Get More Done with these 5 Time Management Strategies

If I could just get more done in a day.

Do you find yourself saying that often, friend? It’s not just me, right?

That’s why everywhere you turn there are time management tips, tricks and resources to help you get stuff done.

It’s not enough to dream of the life we want. It’s not even enough to set goals. And you know I’m all about the goals!

The only way to truly achieve your dreams and enjoy the life God created is to just live it.

But how do you do that when you feel like time is not on your side? 

Truth is, it’s the doing that gets us all tangled up.

We overbook our calendars, procrastinate on the things that are important while attending to things that are merely “nice to do.” And sometimes we simply take on too much—even when we know better.

The answer? Embrace these five productivity hacks to get more done in less time.

How to Get More Done in Less Time

Before we even jump into the tips, I encourage you to invite God into your day.

You can plan and try as many time management tips as you like but if God isn’t in the picture, your focus is on the wrong thing. When we seek to get more done it can be to accomplish our own ambitious goals or we can choose to be about our Father’s business.

My prayer is that we will put Him first in all that we do and allow Him to direct our steps.

In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.”

Proverbs 3:6 NKJV

Now, here we go with the tips on how to get more done.

1. Make Your Calendar Your Friend

Wondering if you can take on another activity at church? Want to know how much time you really have available for that new project?

Try blocking off time in your calendar for all your existing projects. Fill in all your appointments, church events, kids activities, time for meals and family functions, and everything else you’re committed to.

What’s left might just shock you.

Make it a habit to block time in your calendar for every commitment, and you’ll never again over-promise or over-commit.

2. Check Your Habits and Rituals

You might not realize it but you have certain habits and rituals that you follow.

You have a morning ritual (wake up, brush your teeth, have your devotions, work out, shower, and get to work or start homeschool), evening ritual (check homework, tuck the kids in, watch the evening news, and hit the sack), weekend ritual (sleep late, mow the lawn, catch a movie, go to church, visit your mom), and so on.

The trouble is, if you’re not careful with your rituals, they can turn into productivity killers.

Let me ask you. Is checking Facebook or email a part of your morning ritual? Distractions such as these can turn even your best intentions into hours of wasted time.

Take a good look at your rituals.

What are you doing that you should not be—or that should be moved to another part of your day?

Make your rituals more efficient and you’ll automatically get more done.

3. Choose to Let Go

Did you hear the news?

You don’t have to do it all yourself.

Whether it’s at work or at home, you can (and should) hand off certain tasks to someone else. At work you can have an assistant create documents and manage your calendar. If you’re a writer or blogger, you can hire out some of your tasks to a Virtual Assistant or via a site such as Upwork.

At home, get the kids involved in chores. It will benefit them and you.

The time you free up will allow you to work on what’s truly important—and that only you can do.

4. Get Laser-focused

Multi-tasking is impossible. You might think you can get more done by doing several things at once but it simply doesn’t work.

Instead, use your calendar to block time off for important tasks, then turn everything else off so you can focus. No phone, no Facebook, no kids or husbands or neighbors or pets demanding “just a minute” of your time. Tune everything out, and you’ll find your tasks getting done much faster.

5. Make Time for Play

Trying to do all the things without any time for rest and relaxation is a sure way to burn out. You cannot work all day every day and hope to be at your best all the time.

Take a day off. Get some rest, or relax on a long, slow hike. Go for a prayer walk. Plan a personal retreat. Take a friend out to lunch. Go shopping with your kids. See a movie or a play. Do something—anything—other than work.

Not only will you return feeling much more refreshed, but you’ll find yourself more creative and productive than before as well.

Remember, as hard as Jesus worked, He carved out time to rest and relax.

I know how hard it is to manage your time so that you can get more done. It seems virtually impossible.

You probably feel like you’re spinning your wheels. Don’t ask me how I know. 🙂

Introducing Time to Shine (New E-Course)

The truth is, you and I can both benefit from some encouragement and support to create margin in our day so we don’t lose our minds. I invite you to join me for my new course Time to Shine — a time management course just for Christian women to help us mind our minutes so the moments matter.

We know that God is calling us to do amazing things for Him but the enemy wants to steal our joy and overwhelm us in the process. Let’s not let him, friend.

Join Time to Shine now.

And, by the way, it’s always so much better with friends. So, tell a friend to tell a friend.

How about you? 

What tips have you tried to get more done in your day?

Which is your favorite one?

Maybe more importantly, which one works?

Share your tips in the comments below.

Wishing you blessings,

P.S.

This post was the most clicked post in the Literary Musing Mondays link-up hosted by Mary Hill at Mary-andering Creatively. A big ‘thank you’ to Mary and her readers.

Share the love, spread the shine. Use the share buttons below to send this to a friend.

Looking for more encouraging and inspiring content? Check out these amazing sites where I link up my weekly posts.

---

Psst…the Time to Shine Course is HERE!

Wondering where your day went?

Feel like you hardly have time for the things that fill you up? Me too!

That’s why I created this time management course just for us.

Time to Shine will help you mind your minutes so your moments matter.