The Crazy Simple Trick I Used to Organize My Entire Life

Being a mom is tough. There just never seems to be enough time in the day to get everything done.

I know because I’ve been there. When I decided to start my blog, I was already working from home as a copywriter, and trying to keep up with being a mom and a wife too. Of course as a mom that means I was working as a maid, a hairdresser, a taxi driver, a homework tutor, a dry cleaner, a coach and so much more.

And, nowhere in there was time to take care of myself much less start this new venture I felt could allow me to not only help other moms but make more money for my family too.

That’s when I came across a strategy that helped me to finally organize my entire life, find more time in the day and actually launch my new blog.

It’s called time blocking and it’s a crazy simple trick that anyone can use.

Here’s how…

First, I put together a Time Block My Day Printable to use. You can download it for free here.

It is basically where I write down absolutely everything I have to do in a day and then assign it to a specific time.

So, there’s a section for Today’s To Do’s, Today’s Call List, and Today’s Shopping List. These are what I fill out first. I try to do it the night before but that doesn’t always happen and it then becomes my first thing to do in the morning.

Next, I transfer every single thing on all three of those lists to my time blocks. Anything that has a chance of running over, I draw a line down to the next time block so that I know to build in extra time for that activity.

Here’s what my Time Block My Day Printable looks like:

Then, I took it a step further. After reading Rosemarie Groner’s 10 Hour Time Block Strategy Guide, I incorporated it in…

She recommends blocking out at least 10 hours a week to work on your blog or home business, whatever is going to make your family extra money. You then separate that 10 hours into 25 minute blocks with 5 minute breaks in between (creating 30 minute time blocks).

From there you divide your blogging or business tasks up into categories. For example, my blogging categories currently include:

Writing
Pinterest
Creating Images
Courses and Training
Planning

Then you determine how many of your 20 blocks (30 minutes each for 10 hours total) will be devoted to each section and what the tasks will be in each.

During those times that you’re working, you turn off all other distractions and concentrate 100% on the task in front of you. You should also set a timer so that you stick to your schedule.

Now I have two time blocking printables – one for the my day and one for my blogging work for the week.

At the beginning of the week, I fill out my Time Block My Work Printable, deciding how many blocks of time each day will be devoted to blogging and what categories and activities those will involve – all to add up to 20 30-minute blocks.

Then, each day when I’m filling out my Time Block My Day Printable, I can refer to my work printable to see how many blocks of time and what tasks I need to complete and then find a time that works.

Here’s what my Time Block My Work Printablelooks like:

It has four sections – one for the category of work I’ll be doing, one for the activities in those categories to complete, one for the number of blocks devoted to it and the last for the day of the week to complete it. I like having this second printable because it keeps me focused on exactly what I need to do for each day for my blog in order to keep moving forward.

I hang both printables on the board next to my desk. That way I know what I’m supposed to be doing at every time of the day.

I can’t tell you how much frustration this system has saved me. Where before I felt like I was struggling just to find 20 or 30 minutes to clear out my email, now I’m focused on tasks that are actually important and could change the future for myself and my family.

Before I always felt that scheduling so tightly was the opposite of freedom but I was wrong. Organizing my entire day has given me the freedom to get more done each day, start the blog I dreamed of and still create more time with my family.

Do I always follow it strictly every day? I’d love to say yes and that’s my goal but it doesn’t always happen. Life gets in the way sometimes and I’m far from perfect. But, the more often I do it, the better things get, the happier I am, and the more I accomplish.

If you’ve never tried this strategy or even if you have, I’d love for you to try out my tips for yourself and see if they work as well for you as they have for me. For me, time blocking my day and time blocking my work has been a game changer.

You can also download all of our organizational printables for your budget, fitness and home below and organize your life from top to bottom!

And as always, I wish you a strong family, optimal health and smart incomes.