After a prolonged period of inertia, I have finally landed a permanent part-time job teaching at a learning centre. I actually prefer it part-time as I am not quite prepared to dive into a full-time working mode as yet and I do enjoy the variety of the projects I take up on a freelance basis; ideal for scanners like me who love to have different tasks on-going at the same time.
As I am starting in a week's time, I need to get myself organised and mentally readied for the new job and it is important to achieve a work-life balance as I am prone to burnout easily if I don't monitor myself. Life is not a competition and I don't tend to push things in order to get more done. I am trying to savor the moment and the experience at my own pace. I need to be aware of how full my plate is and say no to obligations I cannot possibly meet. Taking extra responsibility doesn't benefit anyone and it is a surefire way to deplete myself; especially when I am a bit of a perfectionist.
As my time is now dedicated to my new job, it is necessary to remove some of my newsletter subscriptions which I won't have the time to read. This is particularly painful for me as I peruse info and articles online voraciously, for fear of missing out on anything important. By cutting down on what comes into my inbox, I make time for myself doing other things which are high on my priority list: writing, making art, reading and online learning; none of which could be omitted in a typical week if I need to stay sane.
I always have my A4 planner at hand where I have scheduled in every single appointment / to do, as my mind can only take so much at a time and this is my way of avoiding the sense of overwhelming. Then I put my tasks in different slots to make my task list fit around my life; not to forget leaving a bit of a margin / leeway in between. I'll make sure I schedule 'me' time in as I do with a doctor's appointment. Now it's time to estimate how much time would be devoted to each task, and pen them in as well, including commuting and taking breaks. Prioritising is the next step as it is simply unrealistic to make a long list without knowing what is urgent / important.
There are little things I can get done over with as soon as possible. There are things that can wait for a few days. Then there are projects which require a longer period of time to complete and there are those which I have to put on hold. Personally I have a number of medium sized projects which are sitting on my work station gathering dust; and I'll make sure they are attended to before embarking on something new.
Meanwhile, I must remind myself to pause regularly to create space. I practise open-eye meditation myself and sipping a cuppa is just as refreshing. I like to ask myself at different times of the day what I am doing with my life to motivate myself to carry on what I believe is meaningful. Nothing is set in stone so I tend to readjust my lifestyle when it gets out of control somehow.
Ultimately, it is the goal of making sure that my work life doesn't dominate the rest of my time. Instead of using a time log, I prefer setting a period of time with a timer and stick to it for any task I set myself to. To demarcate my work time from personal time, I either read or listen to my favourite CD which is mind freeing, making the transition a tiny bit easier. I hate waiting for people and of course I have to be vigilant about volunteering away my time for some unworthy causes which fail to speak to me.
How much time are you spending on working during your life time and how much time are you spending on enjoying life during work?
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