We’ve all heard how important it is to effectively manage your time. Managing your time can help provide balance in your day and help you to feel in control of your life. When you have a balanced daily routine, you may experience:
- Less stress
- Better health and wellbeing
- More productivity
- More enjoyable and more frequent interaction with friends and family members
- Less loneliness and boredom
- More energy
So, what are the components of a balanced day?
- Self-care time. When you’re engaging in self-care, you are taking care of your own body in ways like bathing/showering, eating meals, and sleeping.
- Play/leisure time. These are activities that are entertaining or enjoyable, and aren’t related to school, work, or self-care. These activities could include reading a book, playing a video game, or something else you find fun.
- School/work time. School/work time could be school, a job, or a volunteer activity. It’s something you’ve specifically committed your time to, or something you’re required to attend.
- Free/unstructured time. This is the category for all of the other time in your day – the parts that aren’t taken up by self-care, play/leisure, or school/work.
As you think about your average day, does it seem balanced? Use our template to color in the parts of your day.
If you find that your days don’t feel balanced, what can you do about it? Here are a few tips:
- Prioritize your responsibilities. Making daily and weekly “to do” lists can help you figure out what is most important and what can wait for another day.
- Block out time to accomplish specific tasks. Make a calendar appointment with yourself – and don’t bail on yourself!
- Set, and stick to, daily routines. Whether it’s getting out of bed by 7:30 a.m. or taking a walk in the park at 2:00 p.m. every day, try to establish some consistency in your days.
- Don’t procrastinate. This is easier said than done! When you procrastinate, you’re less productive and less likely to accomplish what’s on your to-do list – which can translate into a bad mood and being dissatisfied with what you’ve gotten done.
- Get enough sleep. Without enough sleep, your brain won’t function properly – impacting your ability to learn and concentrate. Find tips for getting good shut-eye here.