5 Time Management Strategies: Organize, Prioritize and Simplify Your Daily Life!

10 September, 2024

In the hustle and bustle of parenting, time management can often be a real headache. Between children's activities, professional responsibilities and domestic obligations, finding a balance can sometimes seem downright impossible! Today, while we obviously don't promise you that time management will suddenly be infallible, we present you with proven strategies developed by renowned authors, who offer various practical solutions to better organize your time and thus reduce daily stress. Good time management will indeed allow you to work smarter (and not necessarily harder!), so that you can accomplish more in less time.

The Eisenhower Matrix: Prioritizing the Urgent and the Important


One of the most famous time management methods is certainly the Eisenhower Matrix, popularized by the 34th President of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower. This matrix divides tasks into four categories: Urgent and Important, Not Urgent but Important, Urgent but Not Important, and Neither Urgent nor Important. For parents, in particular, this matrix represents a valuable tool for effectively prioritizing daily tasks. By trying to apply this matrix as often as possible, you will be able to easily focus your energy on what really matters to your family!

The Pomodoro Method: Maximizing Productivity in Intervals


Developed by Francesco Cirillo, the Pomodoro method is based on the idea of ​​working in 25-minute intervals, called "Pomodoros", each interval followed by a short break. For parents, often interrupted by children or other obligations, this technique allows them to maintain a high level of concentration while allowing themselves moments of rest.

Getting Things Done: Freeing the Mind from Chaos


David Allen, author of the acclaimed book Getting Things Done, offers a five-step method: Collect, Clarify, Organize, Review, and Act. The idea is to capture all your tasks, big or small, and organize them in a way that frees your mind from the constant stress of having to remember what still needs to be done.


The 2-Minute Rule: Don't Procrastinate Small Tasks


Also derived from the “Getting Things Done” method, the 2-minute rule consists of immediately doing any task that can be accomplished in two minutes or less. This rule is particularly effective for lightening the mental load and preventing the accumulation of small chores. For example, responding to a text message, putting away a few toys, or even unloading the dishwasher are tasks that can easily be handled in two minutes, leaving you with more time to devote to more important activities.


Pareto's Law: Focus on the Essentials


The Pareto law, or the 80/20 rule, states that 20% of your efforts produce 80% of your results. Applied to time management, this rule encourages you to identify and focus on the tasks that have the greatest impact on your daily life. So, make sure to identify the tasks that bring the most value to your family life rather than scattering your time on several small tasks that are often not so important in the end.


Time management is of course a constant challenge for parents, but with the use of effective strategies, it can quickly become easier. No matter which method you choose, make sure to adapt it to your reality; take the time to try out the different strategies, adjust them to your needs, and find the one that will finally help you better navigate your family life!

To learn more:


- The book “Getting things done” by David Allen

- The book “The Pomodoro technique” by Francesco Cirillo