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Ten Time Saving Tips
to Help Busy Parents Stay Balanced
by Mary Z McGrath, Ph.D.
Busy life? Do you know any parents these days who do not have busy lives? Think about it and see if you can come up with ten names in ten minutes that do not fall into the category of “busy”! If you are not one of these ten people, perhaps the following ten tips will help you better manage the time you value so highly.
- Carry things with you to read or to do when you have down time during the day. Perhaps you have a few minutes while taking your son to the dentist or while waiting for you daughter to finish soccer practice. Pull out professional or pleasure reading that you intend to complete. Pay a few bills. Make a couple of phone calls on your cell to set up appointments or to catch up with family or friends. Carry stamped postcards or notes and stamps to keep up with correspondence.
- Organize your daily planner into sections. Make one for personal items, another for family “to dos” and a third for professional or volunteer responsibilities. Feel free to create a fourth column if you have another track that fits. Sub-lists for each family member is a suggestion. During the day you will be doing things from all of your lists. However, putting them in separate columns helps the mind to keep focused on each avenue of items that you wish to accomplish.
- Give yourself small rewards during the day. Choose how many items you need to have checked off before you are entitled to a reward. What will that reward be? Time out to check in on the daytime talk show? A cup of cappuccino? Five minutes listening to soothing surf on headphones? Taking the time to read another chapter of a suspense thriller? You know best what “carrot” will keep you going?
- Designate a spot in the car for drop off items. A certain seat in the back of the van or even a particular plastic basket can contain items that you need to drop off eventually. When near the library drop off the DVDs, books and tapes. When passing the drug store leave off the film for developing. Clip together bank slips with checks to cash and pull them out as you pass through the drive-in at a convenient branch of you bank.
- Keep small squares of scrap paper in your pocket or purse. When you remember something you need to do and are without your master list, jot down a quick note to yourself. Transfer the information to your planner or palm later.
- Have a central spot to pile items that your intend to take up or downstairs eventually. When you have reason to go to a room in either part of your home, get into the habit of taking at least three of these items with you to be put where they belong. That way you can keep the organizing going and have a sense of mastery over items that can easily give you a sense that things are getting out of control.
- Have a designated spot by the door to your garage. When you leave each morning take everything with you that you will need for the day ahead. This could be keys, recycled papers to leave in the garage before you go or letters to mail.
- Keep a list in your planner or palm of family, friends and service providers that you plan to buy gifts for during the holiday season. When out and about keep an eye out for items that would be fitting for any of the individuals on the list. Have a few priority people in mind at all times in order to ensure that you will spot a gift that is the match for them and possibly even a bargain for you.
- Assign jobs to each family member. Post the assigned duties in a spot where all can see them. Even very young children can take some responsibility and learn to contribute to family duties. Working as a team helps build family relationships and gets things done.
- Layer your activities. For example, if you need to get in your workout and have determined that exercise is good for everyone in the family, push the stroller, wheelchair or put a young child on a carrier and head down a paved path in a park. Not only will you accomplish a fitness goal but you will also be able to communicate and listen to one another in a relaxed and energizing atmosphere well worth your time.
These examples of time savers are a few ideas to prime your creative mind to think in terms of saving time in the midst of your busy lives. While saving and managing your time, remember to have many good times together!
Mary Z. McGrath, Ph.D. works with schools, parents and organizations
who support wellness and the family’s potential. She offers presentations
through Reflections Resources, Ltd.
Website: www.maryzmcgrath.com
Phone: 952-894-7707 Fax: 952-890-3229
E-Mail: info@maryzmcgrath.com
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