The older I get, the more valuable my time is to me. When I was a kid and even a young adult, time was as abundant as the spare change accumulating in the water jug by my Dad’s desk. Any time I misspent was no more costly than a penny dropping out of my pocket.
Now that I’m a work-at-home mother of three, my time is worth my weight in gold and I protect it as fervently as a security guard at Fort Knox!
To ensure that my time is well spent, I manage it as I would my money.
Save Time
I save time both personally and professionally. Personally, I pay a housecleaner, pre-order school supplies and upload my photos directly to albums. Professionally, I save time by multi-tasking, maintaining an organized office, and a typed to do list with daily, weekly and monthly tasks so when I sit down to work I don’t waste time deciding what to work on.
Invest Time
I invest my time in personal and professional endeavors that will pay dividends in the future. Personally, I invest my time in ways that will benefit my family in the short-term and long-term. These personal investments include reading to my children, letting my kids play travel soccer, volunteer work, exercising, attending mass weekly, and seizing the moment with my hubby. Professionally, I invest my time in promoting my business, providing good customer service and building a community.
Budget Time
When it comes to time, we typically don’t say “budget.” Instead we say “schedule” or “manage,” but the premise is the same regardless of which word you use. Whether it’s time or money, it is essential to keep track of how you’re spending it to make sure it is being spent properly. While I use a spreadsheet to manage our budget, I use a color-coded calendar to manage my time commitments. (An online calendar for professional activities and an offline calendar for personal activities.) The different colors enable me to assess how I am spending my time and to adjust if needed.
Spend Time
Time, like money, shouldn’t be hoarded like Ebenezer Scrooge, it should be spent wisely! Professionally, I like to spend my time writing, researching and networking. Personally, the best time I spend is with my family going on outings, vacations, and just hanging around the house playing games. On days when I’ve spent most of the day playing and not working, I don’t consider it wasting time, I think of it as splurging! Every now and then it’s okay to splurge with money and time. That’s why we have Disney World and Godiva chocolate! 
Find Time
Finally, finding extra time in my day fills me with the same kind of glee as when I find a $20 bill in the pocket of a coat I haven’t worn in six months. For example, I’m always thrilled with unexpected cancellations like when soccer is rained out. While I love going to my daughters’ soccer games, an unexpected night off is truly a precious gift. Time is a valuable commodity and should be treated as such!