Organising Your Life With a 10-Step Framework (Part 2)
In this blog, I'd like to share my suggestions on implementing the 10-step framework in different areas of your life. Let's start with work as most of us spend a huge amount of time at work with statistics showing as much as 80% (in full-time employment).
Work
Create good habits: Strive to be consistent with your environment as familiarity will flag that it's time for work mode. At the end of the day, get into the habit of closing all tabs and documents, straightening your desk up, and taking ten minutes to arrange your task list for the next day.
Get enough rest: Make it a priority to rest away from work; that means finishing on time, not checking emails on the weekend, and booking in regular breaks.
Say no: Say no to the small stuff, and prioritise 'deep work' sessions – preferably at the start of the day.
Delegate: Capitalise on the things that come naturally to you and automate/outsource the rest; use pre-set templates or delegate to team members.
Home
Running a household can be a full-time job, but implementing a framework can make it more manageable.
Create good habits: Focus on creating tasks that are daily (making the beds, folding laundry immediately, cleaning regularly) and make sure such tasks are in your calendar to flag when they need to be done.
Simplify: Houses get cluttered very quickly, so make it a regular occurrence (that's diarised) to minimise - go through items in your fridge, cupboards and drawers. If it isn't regularly used or sparks joy – get rid of it!
Delegate: There are loads of available services to support you, like grocery delivery and lawnmowing services. In instances where budgets are tight, leverage your network or families to help out.
Finances
Financial success is when we set ourselves up for the future without depriving ourselves in the present.
Plan with your calendar: Create a realistic budget that fits within your money flow - what's coming in and what's going out. Schedule regular audits to adjust or tweak if necessary.
Consistency wins the race: Make it a priority to put something into your savings account every month (preferably with compounding interest). Small amounts over time will add up to big amounts if you consistently save over your lifetime.
Track your progress: Set your short- and long-term financial goals, and keep checking to make sure you're on track.
Automate: With automatic transfers, almost everything regarding your banking and bills can now be automated – so make sure you're tapping into these time-saving opportunities.
Lifestyle and Relationships
This is the area that's most important to get right, in my opinion. We all strive for the lifestyle we dream of, and I hope using the below steps can help you get there faster.
Work with your strength: If going to the gym does not work for you, try an alternative like cycling or hiking, or if you can't cope without regular meals, don't consider a fasting diet.
Aim for the middle ground: Focus on the 80/20 rule – make good choices 80% of the time; 'good enough' that is, not 'perfect'.
Love your body: Prioritise your health - eat healthily and exercise regularly. Prepare healthy meals for the week to save yourself time (and avoid grabbing something unhealthy), and plan your exercise sessions for each week.
Track your progress: To motivate yourself, I suggest using tools to track your progress, like a fitness tracker or food diary app.
Use your calendar: Proactively plan (and diarise) time with important people in your life. Organise regular catch-ups with friends and plan regular date nights. When your friend says, "We must get something in the calendar", - lock something in right then and there.
Think outside the box: Consider redefining what socialisation looks like when you're tight on time. Enjoy a joint workout session or a family movie night or organise a fun gardening working bee which delivers a catch up with your family/friends and getting a house chore done.