Decorating

I have been decorating my house with my partner over the last few weeks. The transformation is amazing and it feels great to get behind all those cupboards and have a good clear out. When it came to the office I realised how many invitations, letters about new products and other stuff I have held on to in the vain hope that I may get a chance to read them. Getting that time to 'decorate' gave me the opportunity to rediscover some of those ideas I had had earlier in the year and as a result I contacted a few people and moved some of the projects that I am working on a little further forward.

I have resolved to take one hour off a week to de clutter my desk and re check my emails to make sure I didnt miss anything. How many people do this already? Sometimes when you discover something that helps you often feel like the only one - but I bet everyone does it eh!

Last night Robson Green was on with his 10 most extreme fishing stories. The number one spot was about the Blue Marlin - he related the story of Ernest Hemingway and the Old Man and The Sea - brilliant reading. But I hadnt realised that in this scenario it really meant something to Robson Green as he identified with the relationship with the fish. Looking at it from the point of view of someone who experienced fishing was like looking with a new pair of eyes. Quite refreshing, so many experiences can be enjoyed again from a different view point - that idea could help me with some of my more mundane tasks.

So whats that drivel got to do with helping me do my job - I guess in both instances I have learned something - not anything I can describe particularly well but something I can relate to being better at what I do and something I can use to help me later. And I didnt have to pay to attend a course to do it!

Flexible Working

What I love about working flexibly is that control element. I have been decorating this week - and at the same time - because I work from home - I have been able to carry on working. Any minute now my friend Helen will turn up to go runnning and as I have been at my desk since about 7ish I am ready for the break. Its a completely different way of looking at work life balance - anyway - here are three of my top tips for getting it right:

1. Set goals – start by working out what are the things that are important to you in your life and then rank them; things like, your children, your hobbies, your family, your pets, your self, your business or your work and then all the other things that mean something to you. This doesn’t have to be in tablets of stone as things will change week by week so give your self a rough idea. Then look at the logistics, for example – though my children are number one to me they are at school from 9 until 3.30 so that time is available, they go to bed at 8.30 so I have time in the evening. My goal with my children is to be with them as much as possible. You may have other first priorities that are not part of your work life.
2. Plan your day – because of my goals I know that I want to spend time with my children and the best time to do that is from when they finish school to when they go to bed. So I finish work at 3.30pm and do the last few hours of my day from 8.30pm. This allows me to achieve my – being with the kids goal! I also want to be fit and healthy and have energy and me time – so I start my day early, before the rest of my house is awake I go for a run. I also understand my natural work rhythm – I know I am most creative in the morning and most organised at night so I set my tasks accordingly.
3. Set expectations – now that you have a plan you know what everyone can expect from you. Tell people when you intend to be available and when you are not free. My children know that I expect them to be in bed at 8.00 lights out 8.30 as I have to go back to work then. Of course we have the odd niggle on that but generally everyone understands. My customers know that I stop work for the day at 3 but if they forget that is also fine I can generally talk to them for a little while and they understand that I am usually involved in some sort of children’s activity and that they will have to email me to follow up the conversation.

I will post some more top tips later but now I better go for my run - to many cakes yesterday!