How Small Changes Gave Me My Evenings Back

As an office administrator by day and a life coach and yoga teacher by night, I live by the mantra: “Time is precious.” Between emails, coaching sessions, and yoga classes, it sometimes feels like there just aren’t enough hours in the day. Yet, I’ve recently reclaimed my evenings and carved out more time for what truly matters. How? Through small, intentional changes that have transformed how I manage my day. Here’s how I did it, and how you can, too!

🌟 The Catalyst for Change

There came a point when I realized my evenings were nearly as hectic and demanding as my workdays. They were filled with planning and running coaching sessions, yoga classes, and my business admin work. I needed to reclaim my evenings! It wasn’t that I didn’t love what I do, I genuinely enjoy helping people through coaching and teaching yoga. But I also recognized that I needed my evenings to rest, recharge, and spend quality time with my husband. Those moments of connection and relaxation are just as vital to my well-being as my work. By finding ways to optimize my time during the day, I could create the space I needed for a more balanced life.

"Time is our most precious currency, once we spend it, there are no refunds, no exchanges. Choose wisely how you invest it, because it’s the one thing we can never earn back." - Cathryn Benjamin

🧘‍♀️ 1. Yoga During Lunch: A Midday Reset

As a yoga teacher, I’ve always loved the grounding power of my practice. But carving out an hour in the evening for yoga after a full day of work and coaching was challenging. I noticed I was losing the energy to keep up with my personal practice. That’s when I decided to shift my yoga to lunchtime.

Why It Works: Practicing yoga during my lunch hour energizes me for the rest of the day, and knocks it off my evening 'to-do' list. It’s a mental reset that helps me feel productive and balanced, and it frees up my evenings for relaxation or creative projects.

✅ Action Step for You

• Find a 20-30 minute activity during your lunch break that refreshes you. Whether it’s yoga, a brisk walk, or journaling, use this time to recharge.

• Consider meal-prepping so your lunch break includes time for both eating and your chosen activity.

  
  

🎧 2. Audiobooks: A Reader’s Dream Come True

As an avid reader, I used to feel torn about not having enough time to curl up with a book. Enter audiobooks. Now, I listen to them while cooking, folding laundry, or even while prepping for yoga classes.

Why It Works: Audiobooks allow me to absorb knowledge, enjoy fiction, and stay inspired, without needing to set aside dedicated reading time. They’ve turned mundane tasks into opportunities for learning and relaxation.

✅ Action Step for You

• Download an audiobook app like Audible or Libby, or a podcast app.

• Start with a book or podcast you’re excited about and listen during “dead time” like commuting, exercising, or household chores.

🧹 3. Decluttering My Evening Routine

Evenings used to be a flurry of tidying, responding to emails, and over-planning for the next day. I realized I could streamline my evenings by establishing clear boundaries and automating repetitive tasks.

What I Changed

• I set a firm cutoff time for emails, texts, etc.

• I began laying out clothes, prepping lunches, and organizing my to-do list the night before, saving myself decision-making time in the morning.

✅ Action Step for You

• Set boundaries for work and personal time. Decide when you’ll stop checking emails or working.

• Prep as much as you can for the next day, clothes, meals, bags, so mornings run smoothly.

⏱️ 4. The “Two-Minute Rule”

If a task takes less than two minutes, I do it immediately. Whether it’s responding to a quick email, washing a dish, or jotting down a note, this rule keeps my to-do list from piling up.

Why It Works: It prevents small tasks from snowballing into bigger ones and keeps me feeling in control of my schedule.

✅ Action Step for You

• Start practicing the two-minute rule for small tasks.

  
  

🚫 5. Saying “No” (Gracefully)

Perhaps the hardest change I made was learning to say no. I stopped committing to activities or favours that didn’t align with my priorities. This wasn’t easy, but it freed up significant time for what truly matters.

✅ Action Step for You

• Before saying yes to something, pause and ask yourself: Does this align with my goals and values? Or is this something I can really commit to at this time? If not, politely decline.

• Practice saying “no” by starting with smaller, less intimidating requests.

💪 How You Can Reclaim Your Time

If you’re feeling stretched too thin, try implementing one or more of these changes. Here’s a quick recap of actionable steps to get you started:

• Reclaim Your Break Time: Dedicate part of your coffee or lunch break to an activity that refreshes and energizes you.

• Incorporate Audiobooks or Podcasts: Make the most of downtime with inspiring or educational listening while on the go.

• Optimize Evenings: Plan ahead and create boundaries to balance work, relaxation, and household responsibilities.

• Apply the Two-Minute Rule: Address quick tasks right away to prevent them from piling up.

• Set Boundaries: Prioritize your time by committing to activities and tasks that align with your goals and values.

🌟 Final Thoughts

Reclaiming my evenings didn’t require drastic changes, just small, thoughtful adjustments that made a world of difference. Now, I end my day feeling accomplished, energized, and at peace. Time is one of our most precious resources, and when we treat it as such, we can create space for what truly brings us joy.

📝 Reflection Questions:

• What activities take up most of your time?

• What is one small change you make today to gain back some time for yourself?

• How will you celebrate your progress toward better time management?

Cathryn Benjamin

Mindset & Life Coach | Yoga Teacher | Wellness Advocate

Follow me on Instagram for tips on living authentically, embracing wellness, and fostering a positive mindset.