A Dangerous Juggle

It used to be a daily battle. Time management, that is. I honestly used to feel like a professional juggler some days, struggling to manage life, excessive work and trying to catch all the balls. In the end, I willingly dropped them and gave in to the notion that we have to do it all. We don’t. Let’s reassess how we manage our time so that we’re able to maintain a healthy mind and body, avoiding that burnout that has become all too prevalent in our society.

For the most part, I work from my lovely office overlooking our garden. It’s fairly quiet, aside from the odd offspring meandering through to the kitchen on the hunt for biscuits or toast.

Now the COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to be at home in a lockdown situation, we are confined to reduced space and for many, a full household and homeschooling woes.

So how do you maintain life and work whilst keeping yourself emotionally balanced?

Time Management

Here are my five top tips on how to stay balanced daily:

1. Clear Your Space

Do you have a dedicated space for your work? Try to keep only the essentials you really need and ditch the clutter. It will make an enormous difference in how you approach your work and therefore your time management. In one study, scientists at Princeton University discovered that clutter within a workspace had a negative effect on the brain’s ability to process, resulting in an increase in stress and disorganisation of thought. Be more minimalist in your workspace to help your creativity flow and flourish.

2. Schedule

Daily scheduling of my own time is really important to me, even in a pandemic situation. I don’t over-fill my diary either, because I know my time management skills are less than accurate! I have a tendency to plan for more tasks than I can physically complete, so now I plan for only a few key tasks that must be done each day. This helps to avoid overwhelm. Writing tasks down in a schedule commits them to paper, and you are much more likely to complete them. I use my Planner to create each day of work so that I am not overwhelmed. I also plan my self-care each day because I know it’s important for my health, so I treat it like a must-do task. Coach and author, Robin Sharma, says: “The things that get scheduled, are the things that get done.” Get it scheduled and get it done.

3. Brain dump

I regularly use the Flow section of my Planner to carry out a brain dump! I feel this is such a helpful method of emptying my head out onto paper – every task that needs to be done, appointments to schedule, ideas to progress…it’s like Feng Shui for your bonce. This then frees up brain space for more creativity; tidying up the shelves of your mind to make room for more of the good stuff.

4. Social Media

As someone who used to spend a massive amount of time on social media for clients, I know only too well how time-sapping it can be. It can be tricky to use it for business purposes, without quickly getting drawn into dramatic or emotional posts. But try! I reduced my social media use a few years ago, jettisoning my personal Facebook as I found it too drama-laden and intrusive into my headspace. Work out what is useful and essential for you and create boundaries for yourself.

5. Take Breaks

Move away from the screen, people! Especially now we’re in a COVID-19 pandemic situation, we all seem to be in front of screens much more than before. If you’re sat in front of a computer for your job, you need regular screen breaks or your eyes may peel off. Obviously, they really won’t, but staring at a screen for any length of time is not good for you. Note when your concentration levels start to wain and then move your body. Do some yoga, do some stretches, make a cup of tea, have a little dance around the kitchen..anything to break the brain-drain of protracted sitting down. Getting outside for a walk or fresh air is rejuvenating and will refresh your mind and body.