I don’t know about you, but lately life has been crazy busy.
Since launching Skin Boss in July, the juggle has been VERY real.
Fitting in all the things – running a new business and a blog – which is also a business – keeping on top of family, school and social commitments, medical appointments and coordinating life with a husband who travels a fair bit has been a huge challenge.
One that I was solving by getting up at 5am and going to bed at 11pm. Then of course, I’d lie in bed until around midnight, thinking of all the things I have to do the next day. And so the feeling of overwhelm continued.
Until a couple of weeks ago when I decided enough was enough. It was time to make a few simple changes to my busy life. If you’re feeling overwhelmed at the moment, I hope this list helps you too.
11 SIMPLE CHANGES I MADE TO ONE BUSY LIFE
1. I hired a cleaner
We’ve never had a cleaner before, but of all the changes I’ve made this is the one I’m most grateful for.
We’ve been given three hours of our lives back every week and I can’t tell you how fabulous it is to walk into freshly cleaned floors every Thursday afternoon.
2. I’m getting more sleep
This one has taken a while, but I’m getting there. I no longer spend hours mindlessly scrolling through my phone at night. Instead I aim for a 10pm bed time and most nights that happens.
3. I’m giving myself time off
I give myself half a day off during the week. I use this time to catch up with a girlfriend, go shopping, get my hair done, take myself out for lunch etc. It’s a morning or afternoon all to myself that’s scheduled each week so it can’t be broken.
4. I’ve committed to regular exercise
This one will probably shock you, but I’m no longer an exercise avoider. I KNOW. Feel free to hold an intervention if ever I suggest we meet for a walk instead of a coffee.
But I have committed to regular exercise. I water walk twice, sometimes three times a week.
I also go for semi-regular walks around the neighbourhood in the afternoon. That’s not something I’ve committed to, it’s just something I like to do after a day of sitting in front of the computer.
5. I shop more online
We do most of our grocery shopping online now, which is such a massive time saver. I also shop for most of my clothes online and buy most gifts online too.
6. I make lists
I’ve always been a list maker, but I’d fallen into a habit of scribbling random ideas/things to do on any old piece of paper that was nearby.
That wasn’t exactly the most productive way to approach the whole list making thing!
However I now have a beautiful Kikki K planner in my life and all of my lists are in one easy to find gorgeous blush pink place.
7. I schedule as much social media as I can
Running two Facebook pages – one for Kirsten and co. and one for Skin Boss – in addition to each Instagram feed, takes a couple of hours a day. Sometimes longer.
I was posting and answering questions/replying to comments on all of these pages constantly throughout the day and into the evening.
Now I try to plan ahead and schedule as much as I can on both Facebook pages. This means I type/add a post to the relevant Facebook page and hit schedule instead of publish.
I’m still doing the work, but it’s at a time that works for me, rather than a time that interferes with a meeting/family life/school event etc.
8. I don’t reply to messages immediately
I receive A LOT of messages every day from blog readers, Skin Boss customers, Instagram followers, brands, friends etc.
I used to answer all of these messages as soon as my phone would ping.
Now I have a quick check of the message as it appears on my phone. If it’s urgent, I’ll reply asap. If it can wait, I’ll finish whatever task I’m currently working on and then answer it.
9. I meal prep
I don’t do this all the time, but if I know I have a particularly big week ahead I’ll whip up a couple of meals on a Sunday afternoon.
It makes life so much easier the following week when there’s a couple of lunches and/or dinners sitting in the fridge, ready to go.
10. I’ve outsourced some tasks
We’ve just hired an amazing tech support person and a blogger for Skin Boss. Both are outstanding at what they do and are such a huge help.
While I can do both of those things, I’ve finally come to realise that I can’t actually do everything.
11. I’ve pulled back on blogging here at Kirsten and co.
When I was really unwell with IIH – or rather the medication I was on for IIH – I wrote blog posts here almost every day. I still don’t know how I did that.
Last year I delivered fresh content every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and continued to until, you guessed it, Skin Boss was launched.
Skin Boss – natural nourishing Australian skin care available here.
Now I hit publish once a week. Usually on a Thursday, sometimes a Friday. It’s all I can fit in at the moment and I’d rather deliver one decent post than three very average ones.
I still share daily outfit posts, advice & inspo on Instagram and have started having a bit of fun with Insta Stories.
Of course all of these 11 simple changes I’ve made to one busy life are a work in progress.
Some days I nail it and breeze through the day. Other days I’m still sitting in front of the computer until 10 o’clock at night. Which may or may not occasionally involve rather than actually working ๐
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