Time to Get a Watch & Manage Your Time!

"Elegance is elimination." —Cristóbal Balenciaga

Are you always late? Do you feel there are never enough hours in the day? Do you wake up in a panic and have daunting dreams of missing that 9am meeting?

I feel you. Home girl (me) LOVES the “roll and go.” The get up, roll out of bed, pretend tasseled hair isn’t just for the runway, and rock the shabby chic clothing look. But, does this actually help my overall schedule? The answer is HELL NO!

If you want increase your peace of mind, have more sound sleep, create more time in the day, and decrease your anxiety, do these easy steps to go from “roll & no” to “impress & yes.”

Step 1. Get A Watch

Eliminating the unknown will add time to your day.

The first step to time management is always knowing what time it is (input see no, hear no, speak no evil monkey emojis). When you are acutely aware of the time, your concept for knowing when to be somewhere, how long it will take, and when to leave increases.

Similarly to working out. If you are told to just run and you don’t know how long, a 10 minute run can feel like an hour.

Step 2. Color Blocking

In fashion and time management you color block. Get a calendar, paper of electronic and color block your time. Create categories with colors and within those colors map out your entire day including free time to lounge and do whatever as well as obligatory time slots. Scheduling your time creates small time objectives that force you to complete the task during the allotted time period. Work hard to play hard!

For example: Pink is Personal, Lavender is Labor, Green is Gym

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Step 3: Time Gapping

Like flossing, your schedule deserves a little leeway between appointments. Leave 15min spacers in-between important meetings/events to decompress, regather, and adjust incase people disregard your time when their slot is over.

Step 4: Say No to Snooze

In my previous years I would set 10-12 morning alarms to go off every 3-5mins to wake myself up. Instead of feeling more rested from an extra 15 mins of sleep interrupted every 3 mins, I felt more exhausted and would do the classic head nod jerk barely staying conscious.

Set your alarm to go off at the same time everyday. The consistency will create a natural internal alarm clock and soon you won’t feel the need of an alarm clock (unless your like me and get anxiety thinking about waking up too late and need an alarm clock like a one year and their pacifier) or stare at the snooze button contemplating if doing your hair is really “worth it.”

Step 5: Plan ahead

Pack your gym bag, work bag, and plan your outfit the night before. Nothing says sweet dreams and having more time during the day like planning the night before. Although initially it may seem like more "work," it will create smoother transitions throughout your day adding time into your schedule.