Wait, what? Two plans? In one week? Help me. Sometimes, we’re too busy to fit everything in. Other times, it’s just an excuse. Still, we could all use a little assistance in freeing up more slots in our every day, to squeeze more in while staying calm. The key is in your mindset. 24 hours, we’ve all got them – here’s how to spend that time more wisely.
By Rachel Spedding
-
1 Stop talking about it
‘I’m really busy’ feels like the new ‘fine thanks, how are you?’: it’s the new wave office etiquette. Avoid the compulsion to always answer with the negative, respond with an achievement (whether that’s a recent promotion, or the double figures you reached on last night’s Insta post – you smug thing, you). Telling yourself ‘you’ve got this’ has a surprising impact on how you handle the day. Positive mental attitude is a thing people.
-
2 Get to know time
Laure Vanderkam (time management pro) nailed it – if your week begins at 5am Monday morning, by 5pm on Thursday you’re only halfway through the week. It can often feel like work takes up all of our time, but in actuality, we’re sort of spoilt with the weekend (I said ‘sort of’, give me a bank hol every month please and thanks). There’s plenty of leisure time squeezed in there to balance out work stresses. In short – you can make that manicure appointment, and everything else too.
-
3 More short breaks
Think of this like a mini holiday in your day-to-day – 15 minutes of scheduled fun. Whether that’s binging on movie trailers (just me?), meeting a friend for a swift coffee, or spending some quality time with Ben and Jerry (good guys). Savour the present in a brief time slot, and really appreciate each moment. It’ll make you realise how much you can fit in, and how good fifteen minutes of ‘you time’ feels.
-
4 A small tweak, or two
Routine’s are usually a good thing, but it’s good to mix it up. Try going to bed 30 minutes earlier, and using that time the next morning for your exercise session. Or delete Facebook – there are apps that show just how much time you’re truly spending online (warning: you will hate yourself). You may find that three hours of ‘free time’ spring out of nowhere. Keep track over a six month period, you’ll be feeling jammy very quickly.
-
5 Take a proper lunch break
Afternoon energy slumps are real. Taking a proper break is necessary. No more rereading that same email because it just won’t sink in, or eating your lunch at your desk (you’ll get less work done and more crumbs in your keyboard). Go outdoors, breathe in the fresh (ish) air, take a walk, call your mum, buy a fancy lunch; do all the stuff that makes you smile. Exercise and the great outdoors will increase your energy levels. That’s a promise.
-
6 Plan in real time
It’s so easy to make future plans, saying yes to everyone and everything. Course, the day before swings around and you look to your Filofax with disgust. Why did I agree to that? To every plan that’s proposed, ask yourself ‘would I want to do that tomorrow?’, if the answer is no, then turn it down. We need to stop feeling guilty for putting ourselves first (it’s not selfish, it’s you doing you).
See, look at all your new-found free time – there's even a slot left for a beauty treatment (or two). With Treatwell, you can book beauty online at all your favourite salons – simple, hassle-free, and you can do it on the go. Discover amazing salons in your area for your next wax.