Balancing Act , Time Management
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Balancing Act
The art of balancing work and play is difficult in today's society. If you are like me - a woman who has dreams, passions and a creative side stifled during the day to earn a paycheck, you have to be extremely organized and use time management, priorization, and lists and planning to balance work, home and time for yourself.
Time Management and Multitasking
Three nights a week, there are TV shows that I can't miss. I use this time to iron, fold laundry, check my emails. If I really need to get to use my creativity, I use the time to make beaded jewelry, paint or make greeting cards.
Writing Lists and Making Priorities
As an avid notetaker from my past school days and as a writer, I already carry at least one "brillant idea notebook" in my purse and in my car. This enables me to write down (Web) article ideas, words or license plates that make me laugh. One example is a hearst bearing the license plate "RUNext".
Seriously, lists serve as a reminder to achieve tasks that need to be done on a daily (short-term) and when I get to it (long-term) basis. At times my lists are too optimistic with several items. I ease up by crossing off what I've done and starting two new lists: one for short-term (today) and long-term (this week) projects on separate pieces of paper.
Prioritization involves decision making - "do we have clean underwear for tomorrow?" and must-do items that pop up including "the cat threw up again". These may not be on the list, and that's OK. The list is a guideline, not set in stone.
The key question I ask myself is, "how important is it"? I use short- and long-term lists to achieve my daily and weekly goals. I've found that writing down "relax", "play" and "exercise" remind me to take the time that I need for myself.
Work and Commuting
The average person may spend at least 60 hours per week working outside the home and commuting. I've begun listening to audiobooks during my commute and doing errands during my lunch hour. This increases the time I have during the week to do household chores or freelance work for clients or updating Web sites.
Focus
If you are not doing a project that involves multitasking, focus on the task at hand and see it through to completion. For example, while I read incoming newsletters/ ezines, it's very easy for me click on Web links that take me off into the adventures of Web Design and copywriting and other interests.
Don't do this => I have learned that if I get on the computer after 9 PM, I won't get off until after midnight, and this woman needs her beauty sleep! I try to cut myself some slack on the weekends.
Or this => I can also get sidetracked while cleaning by going through the magazine rack where I find pages from the newspaper that I'm saving to write about.
On this topic I'll conclude with "do as I say, not as I do" since I'm still working on mastering it.
Weekends
On weekends I am often up until 2 AM writing, reading or blogging. I usually nap on the weekends, giving myself permission to rejuvenate my body, mind and spirit. Frequently, in private or group meditations, I sing or chant, fulfilling my need to be connected to the Universe and unplugged from normal weekday activities.
One goal that I have is to take spiritual time, even if it's 15 minutes to start, during the week also.
Spiritual Time
This can be praying or meditating individually or in a group, observing nature and the Universe around me. For me, it's important to belong to a community of like-minded people, so I attend weekly religious services and spiritual meetings.
Nutrition and Exercise
Yoga and Pilates reduce my stress level and doing it with a friend results in laughter at attempting poses that experts have been doing for years.
Recently, instead of eating ice cream or popcorn for lunch or dinner, I've been eating salads, vegetables and trying to eat more meat than dairy.
So, you might be thinking, "what's the plan for this weekend"? Working on our income tax returns and Playing with the cats and spending time with my husband are the priorities. At least one nap I might even do some laundry and cleaning in between.
It all depends on what my spirit guides me to do.
Linda Blatchford is an experienced editor/proofreader an writer and Web designerchic at LinorStore.com. She has a Basic Web Design Certificate and is hungry for new Web knowledge. She is currently working on three Websites; proofing her recently completed book, "Cats Are People Too"; learning to make beaded jewelry and other craft projects and increasing her knowledge of spirituality.
Linda loves chocolate, cats, ice cream, laughing, crafting and shopping.
Linda is a member of the Society for Technical Communication, the National Association of Women Writers and listserves for Chicago Women in Technology, copywriters and writers and spiritual ideas.
Linda Blatchford Etailer, Web Designerchic, Writer LinorStore.com
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