The Secret to Having More Time

Hands down, the best time saving hack I ever learned didn’t come from a business guru – it came from my Dad.

It isn’t even really a hack. It’s one of his “rules.”

Dad rules were nothing like Mom rules, which were along the lines of “clean your room,” or “if I cooked it, you at least have to taste it.”

Dad rules were more akin to life rules.

“Take two Tylenol, drink plenty of fluids, and get a big sleep. You’ll feel better tomorrow.”

Dad’s a doctor. In my house, this was a life rule.

There was also one for dealing with anything remotely unpleasant or unwanted:

“Try not to think about it.”

Or the one he told my brothers:

“Date anybody you want to, but marry someone you can burp and fart in front of.” (Gotta admit, that’s not gender specific, Dad.)

But rule #1, the big kahuna of Dad rules, the one we’ve all heard since we were small:

“Always leave a little time in
your day for…”

Fill in the blank.

Surprises, emergencies – this part changed based on whatever he was warning us we needed to be ready to handle.

When I was a teenager, I rolled my eyes (dramatically, of course.)

I knew how to handle my life, thankyouverymuch.

But somewhere in my late 20’s, I began to understand that I did not, in fact, know everything. (Shocker, I know.)

I realized that on any given day, between the 6 of us kids – somebody was sick, or crying, or fighting, or needed stitches, or forgot to tell anyone they needed to be across town for something school related in under an hour.

And that rule started to make a lot more sense.

When I began managing a department and other people (which is not unlike managing a houseful of children, btw), I started paying attention to that rule.

When I became an entrepreneur, that rule saved my freaking sanity.

Because it works.

Now, it’s the first thing I offer anyone when they tell me they don’t have enough time.

Slightly emended, I give you my version of Dad rule #1:

Schedule time every day for emergencies.

That’s right. Schedule it.

Block off time for emergencies. Interruptions. That thing you forgot to schedule two weeks ago that’s due tomorrow.

At least an hour. Every single day.

Yes, really.

Because like it or not, those emergencies and interruptions happen every single day – and if you don’t have room for them, they throw everything off – leaving you frazzled and less productive no matter what you’re dealing with.

I know what you’re thinking.

“I can’t schedule an hour… there’s nowhere to put it!”

But that won’t stop those breakdowns from happening and demanding you find the time whether you think you have it or not.

Someone will need last minute changes on a project.

The car won’t start right when you need to leave.

You (or your parter/child/team member) will get sick.

Or, you might even get a call that your cows escaped the pasture and are grazing in the neighbor’s yard (oh, it really happened – more than once) and would you kindly please come get them – now.

Like it or not, those interruptions are coming.

Here’s how it works:

1. Create one-hour long EMPTY block of time or two 30-minute EMPTY blocks. Resist the temptation to schedule it at the same time you’re planning to eat or take a shower. Just pick a block of time, and make it unavailable for anything else.

2. If interruptions come up before you get to that block of time, move whatever you’re working on currently into that spot.

3. If you get to that scheduled time and there’s nothing to deal with, move on to whatever you had scheduled later in the day (or the week) that can get worked on now.

Note – I recommend not assuming you won’t have emergencies and using that time to take an unscheduled break. Plan for breaks and take care of yourself!

Bank that emergency time and move forward on anything you can.

Keep doing this and you’ll wind up ahead of schedule.

AND have enough time to deal with any curve ball that gets thrown at you as you go.

Not having enough time can be a function of trying to tackle too much without dealing with when it’s all going to get done – in which case, bite the bullet and put some reality into your schedule. Grab these free planning calendars if you need a place to start. Let people know what you can and can’t do, and when you will be able to do it. 

But often, half the battle is simply setting aside time for the interruptions and emergencies that eat up your day and leave you less present. The key is to stay focused on what’s in front of you.

Believe it or not, making this a habit actually winds up creating more time, more productivity, more peace of mind.

Even when the cows go roaming the neighborhood – again.

Which of course led to Dad rule #42: “Always check the back fence.”

Not to be outdone by Dad rule #23: “Never bring a horse in the house.”

But that’s a whole other story.

xo, Kathy