8 Effective Tips to Manage a Lot Of Things at Once

Spreading yourself too thin is often times not a good idea. However, life gets busy and there comes a time when managing a lot of things at once is necessary.

Between taking care of family, maintaining relationships, working, and finding time for yourself and other hobbies, it can all get overwhelming.

So, how can you manage it?

Managing multiple things at once may seem difficult, but with the proper tools and techniques, they can help you stay on top of your responsibilities and commitments.

Are you feeling overwhelmed or stressed? Check out my post on ‘12 Things To Do When You’re Feeling Overwhelmed‘ to help ease your mind. 

Recommended Reads:

How to Find Your Purpose in Life When You Feel Lost

7 Things To Do Every Morning Before 9A.M.

How to Mentally Recharge After a Stressful Day: Feel-Good Guide

It is my fourth and final year as a student athlete in college. On top of being a full-time student athlete, I manage this blog and had a part-time job last semester.

It’s safe to say that it was a lot!

Although I loved what I did, there were times that I got overwhelmed.

However, I really had to learn how to manage all of these things in order to be successful. And I found a lot of ways to help me organize and manage these things.

Although your life may not look like mine, I’m sure that it can be just as busy and hard to manage. Juggling multiple things at once is not impossible but it can be overwhelming and stressful at times. 

That’s why I have rounded up 8 of the best tips and tricks to manage a lot of things at once and still be successful and stress-free.

How to Manage a Lot of Things at Once

1. Figure out your priorities

Prioritization helps you focus on important tasks by keeping them high on your priority so you can give them your full attention and focus.

The first thing you should do when you are juggling a lot of things is figure out your prioritizes. 

Is what your doing really important?

If it is…great! But if it not a priority, maybe you can put in on the back burner and revisit that task at a time when you aren’t as busy.

2. Have a planner

A planner is one of the best tools you can use to keep track of your tasks and to-do list. Penciling in what you need to do and assigning a certain time frame to get it done will ensure you aren’t wasting your time.

It is also easy to reference so you aren’t wondering what needs to get done throughout the day.

My favorite planner is a digital app called ‘Pocket Planner‘. Each weekend, I spend 5-10 minutes planning my week.

1. Fill in major tasks (Ex: Work hours, class times, appointments, etc.)
2. Add any secondary tasks (Ex: Going to the gym, homework, other hobbies, etc.)
3. Lastly, fill in all other tasks (Ex: Lunch with friends, grocery shopping, etc.)

Basically, you want to start with your highest priority/mandatory tasks first.

3. Understand your most productive hours in the day

Our bodies go through mental and physical changes throughout the day that determine when you feel tired, hungry and even productive. (This is called a circadian rhythm, in science terms.)

Work smarter and not harder by determining your peak hours of productivity, which usually only lasts 2-3 hours.

According to research, the typical peak hours fall between 9 and 11am. With the most unproductive hours hitting about 7 hours after you wake up.

However, these hours vary person to person. If you consider yourself an early riser, your peak hours might be earlier in the morning. If you consider yourself a night owl, your most productive hours may be later in the afternoon.

How to Find Your Peak:

• Pay close attention to your daily habits, energy levels, and focus throughout the day.
• Pick one task that you do daily. Try it at 8am, 12pm, 3pm, and 8pm. See which time seems to be the easiest and which one brings more energy and joy.

4. Have support

Support from family and friends can make such a big difference when you are trying to manage a lot of things at once.

You are not alone in your journey. 

Those people closest to you can help get you through the hard times. Talk to them and let them know everything that’s on your plate and if there is something they can do to help make is easier on you.

5. Use the weekends to get things done

Take advantage of your days off. Use that time to prepare yourself for the next week or finish anything you need to accomplish.

Weekends are about having fun and unwinding, but also about getting things done and keeping yourself on track.

Your weekends are important and you are probably looking forward to each one. So, make the most out your weekends. If you have some spare time, use that as an opportunity to get ahead of your work.

6. Make time to relax

Schedule time in your week to relax.

One of the worst things you can do is over-book yourself week after week. Eventually, your body and mind will feel it and it may lead to burnout.

It is easier to manage a lot of things if your mind is fresh and focused. If that means taking a moment to rest or relax during the day or at night, so be it.

Make sure you are taking time for yourself and not exhausting your body day after day.

7. Create boundaries of when to stop working each day

After you are done with everything to need to do in the day, clear your mind and avoid constantly thinking about all your responsibilities.

When you have a lot of things going to do, you may find yourself thinking about it while you are eating dinner or going to bed.

However, creating boundaries of your work times vs relax times is critical for your well-being.

8. Know when it’s too much

The last tip I have when you are managing a lot of things is to know when it’s too much.

If you are constantly exhausted and overwhelmed, maybe it’s a sign that you are taking on too much responsibilities. Your mental health is the most important thing.

After all, there is only so much time in the day and you are only one person. Although our bodies are capable of doing so much more than we think, it’s important to take a step back at times and evaluate whether it’s too much or not.

Not exactly sure how to do this? Check out this 20 easy ways to slow down in life!

And that is it! I hope this post has brought you a little more peace of mind.

I know managing a lot of things at once can be very difficult, but after incorporating a few of these tips, I hope that you are able to manage everything better.

Remember that you are not alone! Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions. 🙂