While many of us are aware of the strategies that could save us hours each week, implementing them remains a challenge. From the necessity of getting childcare to structuring your ideal week, implementing a reliable task management system, and leveraging time tracking tools, we’re exploring how to turn knowledge into action. 

In this episode, we are diving into the 4th goal in our Goals Simplified Series that I think every mom photographer needs to have to make this year a huge success. If you’ve missed any of the previous episodes in this series, they will be linked in the show notes below. 

You’ll see some simple yet impactful steps to streamline your day, such as setting specific times for email checks and minimizing digital distractions.

Join us as we uncover how to efficiently allocate your time, ensuring your photography business thrives without sacrificing precious family moments.

Plus, I’ve got some super straightforward steps to help you cut through the clutter and make more room for the stuff that matters—like turning off those endless email notifications and giving social media the boot (at least from your phone).

Things to Do To Up-Level Your Time Management:

1. First and Foremost: Get Childcare 

There are free options for childcare, there are paid options, there are cheaper options, there are more expensive options. There are options for everyone.

Having childcare is going to free up your mental energy. And when your mental energy is clear, you have more ability to be wise with your time. When you have littles running around needing your attention and your help, your attention is split.

And so you just feel like you’ve never have the brain power to do both. And so I want you to be present where your feet are. So if you are in mom mode, I want you to be fully present in mom mode. If you are in work mode, I want you to be fully present in work mode.

2. Create Your Ideal Week 

What this looks like is you’re going to get a blank sheet of paper, and you’re going to write out all the days of the week, and you’re going to start to map out each and every day of the week and what you want it to look like.

You can set up your week in time blocks for each part of your day, and what you need to accomplish. You’ll be amazed how much time you actually have when you map it all out specifically and strategically.

I know it sounds daunting, but if you take the time to do this, you are going to feel so much more peaceful because you have a plan.

Voxer Question of the Week: Do you have an ideal week yet? If not, why? What’s holding you back? What’s the root of the problem?

3. Time Track

I think it’s really helpful for you to be able to track your time, I use a free app called Toggl.

I actually have been using toggle indefinitely ever since I started because I love being able to look back on my week. And it creates a little graph for you. And it shows you percentages.

If you haven’t tried tracking your time yet, I really encourage you to do so and see where you’re really spending your time.

Lean into why you keep hearing things like this from different teachings and coaches, but you aren’t implementing them.

Simple Actions to Give You More Time in Your Day:

1. Charge your phone in another room. Use apps like Refocus or Well Spent to set limits for phone usage 

2. Turn Off Email Notifications. Set an alarm 1-2x per day to check emails.

3. Delete Social Media Apps from Your Phone – You’ll be amazed how much time you get back in your day when you’re not on socials.

I continually found myself wanting to respond quickly to people, but in the process, I realized I was wasting so much time on my phone because I got super distracted when I popped on just to do one thing.

Can you relate?

I really, truly believe that by the end of the day, when we are allowing ourselves to be wasting those like in-between moments on social media, we are draining our mental energy.

Complimentary Episodes 

Ep 125. Get More Time in Your Day – https://thepurposegathering.com/getmoretime/

Ep 130. My Favorite Productivity Tools – https://thepurposegathering.com/productivitytools/

Goals Simplified Series:

1. Ep. 167. Goals Simplified – 5 Must-Have Goals for Mom Photographers in 2024
2. Ep. 168. The Goal that Changes Everything: Goals Simplified Part 2
3. Ep. 169. Create a Morning Routine that Fosters Wellness: Goals Simplified Part 3
4. Ep. 171. Implement Weekly CEO Dates For Strategic Growth

Resources:

1. Looking for tips and strategies for making motherhood and business easier? Join Our Free Community – The Organized Mom Photographer
2. Need support managing your time well and creating systems to streamline your Photography Business? Join the Efficient Mom Photographer (12 Week Group Coaching Program)
3. Message me on Voxer (My username is afreehan)
4. Join the Waitlist for my Free Masterclass, The Profit Shift: 3 Strategies to Optimize Your Limited Time and Maximize Your Revenue as a Mom
5. Have a question for me? Or a specific struggle you’re dealing with? I’ll address your question on the podcast. Submit your ‘Ask Ashley’ question here
6. Local to Gilbert/Mesa Arizona (For Mom Business Owners) Join our in person membership community