Life can be so overwhelming when we are trying to make time for work, responsibilities, loved ones and ourselves, and in the end we tend to prioritize these things in this order too (if we even make time for ourselves at all). Why do we put our own time at the bottom of the totem pole, and how do we make sure we are even on it at all?

I recently started a new job, and making time for my writing (my passion and my “me” time) has been an absolute struggle. Maybe because I'm a millennial I can’t wrap my head around the fact that I can write on my phone, (that’s a computer task, right?!) when I absolutely can because I did write this from my phone. I’m still learning, and I wanted to share that sometimes we have to adapt and be flexible to make time for our hobbies.

The easiest and best way to make time for ourselves, in addition to thinking of different ways we can do what we love, is being aware of how we spend our time. Yes, I was busy, but I also spent a lot of time on social media. This is what made me realize that I was better off using my phone to make time for my writing than just feeling like it's wasted. While there still just something about typing on keys, I don’t always have the time to do that, when I pretty much always have my phone with me.

The amount of time we allow for all of these things is where the “juggling” comes in. Let’s fully commit to the circus performer bit, and pretend we are actually juggling. Most days of the week we balance on top of this huge ball called work and juggle the other ones, which tend to be relatively small balls of equal size. So if you're able to make a little time each day for each of the extra things, you can manage to actually do them.

The best trick for this is a routine, or doing something everyday at the same time and planning out your day. So if something has to happen at a different time you know when it will happen. Planners, calendars, and sticky notes are your best friends to make sure you remember and don’t overload yourself for one day. Setting timers helps as well to know when to transition to another task. Sometimes it can be hard to leave an activity unfinished but if you need to, you can. You can write down what you failed to complete to be the first thing to do the next day.

“Body doubling” or having someone just be in the room with you can help you stay focused and get the task done quickly, especially if you have ADHD or find it difficult to concentrate on a single activity. This can also turn out to be some quality time spent doing something alongside a loved one. So now you have made time for loved ones and responsibilities at the same time.

In the end, do what works best for you. We all function in different ways. If these tips are useful for you, great! But if you feel something else would work better, go with your instinct. You are the person that knows you best, as long as it is actually useful. Keeping track of what works is the last thing that is important in “juggling”. If something isn’t helping you (as in you are still forgetting and not making time for things), it is time to try something new! A journal can be a great tool to track your progress and look back and decide if it’s time to try something new. You can have another trick in mind or ask friends and mentors for advice.

As always, if you have any questions, need tips, or want to share your experiences please reach out! I would love to hear from you and how you're getting things done.