Time Management Hacks for Pursuing Your Passion

In today’s world, the demands on our time have never been greater, and this is particularly evident in the lives of working single moms. No matter how we get ahead, we seem to get behind somewhere else. Juggling the demands of a career while also being the sole provider and caregiver for our children can be an overwhelming feat, one I know I struggle with moth weeks. And find time for my personal fun? Hahahaha.

So I’ve been really trying to focus on improving these aspects of our lives for a better homelife for all. Balancing your daily responsibilities with your dreams and passions is possible with the right time management strategies.

Start with Set Clear Goals

Time management begins with setting clear goals for ourselves. Before diving into time management techniques, ask yourself these questions and be sure to write down your responses.

• If you had a free 30 minutes, the house is clean, the kids happy, what would you want to do?
• What is my passion, and why is it important to me?
• What are my short-term and long-term goals related to my passion?
• How does pursuing this passion align with my values and overall life vision?

Identify True Time Wasters and Prioritize

Effective time management means identifying and eliminating time-wasting habits and distractions. What are the most common obstacles that prevent you from dedicating time to your passion? List the three time-wasting habits or activities you want to eliminate.

Create a to-do list for the day and categorize tasks into one of the three buckets – A, B, or C. A tasks are high-priority, B are medium, and C tasks are low-priority.

Time Blocks and Batch Similar Tasks

Then, consider scheduling your time with time blocks around particular tasks. Batching involves grouping similar tasks and tackling them together during specific time blocks. It reduces the cognitive load of switching between different types of tasks and allows you to focus more deeply.

Identify tasks related to your passion that can be batched together and create designated time blocks in your schedule.

I have four 90-minute blocks in my day for different work priorities with at least a 30-minute break between for the quick walk with dog, snack, yoga session, household chore, etc.

Technology can be our ally in managing time effectively and creating these time blocks. Explore time management apps and tools that align with your needs. Implement one or two of these tools into your daily routine to streamline your tasks and create more time for your passion.

I plan my week each Sunday night to plan and assess what’s working, what’s not, and adjust accordingly.

Conclusion

Time is a valuable resource, and how we manage it can make all the difference in the pursuit of our dreams.

Our days are a relentless whirlwind of work commitments, school drop-offs, household chores, and quality time with our kids, but with a few time tweaks maybe that best-selling book, podcast, local acting dream, etc. can happen for us!