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Do you ever feel like you are overworked? Is your to-do list never ending? Do you feel like you are not spending enough time with your family or loved ones? Do you have a hard time saying “no?” Have you been longing to pick up your favorite hobby again, but time simply does not allow you to? If you answered yes to any of these questions, your work-life balance is out of whack. Do not let that discourage you though. It happens to everyone at some point or another. Being an adult in today’s day and age is incredibly overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to stay that way! You just need to create a proper work-life balance.

Most of us wish we had more than twenty-four hours in a day, right? Our to-do lists seem to be never ending. Once one task gets scratched off, two more tasks get added to the bottom. When you start to feel that sense of overwhelm, it is time for you to sit down and prioritize your work-life balance to ensure that you continue to live a fulfilling life. We all wear many hats, so it can take some adjustments here or there before finding a work-life balance that works for you. I am currently a wife, homeschooling mom of two young boys, an administrative assistant for a nonprofit, a business owner and a church volunteer. When people find this out about me, the number one question I receive is, “Where do you find the time?” Well, I have some news for you. Time isn’t lost. You won’t ever find more of it. We are all given the same twenty-four hours every day. However, if you want to create more time for things that bring you joy, it is time for you to think about what needs to be done, what you want to do and then create a balance between the two.

The first step in doing this is having a planner. It doesn’t matter what kind of planner you want, as long as it will work for you. I prefer Google Calendar because I can pull it up on my computer and my phone. Plus it will remind me of meetings, play dates, due dates, etc (which is very helpful when you live with ADD). However, if you prefer an old fashioned paper planner, go ahead and get yourself one.

Once you have a planner, it is time to start filling it in. First, you will pencil in all of your immovable items. These include doctor appointments, work schedule (if you work a job with shifts or outside of the home), kids school, etc. Once those are all filled in, you move on to your non-negotiable items. These are any items that are important to you and your overall well being. My personal non-negotiable items are: family dinner, my boys’ extracurricular activities, my morning prayer/meditation and my morning workout. These are all things that make me feel like a better wife, mom, entrepreneur and person. I find that I am more patient, present and productive when I have the time blocked off for these specific activities. If you are unsure about your non-negotiables, ask yourself these questions: What will bring you peace? What brings your joy? What helps you stay grounded?

Now it is time to really balance your schedule out. You have your immovable and non-negotiable items in your planner. Now you must add in your times for work (whether that’s on your business, a hobby, personal development, etc) and your times for rest. I find that it is easier to push through and get things done when I feel unmotivated when I know a time of rest is coming soon. I know this seems like a lot of work, but I promise it helps create a life that protects your inner peace while you work towards achieving your goals. Your life does not have to look like everyone else’s. In fact, it is meant to be your own unique journey. Pay attention to what works for you. For example, I find that I am more creative at night after my children go to bed. So I usually keep my design and writing tasks for that time slot. When you give yourself tasks that are easy for you to do at the time of day that works for you, you will find that life flows more easily and is less stressful.

Our society tells us that we need to work around the clock to achieve our goals, but that simply isn’t true. You can make your dreams come true while living a life you love with a proper work-life balance. Always remember, you are only one person. You are not meant to do it all. It is vital that you keep this in mind before accepting new projects or tasks. Also, if the first schedule you try does not work, please do not get discouraged. Sometimes you have to do some trial and error before finding what really works for you in this season. You are not alone in trying to figure this crazy work out. For more encouragement and a copy of my current daily routine, please check out my book “Women Who Lead: The Future of Entrepreneurship.” You got this. I believe in you.