Is there really such a thing as work-life balance and how do you juggle it all?
The Having It All Dilemma
The answer? Yes and no. Yes you can be a daughter, mother, wife, employee or business owner, volunteer, friend, etc. However, you cannot do it all at once. It's impossible to be everywhere all at one time. Being overwhelmed and having overcrowded schedules is the norm, especially in America. COVID 19 has slowed down the pace of life a lot but added a whole new list of things to do and worry about.
The Long Term Solution
There are several ways to help juggle it all and make the right decisions.
1) Pick the top three most important things to do each day.
These will change daily but knowing what matters most will help you to make the decisions needed to accomplish the three most important things each day. You can have peace each night if the rest of the never ending to do list doesn't get done knowing what mattered most did.
2) Have a planner/agenda.
Having a planner whether in a paper or digital version is game changing if you use it. You can set daily top three priorities first then anything you would like to do that day, week, month and even year. You can add goals and daily reminders such as hours slept, meal prep, or even daily habit trackers. Use whatever kind of planner you want that helps you stay focused, get stuff done and reach your goals.
3) Get help.
It's ok not to be able to do it all by yourself. Tell your husband what you need and why and show him how much it means to you and how it will impact him in a positive way when he does it. Have the kids to pitch in cleaning the house, turn it into a game. Hire help with things you hate doing like taxes or mowing the grass. Maybe you are starting a business, find free or very cheap resources in you area to answer questions and help you such as SBDC or SBA. Or hire someone on fiverr.com to do stuff for you like create a graphic design or logo that you don't now how to make for $10. There are many ways to find help for any area of your life if you just Google it!
4) Be focused in the present moment.
Wherever you are, be all there. Mentally, it is important to focus on what you are doing in the moment. When we are at work but thinking about the kids, once we get home with the kids we will be thinking about the work we didn't finish because we are thinking about the kids! Stay focused on whatever you are doing and get it done. Then when you move on to the the next task you are totally focused on it as well and can enjoy it without the guilt and anxiety. This can take some time to get used to doing, but it is extremely rewarding once mastered. A way to help this process, is to write down in your planner what comes to mind that needs to be done and get back to focusing on the task. That way you will see it needs to be done later, it's not haunting your mind and distracting you anymore, and you can relax and focus on finishing the task at hand.
Get Inspired:
Write down 3-5 things that mean the most to you in life.
Ex. If I succeed in these areas I made it. They could be anything such as family, health, make a certain amount of money, be a great parent, etc.
Now compare that list to your actual schedule. Do they align? If not, what changes do you need to make so your values match your life?
There are multiple ways to juggle the many hats we women wear. They might change in each season of our lives. Let's be real we all multitask, but just remember to keep the main priorities aligned with your values and focus on doing those things first. That will help you make the right decisions for yourself, your family and to be able to achieve your goals.
Much Love,
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