I’m sure you’ve heard the adage “you can’t do it all”.

I disagree with that saying.

I think you CAN do it all (or at least all that you want to do; just not all at the same time. We’re constantly making choices about how we spend our time, and where we place our attention.

Are you exhausting yourself trying to juggle too much at once? Do you find yourself coming home from work only to sit down, pull out your laptop, and start working again? It’s time to stop telling yourself and your loved ones, “only one more email” and actually focus on what we often don’t give ourselves enough of; time for family, friends, and YOU.

Often with competing demands on our time, we allow work to take priority. We feel obligated, expected, and sometimes we’re conditioned to do so.

The Five Primary Facets of Life

When your work life and personal life are out of balance for too long, your stress level is likely to soar. There’s a great clip from a commencement speech given by the Former CEO of The Coca-Cola Company Brian Dyson that offers some sound words of wisdom to help you treasure (and make more of) that time which is so very valuable.

Brian said, “Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. They are  and you’re keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls – Family, Health, Friends and Spirit – are made of glass. If you drop one of these; they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for it. Work efficiently during office hours and leave on time. Give the required time to your family, friends and have proper rest.”

Learning How to Juggle

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Here are a few helpful tips to help you find that balance you rightfully deserve:

1. Prioritize.  On any given day, figure out what your top five priorities are, based on what’s most important to you and what you need and want to achieve that day. This isn’t a list of “shoulds” (stop “shoulding” on yourself!).  Make a list and be honest with yourself. Now see if you can cut that list down to your top three.

2. Eliminate The Unnecessary. Once you’ve created your list of priorities, it will be easier for you to see where you could start cutting other things out. Tell yourself, OK, if it didn’t make my top five, I can get rid of it or include it another time, if and when it becomes more of a priority.

3. Private Time. Identify when you can take time to yourself. Set and communicate boundaries. Respect this time and others will too. Ask yourself, do I really need to check my email and phone every five minutes or can it wait? Don’t be afraid to talk to your manager if you feel your work is truly taking away from your personal time. Demonstrate that you can be efficient and productive in the time you are at the office or in the home office. Keep in mind that more hours does not mean you are being more productive. “Busy” does not equal productive. Find ways to work smarter, not harder so that you have more time for what really matters.

How Can We Help?

Simply Placed can be a resource to help you juggle the five primary facets of life. Whether it’s private coaching or a membership in our “It’s About Time” program, we are here to help.  Sign up for a free Discovery Call to learn more.

Here’s to a better work-life balance, improved juggling skills and more time for the things you love!