DO YOU HAVE CONFLICTING PRIORITIES?

Many parents find that they just can't get everything done they want to do because of conflicting priorities that come up with raising children.  Although my kids are grown now, I definitely remember the days when there were conflicting priorities, which of course change as our families grow.  We feel like we need more time in the day, and don't know where to get it.   By the time the kids are in bed and you do have time, you are too tired to get to those priorities that got put on the back burner.

There are all sorts of time management articles written, that give you tips and tricks that are effective.  The key of course is to implement what resonates with you.

A very simple solution I implemented many years ago, to give myself more time, was starting my day at 5 am.   I had been resisting that idea for years, not being a morning person, and it took some time to adjust my internal clock, however, it is one of the best things I have implemented to get things done that were causing that stress.  It is quiet,  uninterrupted time that doesn't take you away from family or other business responsibilities and sets you up for the day feeling like you have accomplished so much before you even have breakfast.  You are not tired out from the day, you do not beat yourself up because you finished the day too tired to do these tasks, and you get far more done with no interruptions.

The other important key is to keep the commitments you make to yourself.  We wear many hats and have lots of priorities.  We have careers, family obligations, personal fitness, etc.  If you don't have a plan you follow to allocate your time, time does tend to get away from you.  The best way I have found around that is use a daytimer, schedule every single thing that is a priority, and stick to my plan.  If life happens to get in the way and you don't get to something, take the personal responsibility to reschedule it and don't let it fall through the cracks.  

These are both very simple solutions but highly effective.  Something else I have learned is to not overlook the simplicity of something...it is often where our solutions are found.