Time Management Tips: A Practical Guide to Finding Your Rhythm

As parents and entrepreneurs, finding time for work, family, and personal goals can often feel like a never ending juggling act. If you’re reading this, chances are you’re trying to find a better way to optimize your time—and trust me, you’re not alone. Between working a part-time job, organically building a business, raising small kids, and trying to stay above water, it can feel overwhelming. But I’ve learned some strategies from experts, the Groundwork community, and my own journey that might just help you reclaim some of your time.

Start with Priorities: What Really Matters?

Before diving into time management techniques like checklists or calendars, it’s important to take a step back and reflect on what really matters in your life and work. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve ended a day feeling like I got “nothing” done. It often happens when I haven’t clearly defined my priorities.

Here’s how I approach it:

• What are my long-term and short-term goals?
• Which tasks will help me achieve those goals?
• What needs to be done today, and what can wait?

For me, my priorities are focused on my personal growth as an artist, building my business, engaging with my community, and being present with my family. When I get clear on these, I can focus my energy on tasks that really support these goals.

“Time is your most valuable resource, yet you treat it like it’s unlimited.” If you spend all your time on tasks that don’t directly align with your goals, you’re wasting your most precious asset. -Dan Martell in How to Buy Back Your Time

Actionable Tip:

• Create a “Priority List” where you categorize tasks into: What is important to you?
  • What are my goals—both short and long term?
  • Which tasks will actually help me reach those goals?
  • What needs my attention today and what can wait for later?

Know When to Say “No“

This might be hard at first, especially for people-pleasers and folks who are in charge of nurturing the people in their lives. But overcommitting is a one way ticket to overwhelm. We often get stuck in this never ending loop of saying yes in the present time, without thinking about how our future self will be able to handle it. Saying no isn’t just about avoiding extra work. It’s about prioritizing things that matter most to you.

Once you are clear with your personal, work, and social priorities, it will be a bit clearer on where your boundaries should be set. When an opportunity or ask is presented to you that doesn’t align, here are some kind ways of saying no:

• “Thank you for thinking of me, but I’m focusing on another project right now.”
• “I appreciate you trusting me to take care of this, but I am not able to put the desired energy into this task at the moment.”
• “I understand that I’ve said yes in the past, but right now I have to say no.”
• simply saying: “No, thank you.”

“Your calendar is a reflection of your priorities. If it doesn’t reflect your goals, it’s time to make some tough decisions.” Laura Mae Martin, productivity expert at Google and author of UPtime.

Actionable Tip:

• Practice saying no to low-priority tasks or meetings that don’t align with your goals.
• Creating boundaries with recharge time in mind.

Task Delegation & Knowing Your Strengths

I’ve spent the past couple of years studying Human Design according to Jenna Zoe. I’ve come to realize just how important it is to recognize what lights me up..and what drains me. This is why I have come to believe that understanding one’s strengths is key to optimizing time.

At Groundwork, Nicole has done an incredible job of distributing tasks between me and Raelyn. Raelyn might excel at social media strategy, while I shine in community engagement. This simple understanding of each person’s natural talents helps us work in a way that doesn’t give the pressure of work, work. You know?

Actionable Tip:

• Take time to reflect on tasks you find both energizing and draining.
• Consider delegating or outsourcing tasks that aren’t your strengths.

Master Multitasking? Maybe Not

Multitasking might seem like a productivity hack, but research from Yale shows that it can actually slow us down and lead to more mistakes. The brain isn’t designed to juggle multiple complex tasks at once. What we often consider to be “multitasking” is actually just quickly switching from different tasks. This leads to a reduction in our efficiency and attention to details. Instead, try to focus on one task at a time with the proper energy and care for overall better performance.

Actionable Tip:

• Set specific blocks of time for focused work (45 minutes of deep work, then a 10-minute break). Use timer on your phone or go old school with one of those little plastic timers .

Self-Care: More Sleep, Less Stress

Self care is more important than ever as I navigate life in my 30s. Overworking, stress, and poor sleep can drain productivity. We’ve all woken up unrested, pushing ourselves through the day with more caffeine and less patience, only to end up in a vicious cycle. The “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” mentality really needs a rebrand.

I’ve found that creating a solid morning and nighttime routine works best for me. Waking up before my family gives me quiet time for a light workout, setting a calm tone for the day. At night, I’ve started doing a restorative facial massage and listening to meditations before bed, ensuring I get the sleep my body needs to wake up refreshed. These healthy habits support each other, which allows me to continue to be disciplined and keeping promises to myself.

Actionable Tip:

• Prioritize sleep: I aim for at least 7 hours a night.
• Incorporate stress reduction practices like meditation or a self care practice like movement and facial massages.

Optimizing Your Time is a Journey, Not a Destination

Optimizing your time isn’t about getting everything done perfectly. In my opinion, we are moving away from the superhero energy of doing ALL the things, ALL the time. It’s leaving us sick, tired, and unfulfilled. Time management is a practice—and it’s okay if it doesn’t look the same every day.

Let us move into prioritizing actions with our goals in mind, and finding a rhythm that works along the way. No one has all the answers, and what works for one person may not work for another. But by experimenting with different tips and tricks, along with being intentional about where we focus our time, we’ll begin to reclaim control over the day—and our lives. Cheers to our rising.

Actionable Tip:

• Find what works for you instead of following the latest trends. You are your own expert.
• If you want to dive deeper into these topics, check out books like “UPtime” by Laura Mae Martin and “How to Buy Back Your Time” by Dan Martell for more productivity tips and insights.