Thank you Sam's Club for sponsoring this post. As always, all thoughts, opinions, and experiences are my own.
Finding extra hours in your day is essential. At least it is for me, so I'm assuming it's important to all the other #adulting confused millennials out there. As a full time entrepreneur, I wear a lot of hats. Between writing for my blog and contributing to Forbes, taking and editing photos, pitching brands, marketing all of said content, consulting with brands for their own millennial target campaigns, public speaking, and working 1-1 with aspiring bloggers and coaches, you could say my hands are a little full. Even with all these hats, I still find time to go to the beach almost every single day, watch 6-10 hours of television, and hang with my pup and the hubs (there's a reason I write about work-life balance on Forbes).
With all of that said, I need to find ways to create extra hours in my day all the time.
3 Ways To Find Extra Hours In Your Day:
Multi-task (when it makes sense).
Okay, okay, I knowww all the research basically says multi-tasking is is basically Lucifer reeking havoc on your productivity, but hear me out. If you can multi-task when it makes sense, then you need to do it.
For example: In the past, I've shared how I stay motivated and on top of all the things, and break down my schedule. A schedule that includes watching The Today Show from 7 to 10 or 11 every morning and The Ellen Show on repeating from 3 to 4 then again from 4 to 5. That right there accounts for at least 5 hours of television watching every day. However, I am not just watching television, during the morning, I am working on content promotion, social media, and emails. During the afternoon, I am working on those things or working out or snuggling with the pup while watching Ellen. In other words, healthy multi-tasking. I am lumping low value (meaning low focus/energy exertion) tasks together to create a balance that works for me.
Multi-tasking becomes harmful when you are switching tasks often. That's where you lose productivity. If I am writing a blog post, then getting distracted by an email, then a text, then go back to writing, then get distracted by something on social… well you get the point. It's a vicious cycle that's a productivity suck. Task switching is totally different than cognitive role transitions, which can actually be the key to a healthy multi-task.
Plan. Schedule. Repeat.
I know everyone boasts about pre-planning and scheduling when talking about finding more hours in your day, so I won't bore you with the normal. Instead, I want you to think outside of the box when it comes to planning and scheduling your life. Figure out what “chores” you have to get done in a given week and figure out how you can cut time or energy from them.
For example, if you've ever been to a big box store (like Sam's Club), you know what a major time suck it can be! I always get distracted by the fun goodies up front, and then the expansive aisles leave me wondering if I'm forgetting anything. Often times, I find myself running back to get that one item I just remember but can't find. Seriously, I can spend forever looking at all the things and debating whether or not I need them.
Fun? yes.
Good for my schedule? Absolutely not.
Sam's Club now offers Club Pick-Up! I can place my order on-line. Go to the store, find the kiosk, enter my order number, and pick it up at member services! Easy peasy!
If you have a Sam's Club near you, I would definitely recommend signing up to save time! Plus if you sign up here you get a $20 gift card and $20 Instant Savings Book (coupon book) package!
In addition to finding awesome services like Club Pick Up, consider delegation. As a business owner, it can be hard to know when to hire out or delegate, so a good general rule of them is to determine how much delegating would cost you ($10 per hour for example), and how much you value your 1 hour of time (i.e. could be earning or setting up revenue generating opportunities in that hour).
Identify “Waiting” Tasks
Business owners know that awkward 10-15 minute period before a meeting or waiting for an appointment. Some use this time to prep for said meeting/appointment, but I never can do that. By nature, I am not typically a procrastinator, so if I am reviewing notes just before a meeting it actually can give me more anxiety. I read through my bullet points of things I want to accomplish, but that generally takes five minutes.
