Mastering the Clock: Time Management Tips for Busy Parents

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Are you constantly juggling family, work, and scouting responsibilities, wondering where all the hours in the day have gone? Trust me, I’ve been there. Managing time when you’ve got kids, meetings, events, and life pulling you in every direction can feel like an impossible task. But here’s the good news: it doesn’t have to be! With the right strategies in place, you can take control of your schedule and still have time for the things that matter most. And guess what? I’ve got all the best tips packed into my latest book A Single Parents Guide to Scouting!

In my guide book there are tons of tips and hacks to navigate this journey, here is a sneak peak.

Google calendar saved my sanity!

Google Calendar: Google Calendar is a flexible and widely-used app that works well for family scheduling. You can create multiple shared calendars, color-code events, and sync them across devices. It also integrates seamlessly with other Google services, making it easy to manage family activities along with work or personal schedules.

To best optimize any calendar we implemented Time Blocking. Here are 3 amazing resources:

“The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months” by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington. This book is all about setting short-term goals and using time blocking to execute them effectively. It breaks down tasks into manageable blocks, helping you stay focused and avoid procrastination, while guiding you to create time blocks for specific actions each day to meet your goals faster.

Use a Shared Family Calendar: Keeping a shared calendar—either a physical one at home or a digital one everyone can access—ensures the whole family is on the same page. Add Cub Scouts meetings, events, and deadlines to the calendar so everyone knows what’s coming up. Color-code the Cub Scouts activities to make them stand out, and set reminders to give you enough time to prepare. By visualizing the whole family’s schedule, it’s easier to manage conflicts and carve out time for Scouting without overwhelming the family.

Prioritizing is knowing What Truly Matters.

The first step to creating balance is recognizing that not everything holds the same weight. While it might feel like every task is urgent, the reality is that some things are simply more important than others.

Identify Your Non-Negotiables: These are the top priorities in your life—your work responsibilities, your child’s well-being, and family commitments like Cub Scouts. By identifying what absolutely cannot be sacrificed, you set the foundation for how to allocate your time.

Learn to Say No: The most powerful tools for maintaining balance is the ability to say no. It’s not about shutting out opportunities but about protecting your limited time for the things that really matter. Whether it’s turning down an extra work project or politely declining a non-essential Cub Scout task, saying no can free up your energy for your true priorities.

In today’s fast-paced world, managing your time can feel like an uphill battle—but it doesn’t have to be. With a little planning and the right mindset, you can stay on top of your schedule, reduce stress, and still make time for the things that matter most. Ready to take control of your day and master the art of time management? Grab your copy of my book today and discover practical strategies that can transform your routine from chaotic to calm!