My top time management tips

Since I now allegedly have more time on my hands (I closed my home business to focus more on my family) I thought I would share my top time management tips with you!

Time management is something I have worked a lot on over these past few years. I want to squeeze the most I can out of every precious day! And I've found a formula that really works - at least for me! Here it is!

1. Have a to-do list

This gives your day direction and eliminates wasting time by wondering "What should I do now/next" - my favourite way to put off actually doing something!! I usually make mine first thing in the morning over a big mug of tea before the kids wake up!

2. Only put on the list what is actually achievable in a day

There is nothing more satisfying that crossing the final item off your list. Conversely there is nothing worse than the feeling of failure at surveying a half-completed list at the end of the day. I only put on my list what I know I can reasonably do in a day. That means I increase my chances of finishing it - and if I finish early (which I sometimes do!) I have guilt-free free time and can enjoy it knowing that everything that needs to be done is done...at least for today!

3. Don't be a slave to your list

Things don't always go according to plan, especially if you have kids around so be willing to change your plans and adapt accordingly. Sometimes that means letting things on your list (or the entire list!) wait to tomorrow. Trying to cram the extra things on just adds to the stress. Time management is not all about being a slave to a schedule. A to do list is meant to help to structure your day and ensure you get important things done, not become a strait-jacket (I learned this the hard way!!)

4. Don't take on too many different things

I am becoming increasingly convinced that multi-tasking is a myth! When I try to spread myself too thin and do too many different things, I end up stressed out and flustered with a trail of half-finished tasks in my wake. It is better to do a few things well  than many things badly. Figure out what is really important to you and spend the bulk of your time on those.

5. Don't be afraid to say no

Even with the best time management strategy in place, there are still on 24 hours in a day (and most of us could probably do with spending a few more of them sleeping!!) It is not wrong to say "no" to opportunities which come our way, even those which are good things in and of themselves. If done graciously and honestly, you will not offend the asker. When presented with an opportunity, take time to think about it (and pray about it if you are a praying person!) before responding.


Time management is a constant struggle for us all, especially as the world is getting ever faster and more demanding. Multiple things compete for our attention every day. We need to be careful to spend our time on what is truly important (and necessary of course - jobs, cleaning etc have to be done!) so that we do not look back on this season of our lives with regret.

A new era begins!

Today was a new beginning for me.....my first day as just a stay at home mum! Until today I was a stay at home mum with a little sewing business on the side, but over the weekend I made the decision to put that on hold for the time being.

There are several reasons for this, not least of all obedience to God. Over the last few months, I have felt God speaking to me, telling me that this is not His will for me right now, that it is shifting my focus from where it needs to be in this season - my family.

With a two year old and a 6 month old baby, life is busy and time is at a premium. Maybe you have noticed that I haven't been around here much. My blog was pushed further and further down my to do list as any free time I had was absorbed my my business and the associated admin. My first love however will always be writing, so I'm glad to be back!

It strikes me how much like my two year old I am. When I ask him to get ready for bed or tidy his toys, he responds exactly as I did to God. You see, when I first began to be convicted that I should close my business - at least for now - my first response was to pretend I didn't hear God, like a two year old who sticks his fingers in his ears and hums! Then slowly I agreed "Ok God, but I just wanna launch this new range first and sign up for these few craft fairs and ......" You get the idea! I was just like my toddler who decides he needs to use the potty, get a cold drink, find a particular toy...ANYTHING to delay doing what he was told.

Now don't get me wrong, I am not saying that having a home business is somehow wrong for a stay at home mum, but just for me, just at this time, in this pre-school season, it is not the right thing. And although it knocked my pride a little to close it (cos now I no longer have the "and I also have my own business" comeback to throw at those who pity me/patronise me for being a stay at home mummy!) I was so exited this morning about all the opportunities I would have with my "extra" time - the things I would do with the kids, the places we would go, the surprises we would arrange for Daddy etc etc but already I have a feeling that it is just not going to turn out that way! Today on my first "slower" day, we had three different sets of people drop by to chat, the kids refused to sleep at naptime and honestly I got even less done than usual! But never mind! Tomorrow is a new day!!!