised on the amount of tasks (see aforementioned To Do List) that can be accomplished simply by connecting only when you schedule it.

4. I said YES to only to the things I really want to do. As women, we all struggle with this. We cannot say no. Just remember, it’s better to bow out gracefully, than to over stretch yourself and become frantic.

5.  I asked for help. You’ve read about mom-tribes and seriously, these groups are amazing in helping mothers build up other mothers. We are all running the same race. It’s called life. I swear by my tribe–and my crock pot meal prep group, fine china (aka paper plate) dinner nights made more fun by eating outside where my newly cleaned kitchen cannot be messed up, and bless the dry cleaner down the road that does laundry by the pound! It’s not every day that I indulge in these luxuries, but it does make me feel better about asking for help when I know there are ready hearts and hands willing to pitch in.

Rachel Banning
Originally from the Wichita area, Rachel’s greatest adventure began 20 years ago when she married her husband. Together, they have one living child with Asperger’s (Dylan, ‘03) and one heavenly daughter with cerebral palsy (Mia, 2000-2013). She is a homeschool mom and business owner. Rachel is an unapologetic advocate for children of all abilities, a bookworm, and she will find any excuse to use her Kitchen Aid and wear Junior League red.

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