Practical Tip: Manage Time by Your Roles, Not Just Tasks - As-salamu alaykum

As-salamu alaykum - a small tip that helped me stay sane: organize your day around the different roles you have, not just a long task list. Method: Think of your life as a set of roles - for example: husband, father/son, employee, and someone trying to grow a small business or personal project. Block out chunks of time for each role so you can focus on the things that matter for that role without being pulled in a bunch of directions at once. It gives your mind clarity, reduces clashes between duties, and helps you get a healthier balance. My experience: I’m a husband and son, I work a regular job (not my favorite), and I’m building a small YouTube channel on the side. I also need time just for myself. Before, I’d make long to-do lists and try to prioritize, but I kept feeling scattered - jumping between things and never really finishing or feeling calm. When I switched to role-based scheduling, things changed. I set clear blocks: mornings for personal stuff like exercise and reading, work hours for job tasks only, short pockets for my channel or side-project work, and evenings reserved for family time. Weekends are a mix of family plans and some downtime. What helped most was the mental switch when I moved from one role to another - like putting on a different hat. I knew what to focus on, what my mindset should be, and what to ignore for that period. It also reduced clashes: instead of letting a work email ruin family time, I knew family time was protected and could return to work later. Give it a try - start by listing 3–4 main roles you have and assign simple time blocks. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Small steps made a big difference for me.