Me First

Recover 30+ hours per month with this working mum's time management handbook

You are a clever, savvy, successful woman. You are also a working mum. Which means you have it all! Right? Wrong. Managing the juggle presents an ongoing and unique challenge for working mums, and it's time to take control of your time. Written with humour and honesty, Me First offers personal insights, practical exercises, and time-management solutions for crazy busy, stressed out and guilt-ridden working mums.

Me First teaches you how to take control of your time once and for all:

• Liberate yourself from imposter syndrome, mother's guilt and the other time-wasting mistakes we make
• Start prioritising yourself
• Cost out exactly what your poor time habits are costing you
• Learn simple, smart and sustainable solutions to find 30+ lost hours a month
• Set and smash audacious goals for how to best use your newfound time
• Gain insights from successful women from around the world who know exactly how you feel.

Me First is for every time-poor working mum who has had enough of the juggle. It's time to start putting yourself first. It's time to be a little less self-less.

Why it’s time for Me First xi

Part I: The mistakes we make — what could get in the way? 1

Our afflictions: Where we waste our time 3

Mistake #1: Imposter syndrome 9

Mistake #2: Busy lifestyle syndrome 14

Mistake #3: Superwoman syndrome 17

Mistake #4: Yes syndrome 21

Mistake #5: Judgement 26

Mistake #6: Guilt 32

Mistake #7: It’s easier if I just do it myself 36

Mistake #8: My kids aren’t going to make this easy 37

Mistake #9: My partner is the problem! 39

Mistake #10: I was told I could have it all. What happened? 40

Mistake #11: I don’t need help 42

Mistake #12: I just don’t know where to start 44

Mistake #13: I don’t have time for me 45

Part II: The 5 SMART Steps 49

All about Alice 51

The 5 SMART Steps: an overview 55

Step 1: Self-aware 61

Step 2: Map 89

Step 3: Analyse 103

Step 4: Reframe 121

Step 5: Take control 153

Part III: How about a little bonus? 159

How to set and smash audacious goals 161

Where to now? 171

About Kate 173

Work with Kate 175

Acknowledgements 179

Index 181

Kate Christie, Founder & CEO of Time Stylers is a Time Investment Expert; International Speaker; and Author. Kate consults to big and small business, government departments and C-suite executives on maximising individual time spend and managing organisational drag through smart time investment strategies. She has appeared on television, radio and in print as a leading commentator on time management and maximising work / life integration to ensure your success across work, family, community, and life. With a reputation for helping her clients find 30 hours of lost time a month, Kate’s focus is to ensure you are left educated, entertained and with a lasting impact on the way you choose to live, work and play.