We have all heard it said that time is the only non-renewable resource. Think of productivity like budgeting your time just like you would budget your finances. For example, if I have X amount of money I want to spend in a month, and I want to spend Y on a week long vacation, then I have to find a way to balance those remaining dollars.
If your life is anything like mine, it often feels like 24 hours is not enough in the day to get it all done. I am all about relaxing on the couch and the occasional mindless scroll, but I want to be able to enjoy those things and not feel guilty about everything else that needs to be done. Time with loved ones is too precious to waste, so here are some ways I try to be intentional and maximize productivity.
1. Use a habit tracker. (free app/Notes)
Habit apps or phone notes (with a checkmark once complete) are simple ways to activate the brain’s reward center. I like the app because it tracks my monthly trends for each habit and it is encouraging to see my progress. You can customize it to your personal habits, along with daily, weekly, or monthly goals.
2. Time block.
I prefer an old fashioned calendar book that I take with me everywhere (yes I am basically 90). I use the week view pages for time blocking. Some activities have a specific time, while others are AM/PM tasks.
Our morning and evening routines are essentially the same everyday, so they aren’t written down, but they look something like this (in my head):
AM Routine:
- Start laundry
- Empty dishwasher
- Walk/feed dog
- Shower
- Vitamins
- Read with kids
- Brush kids’ teeth
Evening routine:
- Play outside
- Dinner
- Baths
- Brush teeth
- Read books
- Kids bedtime
- Load dishwasher
- Fold laundry
- Take out trash
3. Utilize a family calendar.
We have done this different ways in the past, utilizing shared phone calendars, paper calendars, and our large kitchen chalkboard. It doesn’t really matter to me how we do it as long as we frequently check in for shared events. This includes family social activities, doctor appointments, birthday parties, deadlines, etc.
4. I delete social media off my phone during the day (or sometimes for days at a time).
My goal is to spend <30 minutes a day on social media apps, so I have a limit set on my phone to remind me when I am close to spending that amount of time on Instagram/Facebook. It is wild how many times I mindlessly pick up my phone to scroll, so deleting the apps during the day helps me to be intentional about my time. While social media has its benefits, research increasingly shows that over-consumption contributes to dissatisfaction.
5. Multitask the mundane.
I absolutely love reading, but I don’t have a ton of time to sit down and read a book at this stage in life. Instead, I listen to books/podcasts while driving, cleaning, cooking dinner, etc. Libby and Hoopla are free library apps where I listen to the majority of my books, supplementing with Audible for popular new releases. The kids got me a Kindle for Mother’s Day, which came with Kindle Unlimited. On days I don’t have time to workout, I will wear arm weights around the house while doing chores. We don’t watch much TV, but I do love binging shows on the treadmill to pass the time.
6. Outsource and automate.
We use Shipt, Amazon Prime, dry cleaning delivery, monthly house keeping, and a biweekly lawn service. All of our bills are on autopay and e-delivery. This allows me be more efficient in other areas.
7. Prioritize sleep and wake up an hour early.
This does not apply to new mommas or those with kids who don’t sleep! Thankfully, I am at a stage where all of mine are usually good sleepers, so I can get seven or eight hours of sleep at night and still wake up before the rest of my family. For me, a little bit of peace and quiet first thing in the morning goes a long way for the rest of the day.
8. Figure out your top 3 non-negotiable daily tasks.
In our home, this is laundry, dishes, and trash. It might look different for you, but if these thing don’t get done daily, they will stack up so fast (literally) and become overwhelming.
Ultimately, my goal for productivity is to make optimal space for all of the people and things that I value the most.
