In this previous Ask Amanda, I talked about finding balance to do the things I do, but since I’ve been asked more follow up questions, I thought I’d write some more practical tips on the topic. 

People are constantly asking me, it seems, how I find the time to do the things I do. I don’t even claim to do that much. Yes, I teach full time, run Maple Alps as well as Maple and Math, and I make time to do things for myself like be involved in church, small group, and even reading and crocheting, but is that really that much? Maybe. 

Fun side story: when I was in college I had to make a presentation about how to do something. I did my presentation on this exact topic - how to find more time in your day. I’ve been totally into this for years!

Here are a few of the practical steps I use to find the time in my day to do the things I do.

Make a chart

Physically make a chart coloring in how many hours a day that you spend on various activities. My biggest blocks are sleeping and work, of course. You may be surprised to see how much time you have left in your day!

Prioritize your tasks

Once you know how much time you have, prioritize your tasks! Prioritizing tasks is as simple as deciding what three things will move your day the most every day. Long to-do lists tend to overwhelm, and do not tend to get finished. Instead, choose three things to accomplish every day.

Block your days

If you have a more flexible schedule, try blocking your days! I watched this great video on it on Youtube (watch it here), so I won’t say much about it here. Just know it’s fascinating and makes sense! I don’t currently do this, because my job keeps me on a pretty tight schedule most days.

Quit Entertainment

If you watch television or are constantly signed into Netflix or Hulu, you might find that entertainment is taking a large chunk out of your day. Shows can be anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes long, and that can really start eating away at your time! Consider quitting for a week and seeing how productive you can be! Same goes for scrolling social media.

Another helpful thing I’ve found: Bullet Journal-or making a schedule in general

Keeping a schedule of some sort has always been extremely helpful to me. I am one of those persons who thrive with lists and calendars. I like structure. I have always had a planner of some sort, whether it be a dated one, or a bullet journal, and it has helped me stay on task and organize my days well.

How do you find more time in your day?