The sad fact is there is no such thing as balance and there is no such thing as making more time. Time is not only finite, you don’t even know how full or empty your bank account (of time) is.
The reality is you can only improve your work life balance by eliminating activities. Delegating. And you can only make more time appear out of thin air by doing the things you are doing more effectively.
So how do you go about it then?
Focus On The Right Activities
You should focus your time doing the right activities for you, instead of pulling your hair out trying to do everything and be everything, to everyone.
I suggest you do this exercise.
List the roles you lead in your life on a piece of paper (landscape, columns across the page.) Role headings might include:
• Business
• Home
• Partner
• Parent
• Community
Next, under the column headings, open your mind and brainstorm. List all the activities that you currently do each week in each role. List them all, no matter how small. Each column should be overflowing with the things you do. For example below are a few things as a parent you would do daily (mothers or fathers):
• Homework help
• Make school lunches
• Clean their room
• Drive to lessons, sports, practice
• Drive to school
• Drive and watch weekend sports
• Spend time together individually and with all
• Mend clothes
• Stay with when sick
Does your activity match your role? Your goals?
This important self examination is where your time and balance breakthrough begins.
If your role is to produce income, be the strategic thinker, is it the right use of your time to do administrative work? Bumble around with the computer? Help staff solve their every single problem?
At home do you garden, do repairs/renovations? Mow the lawn? For women, it’s a double clash isn’t it? You’re expected to maintain the home and children. However, is the best use of your time cleaning, driving the children to lessons, clashing with them on homework if you also run your own business?
Grade your activities. Go through your list of activities one by one and grade each one A through E.
“A” stands for “very important;” something you must do. There can be serious negative consequences if you don’t do it. “B” stands for “important;” something you should do. This is not as important as your ‘A’ tasks.
There are only minor negative consequences if it is not completed. “C” stands for things that are “nice to do;” but which are not as important as ‘A’ or ‘B,’ tasks. “D” stands for “delegate.” “E” stands for “eliminate, whenever possible.”
