Time management is something I struggle with on a daily basis. One of my short term goals is to be more conscious of how I spend each day & make the most of the moments I have. It seems like the older I get, the faster time goes by. One minute, I’m just waking up and the next, it’s dinner time (and to be honest, not a whole lot got accomplished). I’m always saying “where did the day go”. With social media at my fingertips, it’s easy to waste the day away, Tweeting, Facebooking or sharing pictures on Instagram. I am determined to get control of my time and not give it away to the likes of social media anymore.
With that being said, I have created a new schedule for myself. I am testing it out during the month of September, and adjusting as I go. If you are in the same situation as me & you’re tired of wasting your days away, join me this month. Set up a time incremental schedule and try your best to stick to it, for at least 30 days. Write down your goals before you begin & reassess them at the end of the month. Below are the goals I have set for myself this month…
Time Management Tips
- Write a daily “to do” list. If you have a list & mark it off as you go, you will be more focused.
- Use a planner. Know whats going on, and when you need to be there. This is important!
- Follow a daily routine (printable below). If you have a written schedule, you are more apt to follow it.
- Put your phone away. Simply put, cell phones are a big huge time waster.
- Read an inspirational book. This will help keep you focused on the importance of time management.
This is the schedule I will be following for the next 30 days. Time management is so important. It keeps me focused. It’s highly effective and it’s the difference between a chaotic week or a successful week. I hope to follow this schedule as close as possible.
I’m sharing a blank copy of my “Daily Routine” printable. Download & print it out to begin making your own routine. Print HERE. It matches my home management printables perfectly. Join me so we can all improve our time management & daily routines. I’d love to know how you are doing with it. Check back soon!
An organized life is a happy life!
Tags: daily routine, free printable, schedule, time management
Blog, Free Printable, goals, Organize, Other Spaces, printables, schedules, September 2014, time management Posted in
64 comments
64 comments on “Time Management & Daily Routines”
This is perfect, Toni! Time management is something I’ve been struggling with since becoming a stay at home mom. Now that my oldest is in kindergarten full time, I’ve been working on getting my blog/business up and running, selling our home, keeping up with our 15 month old, all while juggling our household and 2 part time jobs. This schedule is perfect. Thank you. I hope to hear how it’s been working for you!
I needed this more than you know…I’m working, trying to start a business, school, have a life and more…
I’m like you trying to work on my new schedules and break up a little bit with social media.
I follow you in this journey
Sandra
Toni I follow your website on a daily basis and thank you for this challenge!!! I too am finding it difficult to accomplish important things v. giving in to the social media! I will be downloading your printables and let’s do this together!
You are so right in saying cell phones are a huge time waster! I try to plug mine in and turn the ringer off for several hours each day. Following a schedule can definitely make your day far more successful! I need to “plug in” home projects (painting, etc) into my planner and commit to doing those things on the designated day. The failure to do this shows in how chaotic my house is right now. Thanks for the reminder, tips, and inspiration to do this!
Great tips. How do you incorporate your to do list with your planner or do you keep them separate?
I integrate them. I always write in what I want to do in my planner… then every morning I make a to do list for the day. Thats what I hope to accomplish.
Hi Toni,
What type of paper do you print all of your forms on? I know when I purchase a planner/refill the paper is pretty substantial for all of the flipping back and forth etc.
Thanks
I use 32# laser paper. 🙂
This is AWESOME!!! I’m in desperate need of order since the kids went back to school. I am horrible at managing my time. Thanks for the perfect timing of this post!!
Before summer started, we shared a post on how to maintain you home (schedule included) with the kids home. I was just thinking how I need the opposite, I need to figure out how to get back on the school schedule after a relaxing summer schedule!
Toni, I cannot begin to tell you how instrumental your weekly organizer has been to me. I decided to go back to school in January and would not be able to keep up with all of the demands of school, work, and everyday life without it. Having EVERYTHING on one page has kept my life so well organized and flexible I am still astounded! I am anxiously awaiting for your new printables to become available in half sheets. Thanks for all of your tricks, tricks, and encouragement!
Thank you. That really means a lot to hear!
Hi Toni! New to your site and loving everything I see! Really trying hard to jump on board the organizing-wagon.
Which planner is this in the picture? A Filofax?
Thanks!
Mulberry & kate spade 🙂 Thanks so much.
In the third photo, what inserts are you using in your planner? They are perfect and simple and I’d love to get some! Also I love your posts, especially this one. Great tips 🙂
Those are kate spade. 🙂 I will be designing some new personal, A5 and 1/2 size inserts very soon so keep an eye out. 🙂
Phew! I have been wondering if you’d be doing planner size pages!
You are right about cell phones to be sure! I can sit down to check emails and Facebook and before I know it 2 hours of life are just gone! Poof! Intentional planning is a great idea. Excited to give it a good try. Thanks for the printable!
Time management is something I really have to work on! I have been following your blogs on and off for a couple of months and this one really resonated with me. As a new blogger I am trying to figure out how to carve some down time from my 9-5, my second job, my volunteer work and now blogging. Thanks for the wonderful tips and a reminder to make myself more organized!
Right now I am exactly on this path too! Social media really “ate” my time away. Really not worth it. That’s why I promised not to get on TOO much and have a schedule for my blogging time and social media and managing our home . I think your schedule kinda looks like mine from morning to afternoon.
Yasmina
What are the small planners pictured at the end of this piece? Where can I find them?
mulberry.com. 🙂 they are agenda size.
This looks really great! I definitely believe in the importance of scheduling and stepping away from the phone/social media! I also challenged myself to really put away my phone more this month! Looking forward to hearing how it went!
