Life Balance during the Holidays!
As it’s the end of the first week of the summer holidays and I am currently looking after my three children and trying to work, life balance is something that I am constantly trying to achieve. During term time I try to fit as much work in between school hours as possible which usually means I am running around like a lunatic trying to squeeze as much work in as possible in the six hours. Then, when the school day is finished and I’ve picked up my three crazy kids I am in ‘mum-mode’ where it’s lunchboxes, homework, dinner and getting ready for the next day, as well as trying to fit in a bit of exercise and more work. I quite often feel like a hamster on a wheel or a dog chasing their tail!
I have found this year particularly exhausting and I know other people have too. I don’t know whether it is because things have returned to ‘normal’ after Covid, my children are older and it’s become busier or because I am now not only raising my children but I have added this Art business of mine into the mix. Or maybe it’s Ia combo of all three?
It’s a whole different story during the school holidays as the timetable and routine goes firmly out of the window and to be honest, although its a juggle, I do love hanging out with my kiddies and having less school logistics to deal with!
This is the first summer since having children that I have had to fit in work as well and this is partly because I have made a commitment to exhibit at two art fairs in the autumn and they are fast approaching (eek!). But, at the same time I want to spend time with my children and enjoy hanging out together without continuously working or thinking about work.
I am an organiser; I love to plan, write to-do lists (much to my husbands annoyance) and know what I want to achieve and complete each day and week. If I don’t plan I feel disorganised, unfocused and all over the place; a feeling I do not enjoy! So, when it comes to a lack of routine during the summer hols I plan what I need and would like to complete throughout the whole of the 6-7 weeks. I then pick from that list with ‘loosely’ what I want to accomplish each week rather than daily. I then fit these in, whether it is completing a section of a drawing, planning the next piece of work, preparing for the art fairs or writing my next blog, usually when the kiddies are playing or chilling in front of the TV!
I have mentioned The Maker’s Yearbook previously and this is my second year using it. It is such an easy way to stay organised and focused. There’s a ‘brain dump’ at the start of each month which is where I write my overall list for that month, I then pick from this list when planning my days and weeks.
I schedule in everything including exercise as these are the things that are SO important but will be forgotten or put in the ‘I’ll do it later when I have time’ box!
I use it for work and family life so that I know what I am doing each day and week, and during the holidays it’s no different. If anything it helps me to maintain some kind of momentum without time running away from me.
It also encourages me to pop in social events and downtime and reflect whether I have relaxed and rewarded myself. I would literally be lost without it!
In my planner there are already trips to the library, craft afternoons, cinema trips, a day in London, visiting grandparents and even a walk to the local coffee house among many other things. And the work will be fitted in around the kiddies or in the evenings, and I will know what I need to get done - and yes there will be a tick when it is!
So, if you are at the start of the summer holidays, routine has left the building and you still have a million things to do, get a planner and plan! Plan the things you need to complete, plan the time to relax and exercise and most importantly pop the mornings or afternoons in to spend time with your kiddies!
Good luck!