Ready, set, breathe! At least that’s what I tell myself. Someone recommended that I write on the topic of my time management skills and how I juggle a full time job, a social life and side consulting projects. In truth it made me a little uneasy. I don’t think I have life figured out whatsoever, but it is flattering to hear that some people imagine that I do.
Some days, I feel like I’m on fire (in the best ways) and others, I feel like I am barely trending water. But what I’ve learned is that life is a balancing act and it boils down to what you give energy to. I mean that in all buckets of life. Work, relationships, health, and everything in-between. We will never have it all, but we can accomplish great things if passion is a driving force.
Work Life
If you know me, you know that my passion is in marketing. Digital marketing to be exact. I am currently a social media manager and strategy consultant for Microsoft. I’d be lying if I told you that it doesn’t matter if you love your job. I think it does. It does A LOT. More importantly I love the career I chose for myself. I’m interested around the clock. I make mental notes of ideas and questions and possibilities of current or future projects. I do this on my drive to work, when I’m having cocktails with my friends or when I’m washing the dishes. Sure… you might think that’s pathetic, but it works for me.
I start my day by visualizing my calendar and taking mental notes on what is important for the day. This way I know what that day looks like. I know what conversations I need to have, the meetings I need to attend and how to maximize my time and my network’s time. I know this, because I thought about the day entirely before it even started, both consciously and subconsciously.
I think the magic here is that I know what success looks like for me in my daily job. Did I cross off my entire list of to-does? Did I set myself up for the next day? What do the people around me need from me in order for them to be successful? What am I hoping to accomplish this week? Month or quarter? Can I get ahead?
Having a work ethic like this doesn’t happen over night. I’ve just learned how I can avoid stress at work and applied it to my daily routine. I avoid missing a beat by writing everything down. Including meetings, projects and question follow ups in my daily planner.
I currently have an anthropology planner, but I adore Kate Spade’s planners. I have my eye on this bad boy: https://amzn.to/31y4Clj
What does daily success look like for you at your job? Did you hit a target number, finish a project, make a new connection? Figure it out and repeat. Once you mentally start crushing your list, watch as you begin to start feeling more confident in the work you are contributing. Watch as you start growing a work ethic noticeable by others in all the positive ways. And more importantly, how much more respect you will have for yourself and the work you do.
Personal Life
As I am writing this, I am realizing a consistent theme here. I think I succeed at a personal life because I know what a successful personal life looks and feels like to me. I know that I feel my best when I am eating healthy and take a hot yoga or cycling class that day. I know I want to challenge myself physically at least once a week with a workout or activity outside of my normal scope.
I schedule my workout reservations a week or two in advance to keep me accountable and to block out that time for myself. I commit to it ahead of time. I usually leave a free day each week for that random happy hour or dinner invite. I move things around to make it all work, because I want them too.
In truth, I started keeping the promises I made to myself a few years ago. I wanted to be a better friend by setting a goal to call a friend once a week and to visit my family once a month. Other goals include: reading a chapter from a book before I go to bed. To do a face mask every Tuesday night. To commit to making dinner 3 times a week for my boyfriend and I. Making time to blog and do my chores. Simply, I made an equation for myself. It’s a loose one for the most part. Some days it just doesn’t work out. But it’s a flow that works for me. Once you decide what is important to you and what makes you feel good, why not make time for it all?
Have you had a conversation with yourself about how you view a successful personal life? What does it look like for you? Mine is a combination of growth, solitude and social.
My advice: start small and start keeping those promises you make to yourself. Even if it is one or two things a week. Write it down or take a mental note, what is bringing you joy?
Freelance Life
I have a love hate relationship with freelance. Some projects can be really structured and others are a little more sporadic. But I’ve learned a ton about coaching clients and even coaching myself. I personally am a project based person. I rather sit down and knockout a project by giving it my all. I’m a fast worker because I have the skill set to move faster. I LOVE the freelance clients I work with. Some are young entrepreneurs, small to medium business owners, or start ups. I want to see them all succeed and I believe that marketing plays a huge part in their business.
I needed to coach myself to be more realistic with project time frames. Just because I can move fast, and I rather sit down and hammer out a project, doesn’t mean I will deliver my best work just wanting to get it done. I want to be present for each project. If I am not, why am I doing it in the first place?
I created a freelance calendar, blocking out time for each project and account. Similar to my 9-5, I ask the right questions to help maximize my time with the clients in meetings and in emails. What do I need from them to move forward? I then estimate how long the project will take and set a project due date based on what the scope of the project is. Blocking out time for each project is important for me, both professionally and personally.
I need to visually see my limits here. I think it’s important to be realistic with your bandwidth. Because marketing has a lot to do with creativity, research and in my case, screen time, I needed to figure out how much I wanted to handle. Not how much I could handle. I’ve coached myself not to be a yes person, and I am working on that everyday.
This isn’t my 9-5 and that’s important to note that. I do freelance because I am passionate about learning new things and industries as well as being apart of growing ideas. Once it stops being fun, I’m out. There shouldn't be pressure in this bucket of my life. So I don’t let it be.
My advice: Take on projects that you are passionate about. Remember that you don’t need to say yes to everyone that asks for your service. Ask yourself if you are benefiting from this relationship and or project. Can you live without it? Would you rather be doing something else?
I’ve had some inspiring conversations around work and personal life that has inspired the way I live my life today. I give energy to the 3 buckets above daily, because they all contribute to what I envision a successful LIFE being. I’m not saying it’s the best way or even that it works 100% of the time, but I think the universe favors this type of path for me. It might change tomorrow, but you bet I will let you know if it does.
How do you manage your work and personal life? Any hacks you are willing to share? I’m always down to explore and level up. Comment below!