Late summer 2023, I became a mother of my second child. And even though I promised myself to start slow when I returned to work, within days I was back on the Bravoure express train.
Female (leaders) often struggle to maintain a balanced and fulfilling life due to increased demands on our time. Mainly imposed by ourselves. We need to excel at work, be a loving mom and partner, socialize with friends and stay energized. Time management is crucial. By effectively managing time, we can prioritize self-care, professional responsibilities, and personal relationships.
This article is also a reminder for myself to keep working on the three points below to make sure to balance my work-life time and focus on increasing the quality of life. My goal is to manage responsibilities - both at work and in private - with less stress and more satisfaction.
Set boundaries to juggle multiple responsibilities
Set boundaries on your time and space. One of my main takeaways is that I don’t need to be "available" all the time. People are dropping in every minute of the day, asking for input, advice, listening, problem-solving, and more. Being available for your team does not mean being available 24/7. It is okay to let them know you're not available, schedule a specific time, or ask them to come back later in the day. The amazing thing is, often people solve the question by the time you return to them. You accomplish two goals at once: completing your own tasks and fostering independence.
This way, you harness your energy to be used on one thing at a time. For me it is a critical method of taking ownership of my own agenda.
Prioritize tasks
Consciously choose what to do next. It's easy to get caught up in trying to be all-in, rather than staying true to your goals and what's truly important for you and your organization. Not everything on your to-do list is of equal importance, and often tasks are assigned by others. For me, this means making more time for the team and fostering a positive culture, while also setting aside specific moments for financial and administrative tasks.
Remember, by prioritizing tasks based on their importance and relevance to your goals, you can ensure that your efforts are aligned with what truly matters.
Self-care as a non-negotiable priority
The pressure seems to always be on to take care of employees, family, and friends, all of which demand energy. Self-care is something I actually don't prioritize enough myself. However, trying to incorporate self-care into your life, regardless of who is calling for attention, is crucial. By doing so, you actually make it possible to become more available to others. It will better equip you to handle your job responsibilities. For me, it already helps to start once a week at the local coffee corner, with great coffee and a fresh croissant, while reading up on the latest industry news.
Taking care of yourself is not selfish; it's necessary for your overall well-being and effectiveness in both personal and professional realms.