No one understands the need for time management better than women trying to juggle the demands of everyday life. At the end of the day, the list of “to dos” certainly isn’t crossed off for most of us. From month-end reports to dirty diapers, research papers to putting dinner on the table, there’s always something more we can be doing.

And yet, despite the laundry list of tasks and the daily challenges of jobs, kids, potentially school – and yes, the men in our lives – we make it work. The question is – can we be handling all our responsibilities better?

Let’s take a look at some of the best ways to manage time:

1. Budget – You budget your money, so why not budget your time? Starting off the week, or even the day, with a solid plan to execute is important. When you give yourself a goal to achieve for the day, it often becomes more attainable. Get into a rhythm and determine a schedule. If you block off time to execute items on your list, you’ll become more efficient. Remember – this includes taking time for yourself or with your family.
2. Prioritize – Every evening look at your calendar and to do list for the next day and analyze what’s most important, what’s least important and what accomplishments will make you satisfied or happy with your day. Surprises are going to come up, so be flexible. In your prioritization, be sure to separate what has to be done and what could be done each day, week or even month. Find a balance between executing the items that are fun and easy with the more difficult tasks to keep from getting bogged down.
3. Know when to throw the to do list out the window – When the schedule gets too full and all the tasks seem like priorities, it may be time to take a step back and take some time for yourself. Maybe it’s five minutes to catch your breath, an hour to read a book or a day without a single to-do list in sight – no matter the length of time, we must step away from the stress and pressure and remember all the good things we have. Enjoy a day with the kids at the park or a night on the couch without opening your textbook.