A year ago, I wrote a post about how to balance life, school, and everything in between. A lot has changed in a year, but a lot of the strategies that I use to maintain balance in my life remain the same. This year, I have taken on more TA duties than ever before. In this COVID world, this means a LOT more work than I previously experienced. I am also in the homestretch of my Master’s degree and preparing to start my PhD, so I have a lot of work to do on my thesis before I graduate. My personal life has also suddenly increased my workload with the addition of a puppy! Henry is so wonderful, but he requires a lot of time and attention, something that I find myself having even less of than usual. With all these new developments, I need to revisit some of the strategies that I use to balance my life.
- Use your calendar. This also appeared in my previous post about balance, but the way I use my calendar has changed. Before, I would schedule everything in so that I can keep on track with accomplishing tasks. Working with students and a young puppy simply doesn’t allow me to keep to a strict schedule – they have a schedule that is different from yours! Instead of scheduling everything, I make lists of the tasks that I need to accomplish for the week. This list is usually very detailed, for example, I need to analyze this many samples this week. This way, I can keep track of my progress and possibly adjust my to-do list for the next week based on how much I was able to get done. This brings me to my next point…
- Be flexible. Things will come up that are out of your control. Everything is just a little bit harder now, but I have found that people are also more understanding when things take a little more time. Understand that maybe this week wasn’t your most productive, and next week may not be the best either, but at some point, you will get things done. Adjust your schedule to accommodate life and forgive yourself for not being as productive when working from home.
- Learn to prioritize. The only thing that has changed about this from a year ago is that perhaps it is even more important. There are more things to deal with now, and some things, like taking the dog for a walk, can’t wait. Determine what is most important to be done in your week and tackle that first. The other things can and will have to wait.
- Take breaks. Working from home can make your whole life feel like you are constantly working. While number 5 can help with this, it is important to prioritize your own mental and physical health above EVERYTHING else. Take time to eat, sleep, exercise, do your hobbies, socialize, and do whatever you need to do to be healthy. Maybe take up a new hobby! Everyone is stuck at home most of the time, so now is a great time to discover your love of painting or to read that new book you’ve been dying to get to. Don’t let work take over your life just because there is nothing else to do.
- Separate work from everything else. If you can, set up a space in your home that is your specific space to work. Eat, sleep, hang out, and take breaks away from your workspace. This will reduce distractions and help you to get in the mind frame of working.
- Talk to your family, friends, supervisor, counsellor, whoever you need to feel connected and heard. We are all going through stuff and sometimes the best thing you can do is talk to someone about how you are doing. Your supervisor is there to help you succeed. Don’t be afraid to talk to them and ask for help if you are feeling overwhelmed. Together, you can come up with a priority list and schedule that will help you succeed at your pace.
I will leave you again with the wise words of my amazing supervisor, Bill, who reminds me often that “the most important thing is the most important thing.” In every case, your mental and physical health is the most important thing, and everything else can wait. I wish you all the best and hope that the picture of Henry can bring you some comfort in these crazy times.
~Sydney