Have you ever felt like you have too much to do, and not enough time to do it? I’ve been feeling that way a lot lately. The scientific term for that feeling of scarcity is “time famine.” You might be thinking the idea of time scarcity doesn’t make sense… After all, many countries are still in some form of COVID lockdown, so shouldn’t we have tons of free time? But many scientific studies have shown increases in time famine recently. And those same studies show that not having enough time has a negative effect on your happiness and overall health. Here are 4 tips on how to deal with time famine – while increasing your happiness in the process.
Mercedes
Don’t overdo your schedule
This is one of the biggest challenges for me. I’m a very goal-oriented person, and for as long as I can remember I put a lot of pressure on myself to accomplish things. So I often find myself overloading my to-do list with 10 tasks, and then getting frustrated when I can only finish 9. There are a couple of way to approach making sure you don’t overdo your schedule:
- Manage the goals you set for yourself. This one is probably the most straightforward, but make sure you don’t set too many goals! Look at what actually NEEDS to be completed today, this week, or this month, and prioritize. Once you’ve made your list, be ruthless in crossing out the things that will not add value to your life or your work.
- Try to find activities that satisfy more than one goal. You may want to spend more time with a significant other, as well as learn a new hobby. So why not combine those goals? I’ve found a couple of things my husband and I both like to do – like cook new recipes or learn Greek – and planned time for us together.
- Remove conflicting goals, and goals that cause too much pressure. This sort of goes hand-in-hand with being realistic. Consider making sure that your goals don’t conflict with each other – for example, trying new dessert recipes combined with losing weight – as well as making sure the goals are realistic. This will help alleviate any unnecessary pressure you might be putting on yourself.
Invest in time saving purchases
Get someone else to do those daily tasks that you loathe. If you hate cleaning, pay for a cleaning service. If you hate shopping, order grocery delivery. You can even get a service like Task Rabbit to pick up your dry cleaning or organize your closet.
There have been many studies showing that people who spend money on time-saving services report more happiness and greater life satisfaction. You might feel guilty or uncomfortable paying someone to do a task you don’t like; I certainly felt that way at the beginning. But valuing your time over money is one way to shift your mindset. Exactly how much is your time worth? I would much rather pay someone €50 to do the deep cleaning in my apartment, so that I can have those precious hours back to spend valuable time with friends or learning a new language.
You may also think that it’s out of your price range. But you might be surprised that there are plenty of inexpensive time saving services. Grocery delivery is one example. If you already have Amazon Prime, their grocery delivery service is included. In the Netherlands, Albert Heijn will delivery for as low as €2.50, and Instacart in the US is only $3.99. That’s cheaper than a cup of coffee! So ask yourself – will it make you happier to buy an espresso, or to have an hour of your week back to spend on a hobby?
Optimize your mornings
I was NEVER a morning person, so if you like to sleep in, I totally feel you. But if you aren’t optimizing your mornings, you’re not making the best use of your valuable time.
The idea of morning routines have been a big trend over the past year. Many people – including myself – have tried to add more structure to their lives to compensate for the uncertainty in COVID. I have established a lot of healthy morning habits, like working out, eating a mindful breakfast, self-care face masks, and journaling. But at some point I found myself spending too much time on my routine. So as I mentioned in my last monthly reflection, a friend recently inspired me to simplify my morning routine and remove habits. Give yourself grace and recognize that it’s okay not to workout every day, or that journaling a couple of times a week is still beneficial.
And if you haven’t established a morning routine yet, then the best way to optimize your mornings is (don’t hate me) waking up early! Try investing in a daylight alarm clock to easy yourself awake (this is the one that I have), and follow some of these tips for reducing your anxiety. Trust me – once you start using your mornings for things that are important to you, you’ll realize how much time you really do have in a day.
Learn to say no
This is going to be a tough one for most people. You may say yes to a work assignment because you want that promotion (or worse, for fear of losing your job). You may say yes to that late night with friends because you’re afraid of missing out.
But some of the most successful people in the world have learned to prioritize and say no. In fact, Warren Buffet famously said “successful people say no to almost everything”. Try to minimize distractions and focus on what’s important. For example, if you have a big high priority project at work, spend the majority of your time making sure that project is impactful and executed well. And make sure to be clear to your co-workers and boss about how you are using your time. If you have a few best friends and many acquaintances, try to prioritize the interactions that will be most meaningful to you.
Another way to approach “saying no” is to limit phone time or mindless scrolling on social media. I turned off my phone alerts for email and Instagram, and it’s been a huge time saver. I also designate specific times in my day to check emails and social media alerts. If you find yourself constantly feeling anxious, check out my other recommendations in this post.
Further resources
If you’re interested in learning more about this topic, I highly suggest listening to this podcast episode from The Happiness Lab. It was my first introduction to the idea of time famine, and I found it to be helpful context. I also recommend the two books listed below.
- For Whom the Alarm Clock Tolls podcast by The Happiness Lab
- Overwhelmed: Work, Love and Play When No One Has the Time book by Brigid Schulte
- Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity book by David Allen
I hope you found this helpful – and if you liked this post, please share it on social media!
Outfit details:
Similar cream oversized sweater | Similar beige over the knee socks | Ikea chair
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