Life Work Balance

How many of us actually ask ourselves "have I got the balance right?"

In writing a piece today for the Women's Rural Institute magazine I have been forced to acknowledge that in no way have I got my balance right and I really need to do something about it.....but what?

Have you ever written down all the things you do in a day/week/month/year. I never have, I just plod along doing them, quite happy. I wrote them down today and took a good long look at my life.

Like many people the recession has hit our family hard and I need to work but what writing that piece has shown me is work and the pursuit of a paycheck to keep the roof over our heads is taking over my life and it's not enough anymore. I AM TAKING BACK MY LIFE!

This is my current list of jobs:-

1. Part time fundraising administrator for an international charity.
2. Part time associate estate agent for international real estate company.
3. Administrator for my husbands hot air balloon company including accounts/vat returns etc
4. Web designer
5. Hubby and I are re-starting our promotional clothing company, which will mean designing the website, doing the admin etc

Over and above all of these, together with my mum, I organise local events every now and then including beauty nights, presentations on colour and image and our annual christmas wreath making party. I also attend demonstrations with mum (she does the christmas wreaths and I do the present wrapping) for local rural groups.

Over and above all of this I do the housework, the washing and the ironing. I sit with my boys and do their homework with them. I make pack lunches and I very occasionally hoover out the car!

Don't get me wrong it's not that I think I do any more than the next person but can you imagine if this was ALL my life was about. None of this is full time. None of this is a career. None of this brings me financial riches beyond my wildest dreams and none of this defines me. But combined this is what my life is at present. Where is the fun. Where is the me time. Where am I in all this?

So here's the plan. I've already made the decision that this is my year of YES. I am going to say YES to opportunities that come my way but am going to make sure they fulfil me and I am going to make sure that the work I am currently doing is more organised and that my time is better used.

My first move was to leave a full time job I hated and take the position of part time fundraising administrator for the international charity. I love this job. I work from home with hours that I can suit around my life. I am able to put the children on the school bus and be here when they come home. I am passionate about the organisation and it's work and am finding an enthusiasm for the sector I am now working in. THIS IS GOOD. This shall stay!

SO - I've worked out a little timetable for myself. It may seem regimented, it may seem boring even and repetative but what looking at how I organise myself has shown me is that I spend a great deal of time putting off jobs I hate doing or spending too long on things I shouldn't. I'm wasting pockets of the day that could be put to better use and am losing out on valuable family and me time.

So here it is, my plan for a month. I shall keep you posted on how it's going:-

Monday - Friday

6.30am Get up and do a bundle of washing. Get washed and dressed

7.00-8.45am Get boys up, dressed, breakfasted (we chat while we're eating, it's our one to one time and I love it) and on the school bus

8.45-9.00am Load the dishwasher & put on a bundle of washing

9.00-10.00am Housework

10.00-11.00am ME TIME Go for a walk, exercise dvd, yoga

11.00am-15.00pm Fundraising Administrator Role

15.00-16.00 Admin/accounts/Filing for hubby

16.00-17.00 Homework with the boys

17.00-18.00 Dinner prep & sit down with the family

18.00-19.00 Clear up from dinner, make packed lunches, quick tidy round

19.00-19.30 Bath time & story for boys (not hubby!)

19.30 - 20.30 Any website work that needs doing & if none max 1 hour of estate agency paperwork as required

20.30 onwards ME TIME. Read a book, watch tv, paint my nails, switch off computer & enjoy

SATURDAYS
Estate Agency work when required or Family time

SUNDAYS
Estate Agency work when required or Family time

So there it is, my plan. It's still too full but it is at least all flexible. The estate agency work comes and goes dependant on the market and the admin work is flexible hours to suit but if I make this the rule then if an exception comes along there's no drama, no great backlog of work and I am at least making a concerted effort to take time out for myself.....

So here goes......wish me luck!