Laura
laurasbestlife.com
Hi Toni, I’m hoping you can tell me the brand if planner you have pictured. The one with the polka dots on the inside as well of that monthly template. It’s perfect 🙂
Its Kate Spade and those are kate spade inserts. 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing your tips with us Toni. I have been following your blogs & instagram for years now and love all of your advice. Your tips have helped me to stay more organized and get things accomplished way more than before. I feel the same way as you do about lists. You are more productive if you don’t get sidetracked and follow a list.
I started my own business this year and your tips have helped me tremendously. I feel less stressed and always know what’s ahead of me to get accomplished or where I have to be for appointments, events, etc. I use my planner for everything. Thanks so much and I hope you have a great weekend!!
I’m learning that a big issue in my time management is the online world. I really need to work on putting the phone/iPad away and focusing on what is really important to me and my family.
Thank you! This post is exactly what I needed! I have trouble with time management & organization!!! With my sons back to school, I need to have a better system…for all of us!!!
I’m going to follow your tips and create my goals! Thank you!!!
I was looking back through your posts. In you post from July 22, 2013, Home Organization 101: Week 4 “The Office” there is a photo of a 5×5 cubby shelf unit. I’ve seen these all over the internet but can’t find where to buy one. Ikea doesn’t seem to carry them any more. Where did you get yours? I’m redoing my office/studio and have my heart set on getting one of these units. Thanks!
P.S. I love the Staples binders. (I got some today for 30% off)
I purchased at Ikea 2 years ago. 🙂
Love this, where did you get the sticky “to do” lists, and what does “switch laundry” mean on your list. Very helpful, I hate how much time I waste on phone/social media. Going to give this a go.
The to do list is from staples. Switch laundry is simply that… switching from washer to dryer. 🙂
So funny, ok, thanks! That to do list is great. I always forget to switch laundry. I also love your toy blog today.
Hi Toni,
I really need to work on my routine – started working full time for the first time in years and old routines have to be revised. BTW… Will you be offering your Rainbow Planner to fit the Filofax A5 in the future?
I was just curious where did you get your adorable planner holder ? I would like to be able to print pages and make a planner but they are always so large… Thanks!
The planners are Mulberry and Filofax and there may be a Kate Spade in there as well.
Thank you!!
Hi ! 🙂 First I’d like to Thank you for this challenge , its given me an incentive to change and actually follow through on my “ToDo*s” I do take a little time each night to plan my next day lists and yet I never actually get anything done nor follow the list. On the rare occasion I actually do complete a list regardless of what list it is , the feeling of accomplishment is awesome! !!
A procrastinating planner is an oxymoron lol yet that s me and I’ve been this way forever….
Sooo thank you I cant wait to complete my first day challenge tomorrow : ) !!!!
I love this! Great post! Time management is something that I’m incredibly passionate about! I often blog about it myself. Thanks for the printable! I have nearly all of your printables <3
1st day : Almost finished my list ,,, yeaaahhh I accomplished alot…
Thank you so much : )
Some excellent advice. This is something I am working on too. I’m trying to be more purposeful and structured with my day. I’m hoping it will breed productivity!
Such an inspiring post – and blog! I am so glad I discovered you : )
Lookig forward to read some more.
xoxo, Ronja
http://www.sothisiswhat.com
Just starting and love..
how are you integrating your personal calendar with the rainbow system like your all in one and why have 2?
Seems like duplication? I want to organize but simplify..
I love all your printables! I do have one question though. Is there a way to resize letter sized printables to an A5 format to fit in my planner?
you can try changing your printer settings but by doing so you will change the space available for writing in.
Toni,
How did you fair this past month with your time management and social media? I did better but wondered if there would be follow up to this segment.
Thanks
Toni! I absolutely LOVE your blog! I cannot get enough of it 🙂 The planner is Kate Spade and the inserts are from Mulberry? Do you know what the inserts are called or which Kate spade plannER you got?! I love both!!
I’ve started using more printables but have yet to find a cute three ring binder to hold the, – what is the binder you’re using in the first picture?
the turquoise binder is a part of the Martha Stewart line from Staples.
Hi,
I like your idea #5 of reading an inspirational book. Do you have any title suggestions?
Time management is one of the most essential thing to be considered for any business and better managing all your daily routine tasks is also important. Though there are various methods to do this, one of which is to keep track of all your daily routine time and use some good tracking app or stopwatch etc. to gauge the time spend and effectively manage the same.
Again, its equally important to keep track of all your business tasks and time too for better productivity of your business. I personally like Replicon time management software which is very much hassle free and can be quickly implemented in any office environment. It is also easily accessible from any location using a web browser.
Where did you get that organizer on your desk with all of the slots and drawers in your photo?!?!!?!?
It was purchased at Michael’s, Recollection brand.
I hope I can manage time like u. I dont have much time everyday for me time. My daily life just wakeup-prepare-send my baby to daycare-work-play with baby-bed time-sleep.
Thank you, Toni, for the ideas and inspiration. Great reminder that encouraging books are great motivation. Will be sharing on K12’s Pinterest for moms and learning coaches to enjoy!
Great idea thank you!
I have looked at the various sites you mentioned for your small planners, but have yet to find the small pink one that you pictured. Can you help me out?
Hi Toni…I really need a daily routine and I love your printable. I recently graduated from nursing school and am currently working on my BSN. I have 5 children, 2 part-time jobs, and 1 on-call position. This is really going to help me get my act together, Lol. Thank you so much!
The black zipped organizer with pink polka dots, where is it from? I’m in love with it!
It’s a Kate Spade planner.
Nice article and always follow the first one to make a to do list with EfficientPIM my daily planner