This week, I've been commissioned by the lovely folks at Sprint to expand on the ways I simplify my life. As a blogger with a full-time job, sometimes burnout is inevitable. At the moment it's 3AM and yes, I'm still blogging. But for anyone who wears more than one hat; whether you have extracurricular activities, children, or a small business - life can be daunting at times. Here are 3 simple ways I simplify my life:
1. Prepare.
Preparation is the antithesis of confusion. Though it may be hard at times (especially if you don't have a personal assistant!) preparing everything you need for the coming days/weeks can make all the difference. I once read a book about efficiency and time management, and one of the key takeways was about "batching" tasks. That means doing a whole lot of one specific thing, all at one time. Bloggers, for example, can take 3 - 4 hours out of their weekend to just draft up and schedule all posts for the remainder of the week, instead of spending two hours each day on them. That's essentially batching. And it helps!
2. Write things down.
"I know I have to do something at 5pm tonight but I can't quite remember what..." Sound familiar? Simplify your busy schedule by writing things down! Whether it's oldschool with a pen & paper or digitally on your iPad, writing down to-do lists and checklists can really help you remain in control. If you're forgetful like me, this is key.
3. Know your limit.
The hardest thing for me to do, when I was in college, was saying "No". Whether it was a friend who needed to vent for an hour, a group member slacking on their work that needed some extra "help", or an event invite sitting in my inbox. I always felt like whatever was asked, I could do. Not true.
Knowing your own limits can truly help you avoid potential pitfalls and will essentially simplify your life. Sometimes you need a day to yourself. And that's ok. The sooner you realize it, the faster you can take the time you need to re-energize and conquer your complicated life.
How do you keep it simple? Leave your tips in the comments section.
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Compensation was provided by Sprint via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Sprint.
Love your tips, and I will use the 1st one this weekend, I get tied up and never have time to truly maintain my blog! If I schedule I can free up my time! Thanks Christina !
ReplyDeleteI feel you! I'm the same way. But just a little planning goes such a long way...
DeleteGreat tips!!! I am proud to say that I am able to do numbers 2 and 3 but number 1 is kind of hard. I need to work on that.
ReplyDeleteXoXo,
Ashley
ASassyWoman.Com
really great tips!! i plan my outfits for the week on sunday night and that is a HUGE help. i have also started like you suggested, planning my posts ahead of time. i need to work continue to work on #3; writing things down. i have a journal with me 24-7 for random thoughts, but not one for my events and whatnot.
ReplyDelete~nic
www.nics-picks.com
I love the one about blocking off time to write posts for bloggers. I usually just spend so much everyday preparing posts. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThese are great tips! Like you, I'm a blogger with a full time job and I find the most important thing for me is preparation (your 2nd tip). Knocking out my blogging during the weekend is much easier than trying to post every day. Like Nic said, I know I need to start planning my outfits on Sundays. It would save me a lot of time. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI TOTALLY agree! I DEFINITELY rely on #1 and #2 (yes I have an old school planner, so what?) and I'm still learning to do #3.
ReplyDelete