Time Management Mindset: 3 Shifts You Can Make for More Productive Days

If you’re a mom, the days can feel impossibly long when you’re in the thick of answering questions, managing needs, and putting out fires. But somehow you still reach the end wondering where all the time went and why nothing you actually wanted to accomplish got done. 

While we can’t magically add more hours to the day, there are three mindset shifts that help you get more fluid with your time, set the right expectations, and make the most of your days.

If you're like many moms that I work with, you fall into one of two camps. Number one, you either set the bar extremely high, planning your life down to the minute, keep your routine for a few days before burning out because it's really hard and it's just not sustainable.

Or number two, you're allergic to routines and the very thought of planning your day feels too rigid and too constraining. You might find yourself drifting through your days, reacting to whatever comes your way instead of intentionally guiding your time and energy. 

Either way, whatever camp you're in, it can leave you feeling overwhelmed, unproductive, and constantly on the brink of chaos. But what if I told you there's a better way, a middle ground where you can embrace flexibility while still having a good sense of structure. Today, I'm going to share some mindset shifts that can transform how you view and manage your time, helping you create a rhythm that works for you and your family. 

‍Let's Talk About Routines

A routine is simply a set of actions or tasks you perform at specific times each day. For many of us moms, the very word “routine” raises red flags because our days hardly ever look exactly the same. So we create a routine that can feel unattainable and unrealistic, especially if you fall into camp number two (you know, highly allergic to routines).

But what if we could approach this differently? Today, I'll share three key shifts that you can implement right away. These shifts will help you see your time in a new light, plan your time strategically, and approach your daily routines with renewed energy.

Shift Number One: How You View Your Time

We all have the same 1,440 minutes in a day. And as moms, we feel that the majority of those minutes are like a marathon. So how do we change this mentality?

Look at Time as Finite

Time is a limited resource. Once it's spent, you can't get it back. So instead of letting your days just happen to you, take control by consciously deciding how you want to use each and every single moment.

Ask yourself: Are you spending your time on things that matter to you, or are you just reacting to whatever comes up?

Shifting your mindset from "I have to" to "I choose to" can empower you to prioritize what truly matters to you.

The Power of 6™ Exercise 

Here's how you take control: make a list that actually works for your real life, not some impossible standard.

Enter the Power of 6™—my simple planning method that keeps you focused without the overwhelm. Here's how it works: each day, you plan three large objectives (your bigger priorities) and three small objectives (those quick wins that still need to get done). That's it. Six things that matter, not sixty. (Want to dive deeper? I've got a complete guide to the Power of 6™ method and a masterclass that breaks down this system step-by-step.)

Make your list of objectives and ask yourself if it's fulfilling to you or draining you. More often than not, we pack our day, give ourselves no room to breathe, and survive through it over-caffeinated and stressed.

During your power down hour the night before, make your Power of 6 list and ask yourself: Is this how I choose to spend my 1,440 minutes tomorrow?

If the answer is no, then what changes do you need to make? What commitments do you need to adjust? And what action steps do you need to take?

Get Off the Hamster Wheel

My challenge to you is to get off the hamster wheel of chaos and change the pace. Build in buffer room around activities and boundaries for yourself and your life. This will help you to not only be more present, but to see your time as valuable versus expendable.

If you know what your value system is (grab ALIGN if you need to figure that out), that's going to help you determine how you want to lead with your time.

We get each and every single day once—how are you choosing to live it going forward?

Shift Number Two: How You Plan Your Time

Instead of planning your life down to the minute, which is a failing system, plan your time in chunks that give you breadth and buffer room. This is where that Power of 6 comes in again with the three large objectives and three small objectives.

Within the objective, assign the tasks that need to be completed based on the amount of time you have devoted. It helps you build proficiency by batching your time based on similar tasks, as well as mark off several tasks per objective, which makes it a momentum builder for you.

A Real Example

Say there's a bunch of family appointments you have to make, but haven't gotten to. Within one of your Power of 6 objectives for the day, you'll list out the calls you need to make (what I like to call life administrative tasks). So that would be the objective for the day: one of your Power of 6 life administrative tasks.

You may be making five different calls, which would be the tasks within your Power of 6 objective for the day. So you plan your Power of 6 in blocks of time by saying from 12 to 2, which would give you buffer space for those interruptions, versus saying "I'll do X task from 12 to 12:25."

Why Minute-by-Minute Planning Fails

Timing to the minute doesn't really give you the fluidity or flow in case of interruptions and derails your plans pretty quickly. When we go minute by minute, one shift creates chaos. So we want to make sure we build in a bucket of time and buffer room for interruptions. And just even if you're making five calls in a two hour period (making a call, taking some notes, taking a break, making another call) that's going to help create more fluidity and flow in your day.

Shift Three: How You Act Through Your Time

What are you noticing about yourself as you go through your day? In the evening, do a reflection to see what went right, what went wrong and how you felt throughout your day.

Do you ever have those evenings where it felt like everything just went really well and right during the day? Reflecting back upon the day can help you determine patterns of success you've created for yourself.

Finding Your Success Patterns

Is it the Power of 6 that's helping you build momentum? Or maybe you gave yourself ample time throughout the day and didn't feel rushed. Whatever that feeling of success means to you, we want to make note of it so we can duplicate it over and over. This is the importance of reflection.

Are we shooting for perfection every single day with all our objectives crossed off? No, we are seeking a lifestyle where we feel more on top of our game than not. So about 85 percent success, 15 percent chaos management and survival.

Let's Review

How you view your days is important. How you plan for the coming day is important. How you act through and reflect upon your day is important.

These three shifts are a game changer when it comes to us moms feeling like we are fluid and accomplishing a lot. It's not about a perfect daily routine, but rather keeping a fluid rhythm with your day. Knowing what's coming for the next day and being prepared is going to keep you on top of your game.

When Life Gets Derailed

Here's a great question: Do you get hit with something and get derailed?

I want you to ask yourself the next time this happens: What can I remove from my schedule today to best survive? And where can I place it in the coming days?

This is a necessary pivot in order for you to feel in control when life gets out of control. And as moms, this happens a good 15 percent of the time.

 It's not about a perfect daily routine, but rather keeping a fluid rhythm with your day, knowing what's coming for the next day and being prepared is going to keep you on top of your game. 

Ready to Take Control of Your Time?

It's time to implement these three shifts so you can feel more in control of your days, staying focused on what matters most, and finally creating rhythms that work with your busy life, not against it.

If you're wanting more help with how to structure your time, make sure you grab FLOW—my audio training and workbook that helps you break down some of these concepts even further, so you can create freedom and start seeing more success in your days.

And if you’re intrigued by my Power of 6™ Time Management System, be sure to check out my Power of 6™Journal and accompanying masterclass that breaks down this strategy even further and has helped so many of my clients take control of their days. 

Remember: we're not aiming for perfection. We're aiming for a life where you feel more on top of your game than not. Where you're choosing how to spend your time instead of letting it slip away. Where you have the freedom and flexibility to handle whatever comes your way.

Time to shift how you view, plan, and act through your time so you can lead yourself and your family well. 

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