Small resets for everyday life
— inspired by nature.

Why Time Feels So Limited — and Why That’s Okay

As a parent balancing work, home, and your children’s needs, it can feel like time disappears. Research shows it’s not about having more hours — it’s about using them wisely. Strong skills like planning and prioritizing support better well-being. It helps to accept that you can’t do everything. What you can do is focus on what truly matters and add small 10-minute nature resets into your week — simple moments of fresh air, calm, and connection.

PSYCHOLOGY INSIGHTS

11/19/20252 min read

1. What the Study Looked At
Researchers reviewed 107 empirical studies across higher-education and workplace settings to understand which time-management strategies support productivity, well-being and performance.
They measured things like:

Planning behaviours (setting goals, scheduling)
Task-organisation and prioritising behaviours
Reports of well-being, stress, burnout, academic or job performance
Participants included students and workers in various industries.

2. What They Found

Stronger Planning & Prioritisation
People who regularly set goals, prioritised tasks and organised their time reported better well-being and higher performance.
Lower Stress & Burnout
Effective time-management was associated with less burnout, lower stress, and improved job or academic satisfaction.
Greater Productivity & Motivation
Those with better time-management felt more in control of their time, more motivated, and achieved more of their goals.

3. What This Means for Everyday Life
Time itself is fixed — you can’t create more of it. But how you use that time makes a difference.

You don’t have to do everything. Instead: pick the things that matter most, plan for them, and organise your tasks so you feel in control (not swept along).
For a parent juggling many roles: choosing and scheduling your priorities will reduce overwhelm, help you feel more grounded, and open up space for meaningful breaks (like short nature resets).
Using your time with intention supports your well-being — not just your to-do list.

4. Small Changes That Help (Easy for Families)
You don’t need big overhauls. Tiny habit shifts can make a big difference.

Choose 3 “Must-Do” Tasks Each Day
Before your day starts (or the night before), pick your top three priorities — the ones that matter most.
Use a 2-minute Check-in
Every morning or before a quiet moment: ask “What’s one thing I want to achieve today? What must wait?”
Schedule a 10-minute Nature Break
Build in just one short moment outdoors (fresh air, greenery, a walk) to reset your mind and support your balance.
Create a Prioritisation Matrix
Separate tasks into:

Important & urgent → do now
Important but not urgent → schedule
Not important but urgent → delegate or simplify
Neither urgent nor important → drop or defer

Model the Habit Together
When your children see you planning your day, taking short resets, and choosing what matters — you’re teaching them how to respect their time and balance too.

5. Limitations to Keep in Mind

The studies reviewed focused mainly on higher-education students and workers, not specifically on parents or families — so some ideas may need adapting.
Much data were self-reported (planning behaviours, stress levels) which can include biases. Frontiers+1
These findings show associations (time-management ↔ well-being/performance), not guaranteed cause-and-effect. Still, the patterns are strong and consistent.

Reference
Patzak, A., Zhang, X., & Vytasek, J. (2025). Boosting productivity and wellbeing through time management: Evidence-based strategies for higher education and workforce development. Frontiers in Education, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1623228 Frontiers+1