How do you do it all?
- Jenn Everson
- 3 minutes ago
- 7 min read
Last night, I met with my monthly network group. We were enjoying a wonderful dinner, and discussing our wins and challenges in business, and personal life too. One of my members was voicing how she was struggling over the past month in trying to catch up with everything that she wants to accomplish each day.
She turned to me, and said, "I see all that you do, and I think to myself, I don't know how she does it". I kind of chuckled at the comment, and replied, "I don't really know either". I continued, "I was thinking about that the other day, and I do wonder how I am able to keep everything together and not feel burnt out". Because the list is RIDICULOUS!
Seriously, I have two groups I lead & organize - network & bible study, two anger management classes I conduct and organize, clients I coach, renovating work on my house, chores at my current living situation, my son's schedule, my boyfriend's schedule, dinner, finances, day job as a property manager, content creating, editing, blog writing, writing and answering emails, program upgrades, working with the organization I'm subcontracted to, and somewhere somehow juggle time with friends & family, which I am usually the one that everyone depends on to schedule and organize as well. My life is wildly demanding!
So, how do I handle it?
I will share with you the things that helped me through all of it
My goal pdf!
I created a pdf just this year, because I had made the major decision to start my network group in February. I was also trying to join a bunch of online courses to level up my coaching, and I was also having a love-hate relationship with social media and posting at the time.
I just didn't know where to start. So, one day, I decided to rip out a piece of paper from my notebook and started writing a list of everything that I was trying to involve myself in and organize in my life. Then I started breaking them down. I, first, began weeding out tasks or ideas that could wait and prioritize things that were more aligned with me at the time. I wanted to create a way for these tasks to be more tangible. Therefore, I broke my list down even more by choosing two out of each subject to complete.
For instance, I wanted to take online courses. I had a long list of different courses to complete, such as getting my masters in NLP, Certificate in Somatics, course in podcasting, etc. So, I chose two of my topmost interested. Then, I scheduled them onto my calendar. I chose Tuesdays and Thursdays to dedicate to those courses. Then, I used the pomodoro technique to actually dedicate time to them. The Pomodoro technique is when you decide on an amount of time you want to dedicate on one task, and then set a timer. So, for these self-paced online courses, I would choose 20 minutes. After the time was up, I would make a decision on whether I wanted to continue working on them further or whether the 20 minutes was sufficient enough.
My other subject was creating my network group. So, every day, I would dedicate 15 minutes to knocking out my list of steps to create and launch my all-women's local network group. I got that completed within 8 days, because of this system.
After I created this idea and experienced the amazing benefits of it, I decided to create a full blown pdf for anyone to download and take advantage of themselves.
So, if you're interested in the pdf for yourself, go ahead and download it today: FREE Goal PDF
Task Binder:
Wild method, I also use is a binder for my daily tasks.
You can upload the actual file that I use each day, just to get a visual of what I do.
Monday through Friday, I religiously pull out this binder each morning at 8am. I start by writing out the date, and I go down the line of tasks and check each one on whether completed or not.
There's a task that says: Movement/Gym
It makes me ask myself, "Did I workout today?"
Sometimes I forget to move my body. Even if I don't make it to the gym, it's a reminder that I need to stand up and make intentional movements, such as walking or stretching. Just to keep track of my health, because of my auto-immune disorders
Did I check my finances? I go through all of my accounts and check to make sure the numbers match up, and that way I am creating a healthy relationship with my money
Did I post on my business socials? Did I update my clients? Did I write my emails & blogs?
Did I post on my network's socials? Did I send out updates to my members?
For the organization that I work with, are my classes ready to teach? Do I have notes for my life coach clients?
Do I know what I'm making for dinner this week? What ingredients do I need to pick up at the store?
Self care, did I do something for myself today? Did I take extra time on my skin care? Did I read a book? Did I rest?
Personal to do, I need to order my son's cap and gown. Do I have his service-learning schedule marked in my calendar? I need to pick up a birthday present for my brother this weekend. I need to pick up hex screws and 10 sheets of drywall for my house this weekend
This method is just a simple method to not only check off your tasks, but to check in with yourself.
I find it important to add in self-care, because too easily we can neglect ourselves while knocking out the demands of our lives.
Check out the file below to compare:
Day of Rest:
Whether you're religious or not, I think we can all respect the telling that God rested on the 7th day. Recently, I have been introduced to the practice of sabbath, which is dedicating a full day of rest; physically, mentally and emotionally.
Now, on a religious aspect, that day maybe dedicated to resting, but also spending time reading the bible and going to church.
I choose mine a bit more differently, and I think it has made all of the difference.
I do start my Sunday morning with my bible study group, because I don't go to church. I choose to have my relationship with God unconventionally with my friends over zoom with coffee, in my pajamas, messy hair and no make-up. That is why we called our group, "Come as you are bible study" lol We don't have to act or be a certain way.
Then, I follow it up with baking muffins for me and my son for breakfast. That is something that I literally have zero time for during the week. Baking and cooking is very therapeutic to me, especially when I have time to dedicate to it. So, luckily, this offers me a full day to prep dinner as well. Now, dinner is made with ease, love and peace.
Besides my own personal bible time and cooking, the most beneficial part of this practice is removing social media from my day. I don't answer or look at emails. I remove all social media apps from my home screen, so I don't instantaneously tap it. The first couple of weeks, I couldn't believe how many times I accidentally tapped other apps, because I was just so used to tapping onto my Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. I would get a good laugh every time I did it. Major realization on that issue!
It was also interesting to acknowledge how much of the demands and my go-go lifestyle has affected me as well. Not being constantly active or on the go was a challenge for me in the beginning as well starting this practice. The first couple Sundays, I would struggle around 2pm. I began getting antsy and feeling like I was supposed to be doing something more productive.
But as I teach in my programs, the body does what we teach it to do. For example, if we stay up late two nights in a row, your body will form a pattern and will want to keep repeating it.
The same as social media. We have taught it to just tap into our apps whenever we get those uncomfortable feelings and emotions, such as overwhelm, boredom, frustration, sadness, etc.
So, Sundays are a practice to break those habits and allow a day of creating healthy and beneficial patterns back into our lives while embracing the opportunity of rejuvenation. I do, however, allow myself to rest on the sofa and watch football games, because I don't do that during the week. That is something of comfort, nostalgia and fun for me.
Either way, my Sundays are my days of rest. I also have learned a perspective that I didn't realize before that I find helpful. Sunday is not the last day of the week, but the beginning of the week. The "last day" perspective feels like we have to earn our day of rest, whereas we are longing for that day to come all week long. The "first day" perspective gives us the opportunity to build our strength, endurance, and mindset making us much more prepared and ready for the week to come.
Conclusion:
After sharing the methods that I use to my group member on what aids me on completing tasks and reducing my overwhelm, I explained to her that this is also just my "season".
Right now, she is in a season of overwhelm, demand and obstacles. I am in a season of alignment, peace and accomplishment. Yet, I shared with her that I also struggled with my emotions over the summer and it effected many areas of my life. I had to also find different methods to get me through that season. Life shifts constantly, and we all face different challenges that we're often not prepared for, so we constantly have to learn and make appropriate adjustments. Just because we don't know how to handle those difficulties in the moment doesn't mean it'll remain that way - You will always find a way! Give yourself compassion, and allow yourself the time and grace to learn through it.
I hope my methods can help someone else, or at least my validation about being in different seasons is enough to help you move onward.
If you would like more accountability and guidance on this subject,
I help people with this all of the time in my programs.
If you're interested, fill out the form to find out:
