Contrary to popular belief, building a work-life balance with the right time management techniques is not impossible.
One of our favorite questions that we have asked entrepreneurs from all over the world in season 02 of the podcast is around time management and work-life balance. Some like Ari Krzyzek feel like this concept is a myth, whereas people like Hannah Beasley have regimented guidelines on how they achieve and maintain a balance.
Our friend Paula Saalfeld is exploring this topic about work-life balance and also sharing some culturally challenges she is facing in Germany, that sometimes demand a certain way of thinking, feeling and living.
From Paula,
Time management is all about working smarter, not harder.
It became something normal these days to feel like we are stuck in our hamster wheel and never- ending to-do list. Especially we Germans and our work. It is amazing what people in this small country are able to create and with what dedication they do it.
The German defines himself with what he does and sees his personal contribution to society in it. When someone in Germany asks you what you do, he doesn’t mean your hobbies or passions, he wants to know what you are working on.
This attitude brings good and bad things with it.
We create wonderful things of a high quality and are very meticulous about almost everything we do. But Germans are likely to get lost in their work and pay often more attention to it than to the personal life and their real passions. They are hardworking people, even though they achieve a lot, many believe that work is only right when it’s really strenuous and exhausting.
But a rethinking is happening and the younger generations are more and more understanding what it means to create a work-life balance and to build a fulfilling work life. Managing our time is not about squeezing more into our day, it’s about simplifying it, being more productive and decreasing stress.
I feel like I found my balanced way of juggling being self-employed and also studying two different classes at the same time. I wake up every day and follow the following tips because they make me feel happier, more balanced and less-stressed. This has changed my well-being significantly and have helped me make better use of my time and clear up space for myself, my hobbies and loved ones!
#1 Build a routine
Setting your personal routines is crucial to get in a flow-state and being able to enjoy your day-to- day tasks. It helps to take care of ourselves, which is necessary before you take care of everything else. A good daily routine with some small habit changes should help you accomplish your tasks, make you feel good about the day, and give you time for yourself. This will look different for everyone, since we all have other schedules and personal preferences, but creating your unique daily flow will help provide structure and working much more efficient.
When creating any routine there will be a period of adjustment. If a routine isn’t working out for you, switch it up and try again. The cornerstone of your regular daily schedule is definitely your bedtime. Even if it’s hard and maybe not everything is finished yet, try to go to bed earlier.
So you get up early in the morning and start with a completely different feeling. Healthy sleep is essential and in the long run you will feel how productive this habit makes you.
#2 Set a fixed time for each task
I’ve noticed that the things we try to keep in mind for later, like e-mails and messages we’ve already read but haven’t answered yet, these kinds of open tasks feels overwhelming at some point and don’t let us focus on our current task. If our mind is trying to remember all the things we need to do, chances a we can’t concentrate so well, we forget something and always feel pressured.
To-Do lists are powerful time-management tools, but only if used correctly.
I used to write all the tasks, that came to my mind, on a list and always tried to do as much as possible of it every day. The result was that I never really knew where to start and often felt unmotivated by the amount of tasks. For me it was the biggest game changer to schedule my tasks specifically over several days. So I have the chance to concentrate every day only on what the day is intended for, but still allow myself to be flexible and to reschedule things.
The Google Calendar has become the most helpful tool for me!
If something comes up in my mind, which I really want to do – I just open up my calendar and set a time for the upcoming days, where I will go more into and further plan it. Getting it out of your head, making it visible, frees your mental state so that you can better concentrate on the tasks at hand. If there is a general task ahead, like studying, try to break it down into smaller tasks to make it more manageable and focus on the next small steps towards your goal.
Once a week I have a fixed time when I set my goals and tasks for the upcoming week, so I know exactly what to expect.
#3 Prioritize your tasks
The tasks level of importance – not the preference for doing it – is what drives the workflow. There is one principle I like to follow
You can multiply your time by giving yourself the permission to say ‘No’ and spend time on things today that will give you more time tomorrow.
If your tasks still get a little overwhelming at some point, it’s very helpful to free a bit more time for what really deserves your full attention. Look at your tasks ahead and ask yourself whether you can eliminate them for now, if they’re not as important as something else. If not, how about delegating it? Is there something on your list which could be done with the help of someone else? It’s not a sign of weakness if you ask for help. Everyone needs help once in a while. We often think it’s only perfect once we do it by ourselves, but it can be huge time saver to distribute tasks among each other in such a way that both can be more productive.
#4 Moderate your distractions
Clearing out the distractions, such as your phone or other things is an essential when you’re about to finish something from your list. Really put it out of your room, because if it’s not reachable, we don’t tend to follow this sensation and end up in an hour of scrolling through social media.
#5 Take up space for ‘nothing-time‘
Making time for yourself and relaxation is really helpful to stay calm and accomplish your tasks with ease and enjoyment. If you plan your week, see if you can conscientiously plan a few hours for your hobbies or just free time when you do nothing. It’s so essential to have nothing on your agenda for a few moments or to finally get back to doing simple things that are good for your soul. Such as taking a long walk, riding a bike, painting, reading a book, taking a long bath, trying a new sport… whatever you want, without feeling the need to get something done or force any outcome.
Also, a lot has changed for me since I decided to switch off my phone, to have no more input and just to come to rest, one hour before bedtime. Just spending the last moments of the day with myself, doing some yoga, listening to music, writing my journal or meditating is such a game changer and stress relief.
And most importantly
- Remember that you are put on this earth to experience life
- You are not living this life to get things done
- Allow yourself to slow down and enjoy
- Bring some joy and excitement in every thing you do, if it’s washing the dishes or your next big project
Thank you so much Paula. You are so right when you says that life is meant for living and experiencing all of the wonderful and beautiful people and experiences around us. Being an entrepreneur and running a business is hard work but at the end of the day, we entrepreneurs are people who also need to live a meaningful life beyond our businesses.
{ Words and Images by Paula Saalfeld; Instagram @plantifultaste }
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