Always feeling like there isn’t enough time in a day? Do you feel like you’re constantly on the go, but accomplishing nothing? If so, this is the article for you!

Often when I post a video shutting down the kitchen or completing my Daily 6, I get comments like “I could never do that, I have a job” or “I wish I could incorporate this into my life, but I don’t have any free time”.  I completely sympathize, however I would add that I also have a full time job and free time is hard to find in my life as well.  This is not a topic I’m trying to debate and this is not me attempting to brag.  I’m simply saying that we all have the same hours in a day and how we choose to utilize those hours is the difference.

I’m always harping on being intentional.  It’s the only way to get things done efficiently.  For instance, you could come home from work, look around at tasks that need done, take a few minutes to decide to start and then get to work on them.  Alternatively, you could start your day having previously made a list of things to accomplish when you get home from work.  That could be an additional 10, 15 or even 20 minutes you’ve added to your day.  This is just one example of being intentional.

Let’s apply that to my 6/10 List (which can be found here: https://organizedchaos4bus.com/2022/02/10/the-6-10-list/).  When I complete the Daily 6, I make the bed in the morning (obviously).  So right there I know that when setting my alarm the night before I’m going to say, “Okay, I need 30 minutes to get ready.  Plus, an additional 3 minutes to make the bed”.  If I didn’t plan that time into my schedule, I’d show up to work 3 minutes late or I’d rush through getting ready and end up forgetting something or feeling frazzled.  Yes, it’s only three minutes.  But it’s just one way you’re stealing from yourself and if there’s already not enough hours in a day you definitely don’t want to start taking them away. 

The rest of my Daily 6 are completed in the evening after the kids have gone to bed.  My husband and I typically tackle these together, so it takes about 10 minutes.  Every day I know I need to save 10 minutes at the end of each evening for completing the Daily 6.  Maybe this means you stop scrolling social media 10 minutes early or maybe you need to push your shower until morning.  This is going to look different for everyone. 

Now, let’s say none of this information was helpful to you because you don’t think you have the time or don’t know where to start.  If that sounds like you, then I recommend an overhaul.  Create an hour by hour schedule for yourself.  This sounds daunting, but I promise it will most likely take less than 10 minutes to complete one. 

Before you start creating your schedule, you’ll need to first reflect back on the past few days to get a sense of what your day has been looking like.  Notice patterns, like lately my partner and I have been spending 30 minutes a night watching a new show or we’ve started reading more to the kids so I need to factor in 15 minutes for that.  Once you have a pretty good handle on what your day is looking like, you can begin creating a schedule.  Include EVERYTHING, from the moment you wake up until you go to bed.  For instance, 6:00 – 6:30- Get up and get ready for the day 6:30 – 6:45- pack kids’ lunches or 5:00 – 5:45- Cook Dinner, 6:00 – 6:15- Clean Up From Dinner.

This schedule is not meant to be followed strictly every single day, forever.  Stick to it as close as you can for a week or so.  It’s merely there to show you what is possible when you are intentional with your time. 

Spend some time getting intentional and let me know how it goes for you!

-Aud