The Key to Efficient Time Management: Discover Your 'Why’

Time is one of our most valuable resources, and it often feels like there's never enough. For women physicians, working moms, and busy women in general, the pressure to balance professional responsibilities with personal commitments is overwhelming! For me, each day is a delicate dance of managing patient care, attending meetings, helping take kids to and fro, and finding moments for self-care. We constantly juggle these roles, trying to squeeze every drop out of each day. This relentless pace often leaves us feeling stretched thin, perpetually behind, and struggling to keep up with our endless to-do lists.  

The conventional wisdom around time management suggests that the key to mastering our schedules lies in meticulous planning, setting priorities, and eliminating distractions. While these strategies are undoubtedly useful, they often fall short when applied to the complex lives of women with multifaceted roles. What if the secret to efficient time management is not just about better scheduling or cutting out distractions? What if it starts with something much deeper: understanding your ‘why’?  

The truth is, that efficient time management goes beyond just organizing our day. It requires us to delve deeper into the motivations that drive our actions. Understanding our ‘why’—the core reasons behind what we do—can transform how we approach our time. This introspective approach helps us align our daily activities with our most profound values and goals, creating a more meaningful and purposeful life. At the highly anticipated BE 2024 Women’s CME Conference, you will have the opportunity to explore and refine your 'why.' This transformative event is designed to empower you to take control of your life once and for all. With inspiring keynote speakers, enlightening panel discussions, intimate breakout sessions, and personalized coaching opportunities, this conference provides you with the tools you need to thrive permanently. 

For busy women, especially those in demanding careers like medicine or those balancing the dual roles of career and family, clarifying the ‘why’ within us will change the game. When we understand what truly matters to us, we can make more intentional choices about where to invest our time and resources. By focusing on our ‘why,’ we create a framework that guides our decisions and actions and brings peace and purpose to our daily routines, helping us navigate our busy lives with greater clarity and confidence.  

The Importance of Discovering Your 'Why'  

Discovering our purpose, or our ‘why’, is about identifying what drives us, what we are passionate about, and what gives our lives meaning. When we understand our core motivations, it helps us prioritize tasks and make decisions that align with our true values. Instead of just trying to get through the day by checking off tasks on our to-do lists, we start focusing on what genuinely matters to us. This shift from simply managing time to living with purpose can bring a profound sense of fulfillment and satisfaction.  

When we know our purpose, time management becomes more than just about being efficient. It transforms into a tool for creating a life that reflects our deepest goals and desires. We become more intentional with our time, ensuring that our actions contribute to our overall happiness and well-being. This might mean dedicating more time to activities that nurture our passions, spending quality moments with our family, or taking steps towards long-term career aspirations. By aligning our actions with our purpose, we not only enhance our productivity but also cultivate a sense of balance and contentment, making every moment count in a more meaningful way.  

If this resonates with you, having someone to share this journey with can make a huge difference. This year, I know change can be fun and exciting, so I’m thrilled to introduce the BE24 Referral Program. When you refer a new attendee to BE24, both you and your referral will receive an exclusive invitation to a private event hosted by me. But that’s not all—participants in the referral program will also have a chance to win a luxurious spa day at BE24. What a treat, right? 

5 Ways to Achieve Efficient Time Management  

Efficient time management goes beyond schedules and to-do lists. It is about discovering your ‘why’ and aligning your actions with your core values and goals. Here are five ways to achieve efficient time management:  

1. Prioritize and Delegate  

Prioritizing tasks is essential for managing our busy lives. By identifying the most important and urgent tasks that need immediate attention, we can focus our efforts where they matter most. Start each day by listing your tasks and categorizing them based on urgency and importance. Tackle high-priority tasks first before moving on to less critical activities. This approach helps us make steady progress on key responsibilities and prevents us from feeling overwhelmed by a long list of tasks.  

Delegation is another crucial strategy for maintaining balance and efficiency. At work, do not hesitate to delegate tasks to capable colleagues or team members. This helps manage our workload and empowers others, fostering a collaborative environment. Similarly, at home, try involving family members in household chores and responsibilities. Sharing the load can significantly reduce stress and create a sense of teamwork within the family. By delegating effectively, we free up time and mental space to focus on tasks that require our unique skills and attention.  

If you find optimizing your time to be a challenge, my upcoming course launching this October is tailored just for you. Whether you are a woman physician, a working mom, or a professional woman feeling burnt out and seeking improved boundaries and balance, RISE: MASTERMIND is designed with you in mind. Secure your spot on our waitlist today! 

