Feeling overwhelmed with getting your work responsibilities and all the other things in your life done? You’re not alone. Whether you call it striving for “work/life balance” or just getting to the bottom of your “to do” list, juggling all the demands on your time can be an ongoing struggle.
 
Several of the guests on the Advice to My Younger Me podcast have shared their perspectives and strategies for managing priorities and maintaining work/life balance.
Here are some important takeaways from those conversations.
 
1. Get clear on your priorities.
 
In order to make sure that the most important things in your life are getting the attention they deserve, you have to know exactly what your priorities are. Spend some time differentiating the things that are important to you from the demands of the people around you.
 
2. Set goals for all the important parts of your life.
 
Set goals for your work, your family, your health, your community and other areas of your life that are important to you. You don’t need to spend an equal amount of time in each area. But by setting goals for each, you will make sure that they are getting at least some attention.
 
3. Do the most important things when your energy is high.
 
We each have different biological cycles.  Focus on your most important tasks when your energy is at its highest. That’s the best time to work on your top priority.
 
4. Understand that you’ll miss something.
 
When you have a lot on your plate, you’re bound to miss something - whether it is a moment in your child’s life or an exciting event. Expect that life will be messy at times and don’t beat yourself up about it.
 
5. Review how you spent your day.
 
At the end of the day, ask yourself, “Did I like how I spent my time today?”  “What do I wish I was spending more time on?” “What changes could I make to do that?” The purpose of the exercise is not to beat yourself up. It’s to allow you to be more intentional about how you spend your time tomorrow.
 
For more great insights on managing your time to reflect your priorities, listen to episode 17 - Overcoming Overwhelm with Brigid Schulte, episode 30 - Having a “Pie Life” with Samantha Ettus, and episode 58 - Feeling Less Time Pressure with Laura Vanderkam.