You have to be at the office at 10 AM and it takes an hour to reach there. It’s already 8:45 AM. Your child is throwing a big tantrum and doesn’t want you to leave while your husband is arguing with you about you having missed your Credit Card payment. Can you pay that bill, soothe your wailing baby and start for the office by 9 AM? Toughie!
Managing a home and career might not be as easy as it seems to others. There might be good days and of course, there are those days that you never want to talk about. Is there a way you can manage both, feel relaxed and have some time for yourself? Of course! If you really want to.
Unlike what many say, developing a work-life balance is not impossible. There are a few things that you can do to ensure that you feel satisfied about being a good employee as well as a good mother, wife, daughter-in-law, daughter, neighbour and so on. Interested in knowing more? Read on.
Inch-perfect? Please, no!
Yes, we all love the idea of perfection. But, realistically speaking, is it really practical to make sure that everything is perfect, in place, and looking like a work of art every single time?
How about just trying to do your best instead and if it isn’t perfection personified, that’s ok. Believe us, it will save you tons of time, effort and money.
Let us give you a small example. Trying to prepare that exotic, perfect meal for lunch at 7 AM in the morning every day is not going to be easy. Stick to simple recipes that you can rustle up quickly and will stay fresh till you open your box at 1 PM.
This rule applies to all your tasks for the day. Give everything your best shot but don’t get stuck at a single task for too long. You can’t really afford to. Having trouble doing something? Don’t hesitate. Get help immediately. Completing all your tasks for the day is better than completing a few tasks perfectly. What say?
Additional Reading: BankBazaar Mobile App: The Mobile Management Genie We All Need
In real time
A large part of managing your time well comes down to how good you are at prioritising. Do this and you will be able to sit back and relax more often. There are a number of apps that can help with this. If you can’t keep track of the tasks for the day, get the ATracker app. This app lets you schedule your tasks and track the time spent on each task. It also shows you how you spent your day using a pie chart. You can assess the time that you need for each task and schedule your tasks accordingly.
Not able to keep track of your spending? Get the BankBazaar app. It sends you Credit Card bill reminders and keeps track of your bank account. It also helps you track your Credit Card spends. What more do you need?
Another time-waster is very possibly, your smartphone. We often spend more time on our phones than on anything else. If you are a smartphone junkie, try the BreakFree app. This app is meant for controlling smartphone addiction. It monitors your mobile phone usage by tracking how many times you unlock your phone and how much you spend using it. A reminder will pop up if you are spending too much time on your phone.
Here’s another suggestion – switch off your data connection once you reach home. Believe us, this will give you tons of time to spend with your family. Itching to read those WhatsApp posts? Switch on your data connection once before you go to sleep. This way you don’t miss any important updates. Neat, uh?
Shopping may be therapy but travelling to malls and shop hopping can be a waste of time. You can save tons of time, effort and money by shopping online. Websites like Amazon.com, help you purchase everything that you might need, from books, kitchen utensils, and groceries to kitchen and home appliances.
If you want to save more, use a Shopping or Cashback Credit Card. They come with freebies, rewards, cashback and more. We have paperless approval on BankBazaar to ensure that you don’t have to waste your time photocopying those documents. A minute saved is a minute earned for you to relax and smell the flowers, maybe?
Additional Reading: How To Get Over Your Shopping Addiction
Time out!
The best way to get some time for yourself is by converting it into a task, adding it to your calendar and ensuring that you complete it. Unless you specifically assign time for yourself, you will never be able to relax and be on your own. What irony!
If you are travelling on your own, Travel Insurance is a must. It will save you time and money because it covers flight cancellation, lost baggage, medical expenses and more. You don’t have to rely on someone else to bail you out of any unforeseen situations. You can enjoy your trips without any stress. A Travel Credit Card is also a must-have buddy. You can save tons of money on hotel bookings and transportation expenses. We are sure you want to take that vacation right away. Put it into your schedule and get going.
Shuffle the cards
When a company starts making losses, do you know what they do? They restructure the way the firm works. This is exactly what you should do. Write down all that you do during the day and the week. See how many activities are actually a waste of time. We assure you that there will be plenty. Cut down on those activities and see if your productivity improves. You will be able to finish your office tasks quickly and go home to spend quality time with your loved ones.
You can even consider restructuring your work schedule. If you are good at something and can finish it quickly, do that first. The rest of the day can be devoted to those tasks that need your time and attention.
If you don’t already do this, consider delegating some of the house chores to your husband. This can prove to be stress buster for you. Let him walk the dog, water the plants, feed the kids and fix that messy wardrobe every alternate day. This is a tried and tested method and is sure to yield great results.
What if he asks you to handle the monthly investments? Fret not! You can invest in Fixed Deposit and Mutual Funds online, in the comfort of your home.
Sharing the load with your husband easy and simple. So, try reorganising your tasks and see how much time you can save.
Small can sometimes be big
A number of us stop doing certain things because they take up a lot of time and effort. The best example is working out. Working out every day for an hour might seem like too much. This is why you must start small. Start with a 10 minute work-out. Once you get comfortable, you can slowly increase the amount of time that you spend working out.
This is applicable to all your tasks, even your finances. For example, if you don’t have big amounts to invest, consider a Systematic Investments Plan in Mutual Funds or stocks. Even a Recurring Deposit works in the same way. Starting something is better than not starting at all. So, this is the best way to accomplish those resolutions that you never tried your hand at, isn’t it?
All set to try these out? Go ahead. We are sure they will help you become a more efficient person than you already are.
Already an expert on managing work and life? Why not share a few tips. Leave a comment in the comments section below and let us know what works for you.