Brilliant Ideas On Finding Extra Time As A Working Mum

We know that we have 24 hours in each day and that this should be plenty of time for us to complete everything that we have to do, with ample time to spare. The dawn of each day should bring a fresh outlook to all of us and we should feel rejuvenated and ready to tackle anything that life has in store. However, for one reason or another it seems that we are always playing catch-up, despite what we might feel are our best intentions. In this way, when the sun sets and the evening approaches, we end up feeling frustrated, wondering why we have not been able to do everything that we had set out to do. This seems especially apparent as a busy working mum and we often ask ourselves how we can become more efficient, or find an extra hour or two to help us out. Well, maybe we can:

1. Maybe you need to "screen" all your phone calls, before they reach you? There are some great programs available these days, including Google Voice, which will help you to prioritise the calls that you really need to take, from the calls that can wait. This technology now allows you to block callers that you do not want to be bothered with, in the future. By having your own, personal secretary in this way, you will not waste valuable minutes.

2. You have heard about outsourcing? While we know that it is difficult to find a good childminder and you might be taking on this task yourself when working or tele-commuting from home, understand that other chores can be outsourced, including daily cleaning work.

3. Get a good time management software program, learn how to use it and stick with it. At first glance it can feel a bit strange, but if you are prepared to stick with it, it will certainly help you to focus and this by itself will save a great deal of time, each day.

4. Plan as much as you want, but make sure you follow through. If you have a rather muddled list of things that you have to accomplish in your head, you will bounce back and forth between these chores and not be efficient. Before you go to bed, or immediately when you wake up in the morning, spend time planning out exactly what you are going to do.

5. Allocate an hour for communication. This time will include your access to Facebook or other social networks, time to check e-mail and to make all those phone calls that you need to return. You would be amazed how much time can be lost if you're constantly checking e-mails or taking phone calls without a structured plan.

6. When you're planning your time, include a "buffer" at appropriate intervals. Never allocate time for a string of tasks, one after the other in an unrealistic fashion. By inserting your "buffer," if you get delayed, sidetracked or fall behind your schedule in any way, you will be okay.

7. Combine your exercise time with "catching up" time. If you allocate, as you should, a minimum of 30 minutes to 45 minutes a day for physical activity, combine this with your time to catch up on the news and current affairs. This could mean the installation of a television in your workout area, or this may now become the time to listen to a particular media channel or even to read updates through your electronic book reader.

These days, online coaching experts know full well the value of time management and how adequate planning can help you to free up extra time that you might have overlooked. You will find that professional coaching is widely used by people throughout life and not just in the corporate executive arena. Why not try professional coaching for women in your situation?

Amanda Alexander, Director of Coaching Mums, helps pressure-cooked, stressed working mums who long for more hours in the day. Through her coaching programmes and online life coaching courses, Amanda shows mums how to create fulfilling and successful lives. For your simple 5 step guide to balance as a working mum, download our free eBook today!