WORK/LIFE BALANCE 1

[EngineerDave]

I was wondering how many of you meticulously schedule your time in work and out of work.

For instance, I do the very simple to do list. But outside of work with many hobbies and interests and things I want to do and learn I don't.

I sometimes get stressed about goal setting. I need to rethink it. There is so much I'm excited about learning and doing but if I dont' stay focused on it, it is hard to get it done.

Any suggestions from those that like to schedule all their time would be appreciated!

 

[TheTick]

My wife keeps a rough to-do list on the marker board in the kitchen. It includes chores and playtime. It is not unusual to see "time w/ kids" and "fishing--AM" up there with "mow the lawn", "fix the door", etc.

 

[epoisses]

in work: rather meticulously, 1001 things that need to be done and not forgotten;
at home: rather messy, only 101 things that need to be done and not forgotton, plus 10001 things that need to be done because they're so much fun.
I tend to get stressed only when I'm tired. A good night of sleep usually does it.

 

[McCormick93]

Tick:
(That sounds like a song often heard on the southern US airwaves.)
In order to accomplish anything significant outside of work, like learning a language, a musical instrument, earning a PE, or changing jobs, you almost have no choice but to get organized and stick to a plan.
Unfortunately, I don't always employ such plans for big responsibilities like marriage, family & personal finance.

 

[EngJW]

I think if you have some kind of organized routine you can avoid a lot of the surprises that waste time. You also have to be able to say no to activities that are less important than the ones on your list. We are all given the same 24 hours so we have to set our own individual priorities.

Give some to the job, some to the family, some to yourself, or just give it all to the job.

 

[HVAC68]

I plan for 5 1/2 days a week - at work and back at home as well, so that everything goes on as planned (I more or less achieve that).

We work 5 1/2 days a week.

Saturday afternoon to Sunday night - absolutely no planning. Take life as it comes. That way I unwind everything and get charged up again for the week ahead. The big problem is since we spend most of our time at work, we tend to use a similar approach at home also. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't plan at home.

I have found this to be very successful in stress reduction.

HVAC68

 

[737eng]

Prior to having children, I planned and scheduled everything at work, and most things with my home life, including vacations. Now that I have two toddlers and a stay at home wife, I don't plan or schedule anything at home. I have the "I will get to cutting the grass, or painting the house, etc... when I get to it" attitude and it seems to work just fine. It works fine because I am consciencous enough to realize that I can't let things get to far out of hand and things need to get done, but at the same time I want to enjoy my kids while I can. Even the last two road trips, we took, I just went with the flow, left home when everyone was ready, stopped everytime someone had to take a potty break or eat, the normal 11 hr trip took 14.5 hours and it didn't bother me a bit (prior to kids, everything would have been scheduled including where and when we were stopping for gas, etc...and I would have been a wreck if my wife or anything delayed my schedule). Even going fishing with my son is now non-scheduled, we go when he is ready and go to the spots he wants to go, even if we don't catch a thing, I still enjoy every minute.

I still schedule and task at work, but not as much as I used too. I think it is because I am more experienced at my position and am aware at how long things will take me to accomplish.

 

[metengr]

Tick;
The list is called a "honey-do" list. My list keeps getting longer and longer .....

 

[rmw]

My wife complains that once something goes onto the "honey-do" list, it takes 3 years before it gets done. Odd how accurate her statement is.

rmw