Identify what tasks you can do while waiting, that you can easily pick up and put down, and won't cause any unexpected stress. For example, clearing out the “promotion” or “social” folders in email (not your actual email!), engage on social media (only if it's not a stress trigger for you), use the meditation app on your phone, send a quick thoughtful message to someone in your personal life. A general misconception about work-life balance means the two are segregated, but in reality, the two co-exist. Balance comes from creating time for all the things that fuel your soul, and those 5-10 minute gaps are a great time to feed it.
Practices these three things really give me so much more time in the day. I can tackle all the different roles I play in my business, while still doing stuff like hanging out with my pup and the hubs. Nothing is better than having the freedom to be productive and focus on things that matter. I know some people say work life balance is a unicorn, but take it from me, it's not. It's totally achievable if you figure out what tasks you place value on and utilize these time saving tasks!
Have you used Sam's Club pick-up? Or
Do you have any time saving tasks that help you find extra hours in the day? Share them in the comments!
Yes, yes and yes! Definitely need to try out Sam’s Club pick up. That would save me so much time! And for me having a schedule is a MUST! Otherwise the time with just pass by!
Keep smiling!
Molly | http://www.stylemissmolly.com
All wonderful tips! I am totally the same way, I LOVE watching the Ellen Show whenever I’m home to watch it and in the mornings, it’s always GMA & Live with Kelly! But I use those times to do other things too and just have it on in the background 🙂
I love the tip about using the time that you’re waiting for a meeting or appointment to do other things! I’ll definitely be using that in the future.
I love your suggestion about identifying “waiting” tasks. I need to do that for sure. Currently I usually play dumb games on my phone, and that’s definitely not productive!
I definitely multi-task. I do my Facebook “chores” and threads while playing with my little kids.
Great tips. I’m watching a movie with my husband right now and getting a bit of work done. 🙂
These are great tips! I try to squeeze every minute out of the day lately by multitasking and scheduling!
“A general misconception about work-life balance means the two are segregated, but in reality, the two co-exist. Balance comes from creating time for all the things that fuel your soul.” I LOVE this – such a healthy, realistic approach to this concept. It’s true that balancing the two is not always about sacrificing one for the other – it’s about switching off between them where you can throughout your life in a way that allows you to feel more fulfilled and less stressed. So important!
I really liked the article, you make a good point on multi-tasking within reason. That’s why I choose to bike to work and back (commuting and exercising at the same time), or put a face mask on while editing photos/writing for my blog. It’s a fun way to multi-task, without feeling like I’m getting burnt out in the end.
The wash, rinse, repeat techniques works the best for me! Once a habit forms on things I need to do everyday, you just get used to it!
First off, your dog is absolutely adorable! But, this post was so great… after reading everything about how multitasking is actually horrible, I was super sad because I always felt like I had gotten a rhythm for doing somethings super well in a little combo package. It’s nice to see that you have found a system that works for you as well!
xo, G
I always feel like I don’t have enough time in my day. These tips are super helpful. The Sam’s Club Pick up sounds so convenient! I hate grocery shopping so I love that you can just place your order online and pick it up! 🙂
I’m always multi-tasking, planning and scheduling! Also your dog is so cute!
-Alix
Great tips Rachel! I’ve really been trying to find more hours in my day as I am becoming busier then ever with my blog and running my business FT! Thanks for sharing!
Lauren
http://www.basicbabelauren.com
I feel that even if we could multitask and “make more time” there would always be something else to do… its a vicious circle 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
i really like what you said about “creating time for all the things that fuel your soul”! this is exactly what i need to do more! =)
Great suggestions. I wonder if Costco has something similar to Sam’s Club? I’ll have to check it out.
Amazing tips!! I never knew sam’s club did that… I might have to convince my parents to shop like that from now on xD
But for the most part, I totally agree with the rest of your tips!!
That Sam’s Club thing is so cool! I’ll definitely have to tell my parents about it since they shop at Sam’s a lot!
These are great tips! I always feel like I need to find a few extra hours in a day.. 🙂
These are fabulous tips, Rach!!! I love the low level multitasking. I do it ALL the time.