A Balancing Act: Managing Your
Workload and Your Life

Do you sometimes feel like you’re trying to maneuver a unicycle while balancing a tray of food on your head and juggling bowling pin torches? If you lean too far back or add one more thing to your plate, you’ll get completely off balance and end up falling off the unicycle into a heap of food and potential flames.

The overwhelming feeling of chaos, disorganization, and lack of control can inhibit your productivity.

The trick is to create a balancing act that will enable you to be more productive. Being organized and staying on top of things will give you a clear mind and help you run your life more efficiently.

The following are some tips that will help you become more balanced so that you can be more productive in managing your workload and your life.

Establish a Routine
To effectively manage your workload, set a routine as much as possible for each day. Allocate certain times during the day to check e-mail so you can focus on key projects rather than get bogged down with the constant flow of new inbox messages. Schedule at least one hour during the day where you forward your calls to voicemail so you can tackle any important projects at hand and scratch a few items off of your “to do” list. In addition, keep your office and desk in order by establishing an effective and user-friendly filing system. Allow yourself 10 minutes at the end of each day to file papers and organize your desk and “to do” list for the next day.

If your job entails travel and numerous meetings, try to carve out one day a week for just being in the office.

Organize Files
Just as you would set up a coding system for your files, devise a coordinated system for your computer files. Avoid dumping everything into one folder; instead create subfolders for specific projects and tasks. Create a uniform system for each client and/or project, such as folders for background information, photos and invoices.

Tackle Certain Tasks Early
One of the best ways to manage your time and workload is to tackle personal tasks separately and ahead of time. Use the weekend to get all of the basic errands out of the way such as picking up dry cleaning, filling your car with gas, meal planning and grocery shopping, or buying a present for a friend’s birthday taking place mid-week. If your family has busy schedules and various activities, make a point to sit down with the calendar on Sunday to map out what will take place during the week. Respond to invitations as soon as possible. Not only is it a polite thing to do, but it gives you a chance to put the event on the calendar and plan accordingly. Organize your clothes and other items the night before to avoid the morning madness. The less you have to do or worry about during the week, the more time you have to focus on being more productive at work and to have more quality time for your family and yourself.

Be Resourceful
Identify ways to improve time management in your life. For example, there are a number of dry cleaning services that drop off and pick up at your home or business. This saves a trip to the dry cleaners and you have the convenience of everything at your front door. Another great time management tool is hiring a cleaning service, whether you do it monthly or biweekly. Consider reducing use of paper and using your time more wisely, by paying bills online. Be sure to set aside specific time(s) each month to do your online banking to ensure that you meet your deadlines.

Make Lists
The key to being productive is to stay on top of things and tasks. Use a personal handheld device, a calendar or Day Planner to make notes and task lists. Get in the habit of making lists in whatever format suits your needs and lifestyle, and stick with it.