You are time poor. There aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done that you want to accomplish. Your to-do list is growing by the minute and the plates you keep spinning seem to double in size. It’s likely that the last thing that you have time for is yourself.

What if I told you that it is possible to find an extra hour in the day just for you? This will take a little work but it will be worth it.

Do these two things first.

1st – Figure out your time vampires

These are the things that suck and drain your time. If you’re not sure what these are, then try keeping a list of every minute of your day for 24 hours. Be sure to account for all of your time. You will see there are people and things that you give to much of your time. Identify these things and begin to will cut them out or at least decrease the time you spend on them.

2nd – Stop taking on new things and trying to help everyone

It’s time for an intervention, enough is enough, and you can’t do it all. You do not have space to take on another new project at home or in your community. You can’t continue to be the one that jumps in to volunteer. You have to stop trying to save everyone from themselves. You have to stop over extending yourself.

Now get your time back

ADD 20 minutes

Get up 20 minutes earlier than you usually do.

Of course you want to sleep in, but if you want to create more time in the day this is a non-negotiable. Set your alarm 30 minutes earlier than your typical time so you have 10 minutes to wake up and 20 minutes to be productive. Wake up and enjoy the extra 20 minutes in your day. Take time for yourself, whether it’s reading something motivational or a devotional for the day. Maybe you just want 20 minutes of silence by yourself.

ADD 20 minutes

Cut down on your social media by 20 minutes.

You are wasting more time than you realize on social media. The minutes and hours slip by quickly when you are checking your accounts. Take the challenge of checking your Facebook, Twitter, or any social media twice per day for 15 minutes each time. That way you are only spending 30 minutes per day on social media versus checking it every time you pick up your phone.

Just cutting down on your use gives you at least 20 minutes of time to spend on doing something just for you. You will find it difficult and will need to catch yourself each time you pick up your phone. Look at your ability to limit this time and see how much better you feel. What if you spent the extra 20 minutes going for a walk or taking a bubble bath? Doing something that you often say you don’t have time to do.

ADD 20 minutes

Cut down the amount of times you check email.

You may not realize that you check your emails probably 10 or more times per day. Try to be more aware by decreasing the frequency of checking. There isn’t anything that requires life or death urgency to check emails multiple times each hour. What if you only checked your emails twice before lunchtime and twice before end of day? You could easily give yourself 20 more minutes each day just for you.

You decide how to spend your extra hour.

It doesn’t matter what you choose to do with your extra hour. If you choose to spend the hour watching TV or being unproductive, that is your choice. Just don’t use the excuse that you don’t have time for other things that make you feel more productive such as exercise, reading, reaching out to loved ones, or journaling. You do have time, it’s just how you use it.

How do you make time for yourself?

How do you make time for yourself? How do you create extra time in the day so that you keep yourself healthy. Share your comments in the section below.

Let’s work together