As a busy physician educator, wife, and mom, I often get asked this question.
Typically, I would just shrug my shoulders and say, "I just do…" but there's more to it.
The secret lies in effective time management and prioritization. Here’s how I make it work:
Most importantly, I identify my own priorities. My purpose and personal mission statement is able to guide me in this. Well, what is my mission? My mission is "To take on opportunities that will work to leave healthcare and this world a better place for my children, my learners, my patients, and my community while taking the time to enjoy my loved ones and myself."
This makes identifying my priorities easy:
Improving the inclusivity of and access to healthcare for my community
Improving the inclusivity of and access to education
Supporting my children and husband in their pursuits
Having meaningful times with my loved ones and myself
So once I have my priorities, there is still a lot that I have to do. How do I make that work? Well, here is where I start:
Time Blocking for Success: I block time for the things I need to do AND the things I need to get better at. Everything, and I mean everything, goes on my calendar. This includes my family members' events, my clinics, meetings, and personal time.
Calendar is King: All events, from family activities to work obligations, are meticulously added to my calendar. If it isn't on my calendar, it does not happen. Once these are in place, I assess the remaining blank spaces.
Utilizing Blank Spaces: Admittedly, there isn’t much blank space, but this is where everything else gets done: thinking, writing, learning, preparing for meetings, and even exercising. If I’m not careful, I could easily overlook these tasks or spend too much time on certain activities.
Intentional Blocking: After identifying the blank spaces, I literally block out time on my calendar, indicating specifically what I need to accomplish during those periods. This ensures I stay on track and prioritize effectively. During this time I also put similar things together so that I can get through them more efficiently. So blocked time for answering emails, or charts, or writing makes the activities more efficient.
Flexibility is Key: Of course, things don’t always go perfectly. Emergencies can arise, and plans may change. However, having a structured schedule helps me navigate these disruptions more smoothly. Since I have things fairly blocked, when something does come up it makes it easier to add those tasks to determine how to add those blocks to a new place on my schedule. By organizing my time meticulously and being intentional with every block of free space, I can juggle multiple roles and still find time for personal growth and self-care. Although this is not everything, doing these things allowed me to do another important step...
Saying No or Not Yet: By following steps 1-5, I really have a sense of what is going on in my day, week, month and year. When approached with new activities, it allows me the ability to say yes, no, or not yet with a true understanding of what is going on based on my purpose and priorities above.
This approach helps me achieve my goals and maintain a balanced life. I am able to have fun with my husband and children, find time for fun with friends, and feel like I am also able to do the things I need to do AND want to do at work.
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