I just caught myself saying, as I have many times before, that “there aren’t enough hours in the day.” I often think if only I could function off of 4 hours of sleep and could be totally productive during all my time awake that I might really get some things done. But alas, I am a 6-8 hour sleeper for sure. I guess the question becomes not how to find more hours in the day, but how to maximize the time you do have.

For example, I am finally getting to today’s blog, but only have a few minutes because I want to dash off to the gym for a quick run and Pilates class. I started my day around 7:30 a.m. and feel very good about all that I got done, but I was really hoping to rearrange the kitchen furniture tonight in addition to getting in a load of laundry. I was also supposed to sign up for Scuba lessons and do some research for a family event, neither of which got done today. I, like nearly everyone else I know, always try to cram too much into one day only to continually discover that there is just never enough time.

The weekend was a fantastic blend of travel, family, running, friends, and even a little relaxation, but there is still a long “to do” list of weekend work that I couldn’t fit in. So I sit here wondering how to balance it all? Family, friends, exercise, work, pets, hobbies, housework… I’m guessing we all have a similar list. I’ve taken classes and gone through routines and programs that teach various ways to handle time management, to achieve balance, to set goals, and they are all good for a little while. In the end, you always have to decide what you’re willing to compromise on, what you’re willing to say ‘yes’ and ‘no’ to, and how you will prioritize your time.

I’m always open to new ideas though. How do you balance your time? Any tricks to maximizing the limited hours in each day that you want to share?