Mastering Time & Minimizing Stress: Strategies for Mere Mortals

I often find myself trying to squeeze about 28 hours' worth of tasks into a 24-hour day. My husband jokes about a "wife tax" because I’m often running late from trying to fit in one more thing. But until I learn how to stretch time, I’ve adopted some pragmatic approaches to handle my packed schedule. Maybe you’ll find these strategies helpful too.

Lower Your Expectations
Before kids, I couldn't have imagined letting go of a spotless home as a measure of my worth. Now, I've embraced that "perfect is the enemy of good enough." In my professional life, this means not over-polishing work that's already well done. At home, I’ve ditched daily makeup in favor of a simple skincare routine and sworn off ironing for good. What’s something you can eliminate from your bursting to-do list?

Work With What You Got
This is a life philosophy that has served me well in many areas of life. At work, I focus on leveraging my strengths and complementing them with the skills of others instead of trying to improve weaknesses I’m not particularly good at nor interested in improving. At home, I’ve embraced aging gracefully, saving hours and dollars otherwise spent in salons. This philosophy even served me well when I reimagined a troublesome patch of turf into a thriving hydrangea bed, turning a landscaping headache into a beautiful and environmentally-conscious solution.

Enforce Boundaries, Firmly Yet Respectfully
In many service sectors, the expectation to be constantly available has become the norm, but it shouldn’t be. We need to challenge the onslaught of pointless meetings and promote a work culture that respects personal time and space. A growing body of evidence shows that this not only benefits employees, but also yields better results for clients. How can you improve boundaries for yourself and those under your leadership at work?

Adopt (Practical) Minimalism
Inspired by minimalist philosophies, I’ve streamlined my wardrobe and our household operations over the years. This approach simplifies decision-making and cuts down on waste, whether it’s in choosing what to wear or planning meals. Professionally, it means focusing on a few key services that truly play to my strengths instead of trying to be everything to everyone.

Outsource When You Can
Delegating tasks isn’t just about hiring help, though that was a revelatory concept when someone first suggested I look into a cleaning service. Outsourcing is first and foremost about smarter management of resources. Whether it’s trading a loathsome chore within the family or hiring outside help to free up time for a cherished hobby, it’s crucial to effectively balancing work and personal life. What is one thing that would meaningfully improve your happiness by outsourcing?

Know Which Tasks Serve Your Values
With an endless barrage of demands, it's vital to prioritize tasks that align with your core values and bring fulfillment. I use this same guidepost whether deciding how to fill my weekends or which prospective engagements to take on.

The Beauty of Self-Reinforcing Strategies
The beauty of the above approaches is that they all reinforce one another, making it easier to incorporate them into everyday life. For example, cooking at home serves multiple purposes for me: it’s a chance to bond with my family, it supports our value of healthful living, and it aligns with our minimalist approach to live simply and sustainably. Even if some nights end with a quick mac 'n' cheese or takeout pizza, it’s all about balance.

Managing life's demands doesn't have to mean stretching yourself thin across a deluge of commitments. By embracing practical strategies like setting realistic expectations, enforcing boundaries, and prioritizing tasks that align with your values, you can find more joy and less stress in your daily routine. Remember, it’s not about accomplishing more, but rather more of what truly matters to you.

P.S. A couple of my favorite reads that touch on these topics (and a source of inspiration for the title of this post) are Atomic Habits by James Clear and Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman. I highly recommend them if you’re interested in exploring this topic further.