UHH, I'm sooooo lucky to be living in such a beautiful country! Each country has its beauties and for me, Australia’s main beauty lies in the people and also the unique vibes present wherever you go. The only thing that can become challenging is the difference in TIME ZONES. Try planning a conference or a meet with those from around the world from Australia... I can say from experience that it can get very messy very quickly. BUT there is always a solution! For me, it was using google calendar reminders to tackle the time differences, but unfortunately, that doesn’t change the fact that the meetings would usually be held at around midnight or very early in the morning. Many people have asked me how I cope with doing the things I do and still finding time for myself. Well, here are five things that help make everything achievable and MUCH MUCH easier for me.
1. Have the determination and drive
This step is the glue to the ENTIRE process. Having motivation and a passion for what you do and your goals. Doing something for the heck of it or because it's what someone wants you to do will only get you so far. If you have an interest in what you do, the crave for improvement and growth will come automatically. Remember, you are the one living your life and the choices are yours. Others can only influence your decisions and provide advice but the rest is up to you. Determination and drive can be the difference in someone taking the safe and planned out route and taking the mysterious route that could lead you anywhere at all. Some people want to take the safe route and that is completely fine, as long as it is what they want and not what they are getting influenced into. Some people don't even get a choice on what route they chose, their environment and lifestyle may make their decision for them. And some people are lucky enough to have the opportunity to do what they want. Take advantage of that opportunity. Be the person you want to be and do you want to do.
2. Get your priorities straight and set goals
Prioritising. Setting goals. If you are anything like me then I know that this is one of the tougher steps because there is soooo much important stuff to do and it can drive you mental not knowing what to do first or what's more significant. BUT, this step is vital because it allows you to really focus on what to do and when to do it and it is also a great time management tactic. In my case, I usually think of what needs to be done ASAP no matter what, such as preparing for an upcoming meeting or briefing, and prioritise that first. Following that is anything which has a deadline coming up, homework, etc.
3. Make a schedule
OK. I cannot stress this step enough. Not everything will go to plan but making a schedule makes knowing what needs to be done sooooo much easier and organised. Once you have your priorities straight, put them into a calendar and block out specific times for each task. Try to spend the designated amount of time on each task rather than hours on end. This kind of time management is extremely helpful, especially when you have a lot of things to do.
4. Take a break
TAKE. A. BREAK. I can't emphasise this enough. A lot of people continue doing what they are doing nonstop until the work is finished. As much as I admire the drive that they have, it is very unhealthy and can cause a lot of strain on your mental wellbeing and also cause fatigue. Surprisingly, there are a few different ways to take breaks when you are working or studying, which may reduce the chances of burning out. Here are two that I believe work wonders on your study and work ethics: the Pomodoro Technique and taking a break every hour for a couple of minutes.
The Pomodoro technique is when you take a small 3-5 minute break every 20-30 minutes, which makes one pomodoro, and then a longer 20-25 minute break after you have done approximately 4 pomodoros (around every two hours). I found this technique to be useful as I could get my tasks done and still feel mentally fresh.
Another way to take a strategy is taking a short break(5-10 minutes) every hour. This is the break technique I use everyday. It has made me much more productive and also gives me a chance to get up and get moving. During my break, I usually do some stretches, go for a walk or just talk to those around me.
SO... every time you are sitting to do some work think of me yelling "TAKE A BREAK" to you either every hour or every 20-30 minutes.
5. REPEAT
Many many many people start this process and maintain it for a couple weeks only for them to start to slack off and then come to a total stop. Keep the momentum going and implement this process into your everyday life. It can be very tiresome and annoying at first but once get used to the idea and follow the process for a while, it will become second nature.
Once you have these five things nailed, trust me you will be able to achieve exactly what you want. I know that there may be people out there that do completely different things that help them succeed and I also know that there are just people who don't do anything and manage to get to the places they want to. However, being organised and following these steps will not only do wonders but also make you feel PROUD of yourself. Try not to compare yourself to others, focus on what you want and let your passion and hard work guide you to the places you want to go.
Do you have a specific work or study process? Comment what it is and don't forget to subscribe!
By Tanya
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