Of all the resources in the world, it can be argued that time is the most precious of all. It’s the one thing we wish we had more of, strive to make the most of, and place above most other priorities.
How many times have you uttered something like: “If only I had more time”? Or longingly discussed the advantages that could be achieved with a time machine?
While we can’t offer those kinds of perks, we do have a few simple suggestions to help you add more time to your day and ensure you’re making the most of every moment.
While a time machine is out of our reach at present, there are still a number of changes you can make to your daily routine that will help you enjoy more time and freedom. These include the following:
Adjust Your Schedule
One of the easiest ways to find more time in your day is to adjust your schedule. Even a small change can make a significant difference here. Try waking up an hour earlier every morning. You will be amazed at how much extra time you feel like you have.
Of course, this is easier said than done, particularly if you do not consider yourself to be much of a morning person. If this is the case, you can build up to the full hour by setting your alarm for five minutes earlier each morning. This is a small change, but will soon result in you rising an hour earlier.
It’s still important to ensure you’re getting a full eight hours of sleep each night, so you may need to go to bed an hour earlier to compensate for the early start. However, you will still find yourself with extra time thanks to an early rising.
One of the main benefits of adjusting your schedule is that it can help to improve productivity. Waking up an hour earlier allows you to start your day on a positive note, giving you more time to get organized and focus on completing tasks before starting work. For those who need a specific routine in order to be productive, adjusting their schedule can provide them with this structure and allow them to take advantage of the extra time in their day for activities such as meditation or creative pursuits.
Additionally, rising early gives you an opportunity to disconnect from the world and enjoy some peace and quiet before the rest of your household wakes up. This allows you to focus on yourself and set your intentions for the day ahead. Taking this time out for yourself can have a positive impact on both your mental and physical wellbeing, helping you remain focused throughout the day.
Moreover, getting up early gives you more time in the morning to complete chores around the house such as cleaning or laundry. This will free up evenings so that family members can spend quality time together without having to worry about mundane tasks or running late for appointments.
Finally, rising an hour earlier than usual gives us an opportunity to fit in some physical activity into our daily routine. Whether it’s yoga at home or a brisk walk around the block with your dog - taking this time out will not only benefit our bodies physically but also help clear our minds and reset our energy levels for the rest of the day.
Reduce Your Social Media Usage
There’s no denying that social media has significant benefits. It can help you stay in touch with friends and family and allows you to share news and life events with those you love.
Social media also can bring communities together through groups and pages, used to share information, and even inspire you to try new things. Despite the benefits, there is one major downside to social media: it can be a huge time suck.
With the rise of screen time tracking apps, we are forced to come face to face with the amount of time we spend on social media. When those minutes are added up, the results can be shocking.
Reducing your social media use is one of the most significant ways to grab an extra hour in your day. In many cases, you will gain even more time than this.
Reducing your social media usage can have a variety of positive impacts on your daily life. Often, when we cut down the amount of time spent scrolling through our feeds, we find that it improves our mental and emotional well-being.
For starters, reducing social media use decreases the likelihood of feeling overwhelmed by an influx of notifications and messages. This is often what causes us to feel anxious or stressed as we struggle to keep up with all the demands coming our way. With less time being spent consuming content on social networks, you’ll find that your attention span increases, allowing you to better focus on the things that are important or require more energy to be dedicated towards them.
Not only can reducing your social media consumption help with productivity and mental health, but it can also lead to healthier relationships in real life. When we spend too much time online, it’s easy for us to become disconnected from those around us—especially if physical contact is limited due to pandemic restrictions—which can cause us to feel lonely and isolated. By cutting back on screen time, you can make more room for meaningful interactions with friends and family; something that will benefit both your personal relationships as well as your overall wellbeing.
In addition to improved relationships with others, taking a break from social media has also been associated with greater self-esteem and body positivity—especially among young adults who are more likely to compare their appearances or accomplishments to those of their peers online. Since frequent exposure to images of “perfect” lifestyles can lead people into feeling inadequate or discouraged about themselves, a decrease in this type of comparison is essential for anyone looking for increased self-confidence and appreciation for one’s own unique qualities.
Finally, reducing the amount of time devoted towards using social media networks also leaves more opportunities for engaging in activities which promote physical health—like exercising or spending time outdoors—as well as mental health activities such as reading books or practicing meditation. All these activities have been linked directly with improved longterm wellbeing; making them excellent choices for replacing some (or all) of the time previously spent online!
Learn To Manage Your Time
Ultimately, good time management is the easiest way to gain time every day. Use a planner which breaks your day down into hourly slots, and record everything you do for a week, including meals, social media, and browsing the internet. This makes it easy to see where time is slipping away.
Once you have an idea of where you are wasting time, you can rearrange your schedule to manage your time better. Incorporate all your daily commitments, and then schedule in time for yourself. This can be something like a gym session, an hour to read, visiting a friend, or anything else you enjoy.
Some of the benefits of learning to manage your time:
- Maximize productivity and efficiency
- Reduce stress levels associated with time constraints
- Feel more in control of your life and schedule
- Enjoy a greater sense of freedom and accomplishment
Final Thoughts
Managing your time can be tricky, but with a little organization, personal commitment, and extra effort, you can unlock extra time. Taking the initiative to reclaim a few hours of your day can be rewarding, and all it takes is the right know-how! Use the tips above to create more time in your day—you won’t regret it.
Remember, even small changes like reducing social media use or tweaking your daily routines can add up over time. Don’t hesitate to try something new that could help you better manage your time! You just might discover an extra hour or two a day…and who knows what you could do with that newfound free time?
Good luck and happy planning! 📅 💪✨🎉
