How Can I Have More Free Time?

Do you have difficulty with saying No to people and often find yourself overcommitting?

Do you have a tendency to put off the most difficult tasks?

Do you have a habit of working overtime hours?

Do you use a calendar or any sort of productivity app? To-do lists, planners, digital calendars, etc.

When people ask you to do things that are important to them, but time consuming and of little relevance to you, it is best to politely decline. Focus on what is of significance to you, respect your time. Learn to say No in a polite way and people will understand where you’re coming from (eventually).

Big, important tasks scare us all. This is why we tend to put them off and spend a lot of time on tasks of less significance. Eventually, you have to do it anyway, so why not start your working day with the thing that scares you the most? The feeling of accomplishment after finishing it will be so big it will give you an incredible boost for the rest of your day, guaranteed. This way, by prioritizing, you will make sure you have free time that you can spend actually relaxing, rather than worrying about the important task you have to do later.

There are many reasons a person is working overtime, among them: deadlines, extra money or poor concentration. No matter what your reasons are, you should be aware that working long overtime hours can be linked to diseases such as back pain, blood pressure issues, fatigue and depression. When you work, try to focus on one small task at a time. Take short ten minutes breaks every hour, make sure to hydrate and move around. This method is oftentimes recommended in order to prevent burnout at the workplace.

Calendars and planners help you simplify your routine. By staying organized you are making sure you are not overcommitting or forgetting any important projects, but most importantly you are making sure you get some free time. Additionally, you can set up reminders on your phone or use sticky notes. Remind yourself to take a break, to drink more water, to call a loved one or anything else you feel is important in that day.

Nowadays there are so many versions of calendars, planners, journals and reminders that you can use. Thanks to technology keeping track of your schedule has become easier than ever. By making a work calendar and planning your day, you are making sure nothing important is missed. Some people like to schedule even their hours at the gym, art classes or important family gatherings. Try this method yourself and be consistent with it. In just a couple of weeks you will realize how much more free time you have on your hands.