TeamIt’s a busy world we live in and everyone is trying to make the most of the time they have. This often leaves them will little to no free time. Do you need more time for yourself, your loved ones, your hobbies, or simply time to relax and clear your head? If you’re wondering how to find more free time, keep reading because you’re about to find out.
1. Pick four things that you would love to do in your free time.
What is it that you would like to do in your free time? Try to be specific and choose things that you genuinely enjoy doing. Would you like to read, listen to music, get a massage…? Pick four things that you would love to do in your free time. These will be the essentials that you must have on your to-do list.
2. Schedule the time for doing those things.
Think about what you normally do and how it’s different than what you’d want to be doing. Schedule the time for doing the things that you enjoy – your essentials from the previous point. You are allowed to schedule your free time and adjust the rest of the things that you need to do to that schedule. Make having time for the things that you love doing your priority and you are likely to see that you can find time for these things.
3. Do tasks in batches.
You could spend hours or days doing certain chores when you could do them all at once during a single day. For instance, you probably spend a lot of your time checking your emails, when you could dedicate a specific amount of time to checking all the emails at once. Similarly, if you go grocery shopping several times a week, you could plan your meals and shop for groceries on a weekly or even monthly basis.
4. Have only three things to do during the day.
Looking at the hundred things on your to-do list will make you feel exhausted before you even start doing any of them. You should list only the three most important things that you need to do that day. That way, you are likely to find the time to schedule at least one of the four things from your list of essentials as well.
5. Do the most difficult things first.
To learn how to find more free time you should know which task is the biggest or which one you dread doing the most. Do this task first. When you have to tackle something difficult you are likely to postpone it as much as possible and therefore take much more time doing it than necessary. So, cross off the biggest task from your list first and see how easier it will be to breathe afterward.
6. See if you can delegate or outsource something.
Maybe you don’t have to do everything all on your own. See if you could delegate some of your tasks to your coworkers or if you could outsource some of the work. This way, you’ll be able to focus only on the most important things that you need to do. Don’t try to do everything alone if it’s taking your focus from the things that you should be focusing on.
7. Disconnect and eliminate distractions.
When you are distracted, it will take you much longer to complete a task. So, eliminate all distractions while you’re focusing on the task at hand. The biggest distraction is the Internet, so disconnect and resist the urge to check your social media profiles every now and then. If you spend less time online, you will easily find more free time to do something else.
8. Say “no” sometimes.
How to find more free time? Well, learning to say “no” to others could free up a lot of time that you would otherwise spend doing something that you’re not really interested in doing. Saying “no” isn’t selfish or rude. If you need time for yourself others should be able to understand that, you just need to tell them.
9. Make use of lunchtime.
Take full advantage of lunchtime by taking yourself out for a lunch. This might be the break you needed to feel refreshed and energized enough to get back to work and tackle all your chores. Get some peace and quiet by eating alone in a restaurant, on a park bench, or in your car.
10. Take your free time seriously.
You’re never going to find the time for something that you’re not serious about. So, take your free time seriously and keep scheduling it as a normal part of your day. Prioritizing is a big part of making plans, so remember to prioritize your happiness and well-being.
