“Nothing is impossible if you put your mind to it”- Cliché, right? Though I am sure you’ve heard that quote a million times, the truth is whoever said it is correct. Today I’m going to share with you the best tips I can give you to managing an “impossible schedule”.
To give you some insight into my day-to-day life, I’ll first describe to you a few things I have to balance on my schedule. This year, I had six university courses with an internship, a morning and afternoon job driving school busses for elementary and high school students, a small party entertainment business to run, music lessons to teach, and finally, late-night performances in bars and restaurants as a live musician. Running a schedule such as this has been something I’ve been used to since I was a teenager, however, it is never too late for you to learn!
Tip One: Google Calendar is your best friend
No, this is not a sponsored ad for Google Calendar! But seriously, I owe my whole life to this app. Without it, I would be completely lost. I’m used to living my work life by a precise minute-to-minute schedule and Google Calendar makes it easy to stay on track. The best part about using Google Calendar, especially as an entrepreneur, is that you can share your calendar with your team, and it makes booking employee schedules very easy.
Here’s an example of how my Google Calendar looks every day. First, everything is colour-coded. I can tell exactly what needs to be done for the day just by glancing at it. Second, everything is labeled very simply, so there’s no getting confused. Finally, I don’t leave anything out. Even something as simple as my workout schedule, grocery runs, and Kijiji runs that I have to make that day. This ensures I’m not forgetting about anything important, and I’m not missing out on my personal time. Finally, having a detailed schedule allows me to know how much free time I have in the day. For example, if a friend needs help with something small, or my employer asks if I want to take on an extra task, I will know right away if I have the time to do it, rather than agreeing and having to let someone down.
Tip Two: Know your limit, work within it
You only have so much time and energy in a day. I manage each job in a very specific way so I know whether or not I have time to take on extra tasks. With this, I’ve had to master politely declining extra tasks while on the job. This can be driving extended hours, taking on last-minute projects, and more. You want to avoid burnout as much as possible, so knowing how much work you can handle without feeling completely drained and exhausted at the end of the day is key.
Tip Three: Concentrate on Self-Growth
1. Personal time
If you don’t set time aside for yourself, you will never be mentally recharged enough to get the work done. It is crucial to set time aside every day to focus on your mental health and growth. I like to take this time to do yoga, golf, hiking, or even listening to music. These can be leisure activities that are mindless and enjoyable for you such as a sport, hobby, craft, reading, or anything that you genuinely love to do.
2. Life Goals
If you haven’t already, take time to reflect on your life goals. If what you’re doing now doesn’t align with these goals, then you know it’s time to hustle and look for the next best thing for you (it’s important to note that these goals should be realistic to work towards). You never want to be in limbo for too long. If you happen to fall into a routine of being unhappy, who knows how many years you can spend in that state when happiness could be around the corner. Next, you should reflect on whether you are in a position that is moving you forward in the direction of your main goal. For example: Currently, my main goal is to advance myself in my career (Communications). My internship at Laurentian is allowing me to experiment in different fields of communication, my businesses are providing income and passion to my everyday life, my bus driving is my safe income and health benefits, and finally, music is my outlet for stress. You can see all of the activities I am putting my time and energy into are advancing me closer to my main goal. If the activities you have on your plate are keeping you at a standstill, it’s time to move on to something that will benefit you in the future.
(Make a Vision Board!)
Tip Four: List your priorities
It is important to know where your priorities are and be honest about them. My main priority was always school. My employers were aware from the start that I am in university and it always takes precedence. They may not always like that answer, but it is better than letting people down who think they are your main priority. I’m sure you’ve heard “when applying for a job, tell the employer that your schedule is open for them and you’re sure to get the job.” PLEASE do not do this unless it’s the truth. This is only setting yourself up for failure in the future. Be open and honest with the employer about your schedule and time commitments. Many employers will respect your honesty and it saves you from burning future bridges.
Tip Five: Surround yourself with a strong team
This is by far the most important tip I can offer. You may think being a strong independent individual is the only way to get you through life, however, that truly isn’t the case. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I didn’t have the absolute best and supportive team. My team includes a mixture of friends, family, business partners, employees, employers, and more. Know that wherever you go and whoever you talk to could be a potential asset to your team and you can be a potential asset to theirs. Never burn your bridges and be prepared to lift others up because you never know when you may need them in return.
Tip Six: Be Persistent
Follow through. If you set time aside to do something, do it. As soon as something is added to my calendar, I take the time to get it done. The worst thing to do is put it off until later because then your work will pile up and that’s when stress and anxiety will occur.
Tip Seven: Be Passionate
Mostly, I’ve discussed goals and planning your future, but it is so important to be passionate about the things you are doing. The reason I can work as many hours as I do is because I am truly passionate about the things, I take part in and it rarely feels like “work”. Work is important, but happiness is the most important.
Tip Eight: Not all days are good days
Nobody is the perfect individual. I would love to say that I wake up every day with a fresh perspective, a smile on my face, and sheer determination, but I would be lying. I have my own demons to deal with but I can recognize them right away and have a plan on how to deal with them. It’s important to recognize the signs of these struggles so you know when to take a mental health day. Just because you may need a day off, or you aren’t working as well as you usually do, doesn’t mean you’re failing or letting people down. It’s just one day, not the rest of your life. Take the day to relax, feel all of your emotions, and let it all out. You can always make tomorrow better.
Tip Nine: Ditch the Flix
Sorry Netflix, I don’t mean to rain on your parade, but I never got anything done while binge-watching mindless TV shows. When I need to take a day off and relax, I'll probably be throwing on some Netflix, chilling in my PJs, and eating snacks. But on a regular day, TV is just a mindless distraction prohibiting me from moving forward with my work.
Tip Ten: Don’t be a workaholic
Working yourself to the point of burnout is not something to be proud of. If you’re beginning to feel excessively tired, foggy-minded, or forgetful you may be on the verge of burnout. It is important to constantly be aware of your own physical and mental health and know when it is time to take a break. In our society, it is so easy to “praise a workaholic” because why wouldn’t an employer love someone willing to sacrifice themselves to get the job done. I am only able to balance all these projects because I do NOT sacrifice myself, my personal time, or my mental health to do extra work. People are going to judge your work ethic no matter what you do or how hard you do it. Take things at your own pace and always put yourself and your mental health first.