Live in Balance: My top work strategy to get balance.

When we start a discussion on work/life balance, the discussion usually takes a turn for the self care side of the conversation.  And this is SUPER important.

BUT, as a former manager, I also know that there is work to be done and getting that work done effectively and efficiently can really make a difference in whether or not you feel balanced.  I mean, if you really think about it, you feel out of balance because there are things you think you should be doing instead of doing what you are doing.

So instead of just focusing on taking care of yourself, I like to throw some productivity and efficiency concepts into the mix.  This is where I can come with practical strategies that I have used to improve my work efficiency so I don't feel guilty when I have to leave work 'on time' or God forbid, a little early.

That brings me to my top work strategy that helps me to gain balance and let go of the not-enoughness.

Parkinson's Law

You may have heard of Parkinson's Law before.  It is used in a lot of different contexts, but for today's conversation I rely on Parkinson's Law to help me get more done so I can have more balance.

In case you're not familiar, Parkinson's Law states that 80% of your results come from 20% of your work.  In the context of productivity, this means that when I focus on the MOST important work I can do, then I have achieved at an 80% level...which is B level work if I'm reading my son's report cards correctly.

This is easier said than done, because sometimes its hard to uncover what 20% of my work is producing 80% of my results.  Also, it means buckling down and doing the hard things, instead of eating up time with easy things that don't create results.

When I was in the banking world, this often meant planning and delegating.  When I could be clear on what needed to be done, and delegate appropriately, and to the right people, I could exponentially accomplish more.

Now that I'm self employed, and without people to delegate to, it's about monitoring and tracking my activities and their results, and adjusting my behavior accordingly.  Social media is a perfect example.  While a certain amount of social media is necessary, I need to ensure that I am not OVER spending time on social media because the best use of my time is meeting and working with clients one on one.

Want to apply this to your work life?  Consider what you spend most of your time on over a given time period.  For each task you do, consider how important the results from that task are towards the overall goal.  Start to prioritize that tasks that give you better results.  The more adjustments and refinements you make, you'll really get the hang of seeing what activities you do that matter the most.  (Hint:  It's probably not checking email or social media 400 times per day)

Like this strategy?  I have four more that I am going to share in this week's coaching class, so you won't want to miss that.  Remember, these sessions are free to attend and if you can't make it live, I'll send you the recording.  Just be sure to register!  

Thursday, February 15, 3pm MST.  Live in Balance: 5 Practical Strategies for Balance.