How do you do it all? That’s a question I’ve been asked many times in my career. It came up when I was I took the helm of my first marketing leadership role, in my doctoral program, and when I took the helm at my current role.
Truth be told, I probably wasn’t doing the best job of it at first. And while sometimes I still struggle with the balance, I’ve gotten much better at it.
When the workload was heavy, I would just work extra. I didn’t have children (just a pup), so I would work several hours each night. My team called me out on it and encouraged me to find balance.
How I Got it In Check
My doctoral degree was a huge part of the why — the lift of homework was too much that I simply couldn’t work all the time. It forced me to get comfortable with the idea that things would be on my list, and that things would have to be left at the office.
That ability to be comfortable with that notion helped me pave the way to make other changes that have helped me manage my mental (and physical health) better.
How I Try to Maintain Balance
Queen of Lists – I have a list of things for each week that need to be accomplished. When something comes up that I don’t have time to tackle, it goes on the list for the following week. It’s recorded but I can leave it in the future. At the close of each day, I like to spend about the last 15-20 minutes lining out my action items for the next day. I look at my calendar and slot specific tasks into the items that need to be accomplished. It helps me make progress without being paralyzed with where to begin.
Making Time for Meal Prep – I find that when I get stressed, I crave simple, easy (usually unhealthy) options. Every Thursday or Friday night, I’ve learned to plan out meals for the week that are relatively healthy. Then, on Sunday afternoon we prep items that need prepping for the week. If things are in the fridge and ready for the week, I am much more likely to make healthier choices. On a side note, I find I feel much better when I eat better, which fuels other good benefits.
Texting Myself – Sometimes my subconscious works at strange hours. I have several times awakened at odd hours with a brilliant idea, thought of something at the grocery store, etc. I used to wrestle with going back to sleep or worrying about forgetting the great idea. Now, I’ve learned to text myself the good idea so that I don’t forget it but don’t have to stress myself unnecessarily to try to remember it.
Minimizing Working in the Evenings – Sometimes there is work that must be done to meet a deadline. However, I try really hard to minimize the amount of work that happens during the evenings. When I first started in new jobs, I had to work at home almost every night to stay ahead. Longterm that’s not sustainable. Now, I try really hard to minimize how often that happens. The litmus test I use to decide if it’s worth it — Will I be significantly behind tomorrow if I don’t do X thing tonight? On occasion that answer is yes, usually it’s no.
Walking – I try really hard to get my steps in. I’m not a huge middle of the day walker. However, about once a week I pursue Target on my lunch break. I also either go to the gym or take the puppy on walks to get my steps in. I find that time allows me to decompress, relax, and focus on things that are important to me.
Taking Small Breaks – I have also learned the importance of taking small breaks. About every other month, I’ll take a Friday off for a fun activity. It could be going to a football game with family, staying home to decorate for the holidays, or just having a girl’s day with my mom. That small break is so refreshing and one day isn’t enough that my inbox hates me.
A Work in Progress
I’ll be the first to admit I’m still not great at all of this. I have to consistently remind myself about balance. I’m curious how all of you keep your mental health in check.
These are a few strategies that have worked for me, but I bet there are many other great ideas out there!