Tips for Making Your Schedule More Manageable

We all know we are super-busy nowadays. So how can we make our crazy schedules more manageable? Here are ten tips:

1. Double up* Cooking a pasta dish or casserole for dinner this evening? If you are already cooking the first dish, why not make more for a second meal and freeze it for later? Batch cooking items, such as mince, can be cooked/fried in advance, wrapped, and frozen for later meals.

2. Decide and stick to limits. Given the fact that the number of hours in a day is unable to be changed, what are you capable of doing? Be honest with yourself. If you can't currently complete everything on your To Do list, there's probably too much on the list. Sometimes you are assigned or given a task you are unable to do or that you are uncomfortable doing. If this is the case, pass or delegate this task to someone else.

3. Be realistic about your schedule. Take time in the morning or evening and create a realistic schedule. Review it daily. Be sure to pad time in between tasks. Prioritise items on your to-do list, and block out time for these activities. Use a scheduling method that makes you comfortable, whether it's a paper calendar, PDA or a large calendar on the fridge.

4. Find time for yourself. In order to be at your best and help others in your life, you must be able to take care of yourself. It's truly a personal choice how you decide to relax. It may include a bubble bath, exercising, a manicure or pedicure, a massage, a good book or magazine, a computer game, a walk outside, maybe taking a class or learning something new. Find out what helps you relax and make sure you schedule time for it in your schedule daily.

5. Give yourself permission to use the word 'No'. You cannot do it all, all the time. You can delegate and give tasks to others. If you don't respect your time, others won't either.