How to Save Time for You

How frustrating is it when you've got to manage a career, education, family and personal time? Juggling so many responsibilities will eventually take their toll and leave one feeling drained and mentally exhausted.

The #1 cause of stress is forgetting to take time for you. You've worked a long day, come home to put dinner on, wash dishes and help with homework, laundry and preparations for the following day. A regular day doesn't always include a break for you, superwoman.

Hopefully this article and my personal experience will serve as a guide for you. You have to take care of you, to be there for the loved ones in your life. If you're exhausted and stressed you could well be on your way to more serious health concerns later down the road.

I know how difficult a task this can be, but there are things you can do to relieve the pressure of being superwoman.

1) Ask for help! While this may sound like such a simple solution, it is one worth its weight in gold. Instead of being everything to everyone, delegate responsibility to everyone in the household. I taught my children when they were about eight years old, how to do laundry. I showed them step by step how to sort, how much detergent to use and how to fold. In addition, there's no reason for the kids to NOT wash their own linens. Weekly bedding laundry is a pain, but necessary. Have the kids do this task for themselves. It is their room and they should be learning these tasks anyway. This simple step saved me hours in the laundry room and freed up valuable "me" time. It also taught my kids valuable lessons they'll use the rest of their lives.

2) Set up a household schedule and stick to it. A simple schedule will save you loads of time. Start with Monday and choose one additional task, like washing the kitchen floor and do it every Monday. Tuesday, you can plan to clean one of the bathrooms. Wednesday can be cleaning out the fridge day. You get the point. Instead of wasting a wonderful day off, break tasks into pieces the way I've shown you and you can spend your Saturday and Sunday any way you choose.

3) Get the kids on track to self sufficiency. I can relate to homework help and sometimes we have little choice but to help, but there are an abundance of websites who, for a small fee can tutor your children. If you can't afford this kind of luxury, there are some "free" sites your children can use when that an Algebra problem leaves them baffled. I've spend hours with my kids on homework, but when I discovered these websites, I took advantage and guess what? My kid's grades improved!

Follow these simple tips and SIMPLIFY yours and your kid's lives. Life is too short and time too valuable to waste. Once you implemented these tips, you'll discover that there is time for a long hot bubble bath, or a cup of coffee with a friend. Just don't forget about you. Your needs are just as important. You're well on your way to a less stressful day!