Top tips for time-poor women
Feeling the pressure of having too much to do in too little time? Time management expert Kate Christie reveals her top tips for the time-poor.
Modern life is a juggling act, particularly for women.
Research shows women in particular face “time poverty”, a term coined by Melinda Gates in her annual letter that looked at gender disparity in “unpaid work”.
Australian women spend an average 25 hours a week doing chores. The flow-on effect is less time for hobbies, leisure, education, careers and other interests.
Couple these time pressures with a desire to “have it all”, and life can feel a tad overwhelming.
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Time means dollars
Time management expert and author Kate Christie says we need to change our attitude to time, and how we spend it.
“We need to think about time the way we think about money – as something that needs to be invested for the greatest possible return,” says Kate, CEO and founder of Time Stylers.
“Time is the one thing we all have exactly the same amount of and which no one can buy more of. To live your absolute best life you need to optimise how you invest your time.”
‘Having it all’ is a fallacy
“I was of a generation where women were told we could have it all,” says Kate.
“I genuinely believed in this philosophy and it worked for a long time. My mindset didn’t initially change when I had my kids – three babies in three-and-a-half years – but eventually reality caught up with me.
“I realised that climbing the corporate ladder wasn’t as important to me any more. I left my job and started my business so that I could work from home, which allowed me greater flexibility to be with my kids.
“When you identify exactly what it is that’s most important to you, it becomes easy to focus your time and effort in the right place.”
Kate Christie’s top tips for the time poor:
- Stop multi-tasking at work:
“When you multi-task, your productivity goes down by up to 40 per cent. At work in particular, aim to focus on one task at a time.”
- Learn to say no with confidence
“Why? Because every time you say ‘yes’ to someone else, you are saying ‘no’ to yourself.” Read more on how to say no and mean it.
- When someone asks ‘how are you?, don’t respond that you are ‘busy’
“Busy is not a badge of honour. It’s an admission that you don’t have control of your time.”
- Set your own goals, identify your own values and live your life your way
“Stop comparing yourself with others and stop second-guessing your choices.”
- Stop trying to do it all – you are not a machine
“It’s OK to ask for help. It’s OK to expect help. It’s OK to pay for help. Start asking for help when you need it.”
- Invest in yourself. Schedule time every week for your ‘wants’
“Prioritise yourself and the things you love – a jog, a long walk, reading, a sleep in, a massage, date night etc.”
Ready to get organised? Learn how to set goals and stay on track with An Organised Life’s Beck Wadworth.
Written by Charlotte Brundrett
