Time Tidbits: The Time Bandit Solution

Disclosure: I received complimentary products to facilitate this post. All opinions are my own.

If you're like most parents, you have more tasks to do than time to do them in. But you may actually have more time than you think, thanks to Time Bandits. The Time Bandit Solution highlights many common things that steal away our time - and some powerful solutions to overcome them.

The biggest takeaway I got from the book was the concept of Time Locking - setting aside uninterrupted blocks of the day to work on urgent tasks that require concentration. It's too easy to fall into the trap of answering everything as it comes, being distracted, and not really getting anything done. As a mom, I've often started to straighten up one room, only to find a broken toy, then go to fix that toy, only to see I have five unanswered emails, then realize that I forgot to write something on the grocery list, and on and one throughout the day. Then at the end of the day, I don't have the energy to work on one of the major projects I'm trying to complete, like a grad school class. By locking time early in the day for the grad school class, and saving the minor things until the end of the day, I can actually be more productive.

The book not only details this concept (as well as ways to bring it up to your boss and co-workers), but it also discusses Focal Locking and the Mental Hygiene Process to help clear your mind and prepare it to be more effective. Check out excerpts of the book for more, and pre-order it on Amazon if you like what you read!