The Marriage & Motherhood Podcast: How to Find Time for Yourself as a Busy Mom Using Time Confetti

In this episode, I am joined by Jill Wright to discuss the concept new to me called time confetti that allows us to reclaim our time to move our life forward in ways we yearn to do but have difficulty finding the time for.

Welcome to the World of Time Confetti

We've all been there, haven't we? Wondering how to get more done or feeling guilty about not using our time wisely as we endlessly scroll through social media. Jill brought this term "time confetti", a term popularized by Brigid Schulte and later studied by Ashley Whillans, and it's been enlightening. It's all about recognizing those scattered moments in our day and using them for something meaningful.

It's a concept that compares our fragmented bits of free time to tiny pieces of confetti. These little pockets of time are easy to overlook but can become opportunities for personal development, relaxation, or simply recharging.

Finding Balance in a Juggling Act

Managing the demands of motherhood and being a productive partner in your marriage can feel like a constant juggling act. Perhaps you've wondered about when you're working hard versus heading into burnout. It's important to strike a balance that allows you to be the best version of yourself without feeling like you're losing time or missing out on life.

Through our chat, Jill shared how she manages her days using time confetti to integrate everything from prioritizing self-care to handling household admin tasks. You don't need hours set aside to focus on yourself or tackle those never-ending to-dos. Instead, learn to leverage even the smallest moments to do something fulfilling.

The Power of Lists and Intentional Living

Jill's approach to using time confetti involves being intentional. She maintains lists on her phone where she jots down activities that take five to ten minutes and bring joy or value. It could be simple things like reading a few pages of a book, doing a quick meditation, or sending a voice note to a friend.

Why lists? They serve as a ready-made menu of options for when you find yourself with a few free minutes. Think of it as having a personalized toolkit that you can reach into whenever you want to shake things up.

Personalizing the Time Confetti Concept

What I love about Jill’s method is it's not one-size-fits-all. You can categorize your list based on your core values or interests. Whether it's personal growth, fun, or practical tasks, you decide what you want to focus on in those golden moments.

This approach is perfect for moments when you feel overwhelmed or stretched too thin. It’s like a friendly nudge that reminds you there’s always space to recharge or grow, even on the busiest of days.

Embracing Neurodiversity and Understanding Our Needs

We also delved into how neurodivergent brains, like those with ADHD or sensory processing disorders, experience time. If you ever struggle with time blindness or find it hard to transition between tasks, know that you're not alone. Recognizing and accepting our unique ways of processing time helps in finding strategies that actually work for us.

For instance, using tools like reminders, timers, or visual schedules can help guide us through daily tasks without the added anxiety of forgetting or running out of time.

Why Time Confetti Matters

Incorporating time confetti into our daily routines helps us live more intentionally, making sure we’re continuously filling our own bucket as well as handling responsibilities. It’s about recognizing that self-care and productivity are not opposites but can coexist harmoniously throughout our day.

So, friend, I invite you to join me in making a time confetti list. Let’s share our lists, inspire each other, and lift one another up. After all, rising tides lift all boats, right? Together, we can transform our days from feeling rushed and overwhelmed to enriched and satisfying, one piece of confetti at a time.

Until next time, reflect on the snippets of time in your day and make them work for you. You deserve to design and live your best life on your terms.