Work when you can: 6 tactics to get more done in less time

I write this as I miraculously got both kids to nap at the same time (Mom's get this and will cheer!). I now have time to write this blog… the clarity of what to say is pressured by a child who could awaken at any moment.

So what do I do with time to spare?

Haha! Time to spare? I have a huge list of to do’s and project after project along with two businesses to run. Plus I am running out the door as soon as my husband comes in to lead Dynamic Women™ in Action!

So it brings me to my topic: How do busy parents, or even people, get things done? How are they super productive? How do they run one or two businesses and still make family time?

The answer is simple. We work when we can.

We work when we can’t sleep at midnight. We work in the car waiting for kids to come out of school. We work when we should be watching soccer practice. We work when our kids nap. We work whenever there is a pocket of time that can be used productively. We try NOT to work on family time, but sometimes it’s inevitable.

I’m sure you have figured a lot of this out already, but my goal is not to earn authorship awards for AMAZING new ideas, but to make them more accessible, digestible and unforgettable. Working when you can is one of the most effective time-management skills you can have. It’s using every last second of time you have available in the day for getting things done, and not wasting a moment.

​Let me break this down:

1. Working in the car: After getting my new car (a Toyota RAV4) I finally had a Bluetooth option so my calls come through my car. I explain it like this because my dad didn’t really get what I meant and maybe some readers won’t either. When I have a busy day and know I have calls to make I do it in the car. I’ll reply to an email with, “Yes, of course we can chat. Let me call you at 1:30pm when I get on the road.” This also helps me to manage the time of my calls to the length of the trip. I hope it’s obvious that I don’t coach clients this way (I wouldn’t be as effective), but calling a friend, a colleague, my mom or even the dentist to make an appointment makes complete sense. Oh and I’ve even been known to use Siri as my assistant and use the voice commands to text people, post to Facebook and listen to my voicemail.
2. Working when you’re waiting: It’s actually sad that most people no longer bring books to waiting rooms, on public transit and when waiting to meet or pick up someone. Reading is hopefully not a lost art. But in these moments I jump into my email and send 3 liners, delete emails that clutter my inbox space and add in special dates into my calendar. Of course I could call people, but we all know how annoying it is to have the LOUD person on their phone in public. Even being quiet is a little infringing on those around us.
3. Working in pockets: Not pant pockets, but pockets of time. You have an extra 10 minutes before you have to leave. Your next call is 15 minutes away. Your meeting finished early. What do you do with these pockets of time? Don’t go on Facebook….. WORK. Set the timer, pick a task and DO IT! The problem is we can’t capitalize on these times if we don’t know what to do, so create a list of 10 minute tasks and start crossing them off.
4. Working early or late: Get up early or stay up late. Enough said. Make the choice and use the time to get stuff done. Maybe don’t do both though because family time and sleep is super important.
5. Double tasking: I absolutely love double tasking – taking a simple task that doesn’t require a lot of focus and combining it with a task that does. Like a walking coffee date; you get your exercise and to chat with someone. Or data entry and listening to a podcast. This leads me to…
6. Double duty: Doing one thing that crosses two things off your list. Like recording a webinar and also getting it transcribed to use as blogs. Inviting someone you need to connect with to an event you are already going to.

So which of the six tactics for effective time-management did I use today? The car as we went to Costco, the pockets while the kids finished their lunch, the double tasking with the laundry and waiting for my child to go to sleep, and double duty because this blog becomes my social media posts.

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Let me know which of these time-management skills you will put into play and which ones you already do. Have another one? Tell me by commenting below and I'll add it to my list!

I hope you can find more opportunities to work when you can, so you can have time for all of your priorities, and, family time.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me, I love connecting with my readers!

​Mwah!