I’ve always had a lot going on in my life, and over time, I’ve become a master at balancing work and life. In high school, I juggled a full course load, earned college credits, volunteered, and worked full-time. During college, I did the same while living on my own and later even bought a house at 20. In graduate school, I continued this routine and started my own business.
People often ask how I manage to do it all. Some assume I have no social life or that my life must be miserable, but the truth is, I’ve honed my skills in balancing tasks efficiently. Yes, it’s possible to balance work and life, though it can be tough at first.
In the beginning, managing everything was really hard. I often got just three or four hours of sleep for years. I was terrible at managing my time, often procrastinating and forgetting tasks. But I’ve gotten much better at it, and all the hard work has paid off. If you have a big goal, balancing different aspects of your life might be necessary.
Here’s what I do to keep everything running smoothly:
1. **Use a Schedule and To-Do List:** I rely heavily on my schedule and to-do list to stay organized. With a bad memory, I’d be lost without them. They keep me on track and motivated, and I love crossing items off my list.
2. **Perfect Timing:** In college, I made sure my class and work schedules aligned perfectly. This required planning but saved a lot of time. Now, even though I’m not in college, I still ensure everything is timed well.
3. **Avoid Multi-Tasking:** Multi-tasking often wastes time because switching tasks takes time. Instead, I focus on one task at a time for a set period.
4. **Outsource Tasks:** I outsource tasks that I could do but don’t have time for. This includes hiring writers and virtual assistants for my websites and sometimes getting help with household chores.
5. **Order Tasks Wisely:** I like to tackle complicated or urgent tasks first to free up the rest of my schedule. Some people prefer to start with easier tasks to shorten their to-do list. There’s no right or wrong way.
6. **Eliminate Time Wasters:** I cut back on time wasters like social media and TV. For example, I might reduce TV channels or switch to Netflix to save time.
Are you a work-life balancing master? Why or why not?