How to get your life back on track with (content) strategy
This is an update on: Yes, you can handle studying, working, parenting, and staying a decent human being. The big news is: No, you can’t. Sorry but here’s the horrible truth. Trust me, I learned it the hard way. And sadly, I can’t quit studying or working, I happily can’t skip the parenting part. But it seems staying a decent human being is the one I “chose” to sacrifice.
But let me start from the beginning. If you read one of my earliest blog posts which was written after studying for one semester and not working yet, you’ll know that I did not go naïve into these challenges I voluntarily threw myself in. I chose them. And I chose to do it all at once in August 2022, when I had to go back to work. I’ve never been more tired in my life; I never felt my brain being more chaotic and I make mistakes I would’ve never done in the past. This is not me. So, let’s fix it together.
I wish there was an easy solution to my situation. I’ve been thinking about doing sports, getting a hobby, or going away for a weekend. But who has time for that? I think some sort of selfcare would benefit me, but there is simply not the time. So, I want to make time. And I need a strategy for that.
Define your goals
The heart of every good strategy is to first learn what to aim for. Do I want to have more time for selfcare? Do I want to spend more time with my family? Do I want to get out once in a while? Or do I just want to make it until July, when I (hopefully) finished my studies and can focus on my career, my family, and my mental health?
If I’m honest, I would choose all of the above. However, the only one that is realistically achievable is the last one. So, let’s focus on making it until July and getting some structure into the next couple of months.
Audit your life
Content audits are crucial when it comes to strategy. Life audits might be as well when it comes to life strategy. This means I have to look at every inch of my life and see where there is potential for improvement. Let’s start with looking at weaknesses in my daily routine and — to stay positive — already suggest solutions for them.
1. I should get up earlier to not be as stressed out already in the morning.
2. I should drink more water right in the morning, so I’m not already angry and dehydrated at midday because I forgot to drink.
3. I should take more small breaks during work.
4. I should learn to say “no” more often.
5. I should get a dog sitter, so I don’t stress out about getting home quickly to Lotte before I pick up Luzia from daycare.
6. I should not stress about our household too much and spend more quality time with my family
7. I should order food and groceries more often.
8. I should ask for help and take offers more often.
9. I should go for a walk or read before going to bed instead of watching TV.
10. I should go to sleep earlier and actually use the advice I gathered considering overthinking.
Develop a plan
Especially when it comes to social media content, it is always helpful to divide your themes into different categories and focus on those when it comes to planning. The trick is trying to stay in those categories to focus on the most important things and don’t get distracted by other possibilities. This saves time and energy. I think this would help me as well when it comes to life — dividing it into four categories.
1. Family
2. Work
3. Study
4. Me
Just like in content strategy, the four parts don’t have to be evenly split up in my 24 hours. Sometimes there is more to do for Uni, sometimes less. Sometimes my daughter can drain quite a lot of energy, sometimes it’s a treat to be with her. But the most valuable thing I get out of these thoughts, is that there is a category called “me”. I should put one focus of my efforts towards myself. And the other three parts can take a bit of reducing for that.
Do the actual planning
This is the tough part. Since my study program changed their way of communicating the tasks we should do, I am constantly reminded last minute that there even is one. But thankfully, some of my classmates made up their own Google Calendar with sessions and deadlines I gladly integrated in my personal one. I am still struggling a bit, but it is getting better.
I should be my own helpful classmate when it comes to the other three categories. A big step that already improved the first category was by installing a new Google Calendar for Family Stuff. I finally admitted that with my brain overflowing I tend to forget things and with this beautifully easy to handle function my life already became much easier.
I am not sure yet, how I will include self-care in this planning mission. Maybe I could schedule four hours a week on a regular basis to just use for myself. It could be sports, going for a walk, or — and that would be the most probable one — having a night out with friends. The challenge here is to not feel guilty about it, take help and ask grandmothers or neighbors for some time off. Outsourcing is key!
Keep evaluating
I will try to put all these things into action. But every good strategy needs a periodic review part, to examine if the suggested actions were actually taken and turned out to be successful. I will keep you posted on that…
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