Hello everyone,

I got a request the other day to do a blog post about how I manage my time between my school, work, having a social life, working out and self care. I was very flattered when I got asked to do this because I don’t feel like I have it together all the time if I am honest. At the same time, I was so happy to get this request because I have come up with some amazing systems and tips that allow me to stay organized. An important thing I want to note is that these systems/tips are realistic and have been easy to implement into my daily routine. I am no expert but I hope you try them out and find them easy to implement as well!

ITEMS I USE TO MANAGE MY TIME

• Planner
• Desk/Wall Calendar
• Sticky Notes
• Note Book

If you want to download the desk/wall calendar I created click here:

WORK A WEEK AHEAD

Out of all of the tips I have, I find this one the most helpful. The tip is to always work a week ahead. What I mean by that is when I am in week 2 of school I am actually doing the required work for the following week; week 3. The same goes for my business. I will plan the blog posts I want to write, the outfits I want to shoot, the content I want to film etc a week in advance. When it comes to my social life I try to plan things a week before as well. Knowing I have places to go motivates me to stay on task and get everything done on time as well as makes sure I am not over committing myself. This ensures that I am always prepared and I feel less stressed overall since I know I have time to get it all done. I highly recommend doing this as it allows leeway if anything unexpected comes up or if your feeling a little burnt out one day.

BLOCKING

My next tip is to block off days to do tasks. A perfect example of this is me taking a portion of one day in the week to take all of my content pictures for my blog and instagram. It would be inefficient for me to do this multiple days in the week. I would be rushing each day to get ready and think of an outfit, instead I am getting ready once and shooting my looks with more thought and care. This also applies to school. I found that so much time would be wasted when I switched from course to course, instead I try to do everything for one course within one day. Also having the prep work done for anything, as I stated in my previous tip, makes tasks so much more efficient. The day I select to do each thing depends on its urgency which leads to my next point.

MASTER LIST

I found the most effective tool to manage my time is creating what I like to call a “Master List” of all the things that I have to do each week. I create a template on the computer, separated by my “fixed tasks” including school, business, and chores. I then have an “additional section” for things that are specific to each week that I will touch upon more in a second. I am first going to talk about the fixed school section of the Master List. At the start of the semester I took note of all of the things required for me to complete, read and submit each week for each course. I put all of these on the master list under each course name for me to keep track of. For my A Little Touch of Gold section I write down the main things I have to complete each week as well which are my 2 blog posts, 7 instagram posts, and my content day where I shoot any pictures for the week.

I then refer to my planner where I have written down specific events and important dates and add those in the ‘additional section’. This can include quizzes, tests, or assignments that are due for that specific week. I also include additional things I have to do for my business such as the clients I have to style or additional content such as hauls or Instagram stories I want to film. I also add in birthdays that are coming up that week, any get togethers with friends, or appointments I have.

With this Master list I then start to mark off what is urgent. By urgent they have to get done within the first half of the week (Sunday-Wedneday) and less urgent meaning they can get done within the last half of the week (Thursday-Saturday). This is usually based on deadlines, how long the task is going to take to complete and its importance.

I then make a list of what I hope to complete each day. I usually get into rhythm of what I complete each day for each week . For example Mondays are for writing a blog posts and doing my finance and fashion course work; Tuesdays are for shooting content and doing my retail course work etc. This is a very rough list however as sometimes things take less or more time to complete. I always do prioritize assignments/ submissions at the start of the week since I can give myself more grace for things such as readings or cleaning for later in the week. As you can see lists really are your friend when it comes to staying organized. The satisfaction of crossing things off is a rush you can’t get from anything else haha.

I simply find this master list the most effective way to keep track of everything. You know what you are automatically going to be doing each week as well as anything additional things you have to make time for. It’s all laid out for you so you don’t forget anything.

Here is the “Master List” Template I created for you can download!

DO WHAT IS MOST EASY TO PUSH OFF FIRST

I am now going to touch upon how I make time for fitness and self care and that is to do it first thing in the morning. The reason why I say this is because as humans, the easiest thing for us to do is push aside taking care of ourselves. I know this happens to all of us, our day gets started, we get into the rhythm of the day where stopping to get a workout in or do a face mask can get easily talked out of. What I like to do to prevent this from happening is get it done right in the morning before my day starts. I wake up, put on my workout clothes right away, eat some breakfast and go to get a workout in. Afterwards I do one thing for self care, this can be a face mask, watching a youtube video or reading a chapter of a book. Once I have done those things I get can started with my day and start checking things off my to do list. Make yourself a priority, you will feel so much better knowing your workout is done for the day and you will feel more at peace taking minute for yourself. I see fitness as a form of self care so it all rolls into one. I also highly recommend getting yourself a training program for working out, this way you don’t have to waste time figuring out what you have to do each day. This goes back to my point of working ahead.

GIVE YOURSELF GRACE

Overall I think the most important thing I try to remember is to give myself grace. Things do pop up last minute, school work or blog work may take longer then I expected, technology issues can occur etc. All of these things are normal but I just remind myself that I am trying my best. This relates to self care as well. To me self care is listening to how I am feeling mentally and physically. Sometimes I am ready to grind, get work done and be productive; other times I am tired, lacking motivation and sluggish. When the latter moments happen I know I am pushing myself too hard and I need to take a step back. For me this is taking an afternoon off to go shopping with a friend, going to Starbucks to get a coffee or having a slower morning and reading look. Life is to be enjoyed, not to be stressed out and working yourself 100% all the time. I don’t know about anyone else but this actually slows me down, causes me to produce bad work and does not make me a good person to myself and others when I do. Yes of course there are moments when you have to push yourself cause of a deadline or its a commitment you already made but put yourself first. Remind yourself that it will all get done, it always does.