*&&!&!&!&!, I just don’t have enough time to…

Work out.

Or play with my kids…

Or go to a movie…

Or add Pinterest to my overloaded social media schedule…

Or write a blog post, again…

Or go to another networking meeting…

Or write a blankety blank book…

How can you possibly want me to add something else to my schedule!

Sound familiar? Ever said it (or thought it)?

Seems like in these days of constant connectedness, there is no way to escape the overwhelm with all the ways were supposed to stay connected, build our businesses, AND keep some sort of balance in our lives (what is balanced anyhoo?).

Next Shiny Object Syndrome anyone?

As someone who is ever so easily distracted and prone to NSOS (Next Shiny Object Syndrome), I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve said these things.

Had days go by when I could have sworn I was working. Truly, mom, I was!

Swear.

Only to scan back through my day to see that yes, I was at the computer. Yes, I was doing something. Yes, the day had gone by, again.

And no, I hadn’t gotten squat done that was important to growing my business.

So how do you find more time in your day when you feel like you’re already on overload? Here are some starters for you.

Pick ONE and try it for 1 week. If it doesn’t work for you, then adjust or try another one.

Click the link that you want to work on for DO-ABLE steps to adding more time to your day.

Did you know?

I’m an email addict. There, I’ve said it out loud, put it right out there for all to see. AND I’m dedicated to curing that addition.

In fact, I’m not the only one.

Recent studies indicate that the average knowledge worker (that’s you and me) spends about 28 percent of the workweek managing email.

Jeez Louise.

That’s a bunch of time…is it any wonder we feel like we can’t get anything done!

That’s like 11ish hours a week digging through emails and figuring out what to do with them!

What could you do with another 11 hours in your week?!?!??!

So to give you back some of those hours here are 7 ways to find more time in your day to do what you really love.

What tip will you try this week?

• Tip #1: read your email at specific times
• Tip #2: prioritize your emails before you start responding to them
• Tip #3: automatically sort your messages as they arrive
• Tip #4: sign off lists you’re no longer interested in
• Tip #5:  create groups for sending emails to multiple people 
• Tip #6: use special symbols to focus your attention
• Tip #7: take action while you’re reading an email

Be gentle and find simple ways to celebrate

Oh, and by the way, be gentle with yourself as you restructure what you’re doing and celebrate EVERY step you take.

Believe me, as someone who can beat the shit out of myself for any perceived infraction, I can tell you it doesn’t work! It hasn’t improved my business, my mindset, or my life. At ALL. So I definitely recommend doing the opposite of all that if success is part of your vision!

Kind of that old carrot-and-stick thang, eh? Which one works better for YOU?

Your next do-able actions

1. Pick ONE (and only ONE) tip to work on for 1 week
2. Share your favorite ways to find more time in your day in the comments below
3. Share this post by clicking one of the Share icons (Tweet That!)