Teaching full-time, tutoring on the side, wrapping up a Master’s degree, editing a novel. It might sound like I have too many irons in the fire, but I’m actually doing well. Here’s how.
Marie Kondo those priorities
Like the Japanese organizing consultant advises, everything in my life has a home. I try to maintain clear boundaries. Work is from 8-3. I don’t take it home. I tutor 3 times a week and am not offering flexibility, currently. My families understand that. I write 3 days a week, right after work on Mondays and Tuesdays and half the day on Saturdays. Evenings are for studying.
expiration dates matter
This is not a longterm arrangement. It’s just not possible to keep this amount of effort up for too long. I push hard for a few weeks at a time and plan breaks and rest. I’m looking forward to my next getaway.
planning is a passion
I write down everything I want to accomplish in one week, physically assign each task a time-slot, and color code based on importance. I get star stickers whenever I achieve my goals because I deserve them. I do not allow myself to write more than 8 items on a list. I find that 8 is manageable, and anything else is higher.
20-30 minutes of fun each day
Whether it’s reading, playing games on my phone or the Sims on my computer, I schedule downtime into my day. It’s not much, but I make the best of it and remind myself that this won’t last for long.
That’s how I keep this truck rolling. How are you managing?