2. Try Time-Blocking 

Time-blocking means setting aside specific blocks of time for different activities. For example, we can dedicate certain hours to work tasks, set aside time for family, schedule self-care activities, and reserve blocks for household chores. This method creates a clear structure for our day, making it easier to balance various responsibilities. By planning our day in advance, we ensure that each important area of our lives gets the attention it needs. Time-blocking also helps prevent tasks from overlapping or dragging on too long, which can cause stress and inefficiency. 

Once our schedule is set, it is important to stick to it as closely as possible. Following our planned time blocks helps maintain focus and ensure that important tasks are completed without unnecessary delays. Need some help with better managing your time? Check out my Time Management Course, where I share my top strategies and tips for staying organized and productive.  

3. Technology is Our Friend 

The internet and technology are here to stay, whether we like it or not. Embracing this reality, we can see that technology is our friend when it comes to managing our chaotic schedules. Digital calendars are fantastic for scheduling meetings, appointments, and reminders. Syncing our work and personal calendars helps us avoid conflicts and ensures we do not miss important events. This seamless integration keeps our lives organized and reduces the stress of juggling multiple schedules. With everything in one place, planning our day becomes a breeze, allowing us to see upcoming commitments and make adjustments as needed.  

Productivity apps are also another wonderful tool for staying on top of things. Task managers help us keep track of what needs to be done, note-taking apps let us capture important information on the go, and time trackers ensure we are using our time wisely. By leveraging these tools, we can stay ahead of our responsibilities and make the most of our time, leading to a more productive and less stressful life. 

Maximize technology while writing down your plans, listen to some music curated for you, or tune in to the latest season of my podcast. Whatever helps you stay focused and motivated, make sure to incorporate it into your daily routine. Stay organized, stay inspired, and watch your goals come to life.  

4. Practice Self-care and Boundaries 

What makes busy working moms like us sane? Having time for self-care and setting boundaries. Setting boundaries means clearly defining when we are on the clock and when we are off, and making the people around us understand these boundaries. It is all about keeping work from taking over our personal time, giving us the space we need to unwind and recharge. When we communicate these boundaries, we create a healthy divide between our professional and personal lives, which is crucial for keeping stress at bay and avoiding burnout. 

And let us not forget self-care—it is just as important. Make time for breaks, exercise, and activities you enjoy. Whether it is a quick walk, hitting the gym, or simply chilling with a good book, taking care of ourselves keeps our energy up and stress down. Building self-care into our daily routine ensures we are ready, both physically and mentally, to tackle whatever comes our way.  

Need some self-care ideas for yourself? Check out my blog where I share my favorite ways to relax and destress. From indulging in a luxurious bubble bath to taking a long walk in nature, there's something for everyone. You deserve to take care of yourself and prioritize your well-being, so do not hesitate to explore these self-care tips and incorporate them into your routine. Your mental and emotional health will thank you for it.

5. Make No a Sentence 

When we face new requests or responsibilities, it is important to pause and consider if they fit into our priorities and available time. By evaluating each request, we can make informed decisions that align with our goals and commitments. It is essential to communicate openly and honestly with others about our limitations and what we can realistically take on. This way, we can maintain a healthy balance and ensure that we are dedicating ourselves to what is only important. 

Sometimes, saying no is the best choice to maintain balance. It is perfectly okay to decline tasks or commitments that could overwhelm our schedule. Politely declining or negotiating deadlines shows respect for our current responsibilities and helps us avoid spreading ourselves too thin. Learning this skill is not just about managing our time; it is about prioritizing our well-being and ensuring we can give our best to the things that matter most.  

Need some help on how to firmly say no and establish boundaries for yourself? Check out my book,  Brave Boundaries. In this book, you will learn practical techniques and strategies for setting boundaries in various situations, from personal relationships to professional interactions. With relatable examples and actionable steps, this will guide you in asserting yourself confidently and effectively. Say goodbye to feeling overwhelmed or taken advantage of, and hello to a more empowered and assertive you.  

5 Ways to Achieve Efficient Time Management 

When we clearly define and understand our 'why' it serves as a powerful tool that guides us to achieve our meaningful goals and helps us prioritize tasks that align with our deeper purpose. This alignment between our goals and values creates a sense of clarity and focus, allowing us to manage our time more efficiently. 

Instead of being overwhelmed by a long list of tasks, we can discern which commitments are important and impactful. By constantly reminding ourselves of our 'why' we stay motivated and resilient, even when faced with challenges or distractions. 

The intentional and more meaningful way of managing our time starts when we dig deeper and connect with ourselves.   

Sister, you can be more, do more, and achieve more. It all starts with your WHY.