Take Time to Prioritize

First, I want to note that today is World Mental Health Day, and the focus this year is on “40 Seconds of Action” to raise awareness about suicide and how each of us can help prevent it. That’s an idea that we can strongly support at Courage to Caregivers as we continue to promote conversations about living with mental illness. Here's an infographic to remind you that caregiver self-care is critical today (and every day)!

Of course, self-care for caregivers is part of that conversation, and this week’s topic – time management – is part of self-care. I’ve discovered from experience that I have to focus on controlling how I use my time if I want to be at my very best. For example, with everything that’s going on in my life right now, I still made sure to set some time aside to get this weekly email to you! I've appreciated all your replies, reaching out in care and concern and unconditional love and support. It's amazing to me, at these moments of life's greatest challenges, how important it is to be surrounded by a true community of support. Andrew's journey continues to be long and winding, yet, we are taking it moment by moment. 

I’ve been called the queen of multi-tasking, and one of my colleagues has mentioned that I seem to have “a lot of browsers open” in my head, all at the same time. While that can be a useful trait when circumstances require juggling several things at once, I do know that I’m far more effective if I can focus on just one thing at a time.
 
So I’ve set up time blocks for essential tasks, and that helps me STAY on task. Every other Monday morning I spend on payroll, followed by updating our finances in QuickBooks. I also schedule regular team meetings and calls with team members. Blocking my time in this way works for me, and maybe it can work for you, too.
 
Here are some additional time management tips:

• Schedule “me” time first. That’s not selfish, it’s survival.

• Define roles and responsibilities. If you share caregiving, parenting, or work responsibilities, make sure everyone is clear about expectations and areas of focus. 

• Expect the unexpected. Flexibility is essential, especially for caregivers. Give yourself some slack if things don’t go as planned. It’s never a failure if you learn from the experience. Just start again tomorrow!

Time management is important for everyone, and especially for caregivers. It helps us accomplish our goals by gaining greater control of how we spend our time. If done properly, time management can also help reduce stress.
 
Are there other ways you’ve discovered to help manage your time? I’d love to hear them.