Beyond the clock

One of the most frequent questions I get asked is, How do you do it? Where do you find the time? It is a fair question. Like many of us, I juggle multiple roles: managing my work responsibilities, being an active board member of JCI Curepipe , looking after my home and family, and pursuing my studies. On the surface, it could seem like a lot. But it is all about balance, planning, planning AND planning. ?

The first step to prioritise what matters the most. Some days, family comes first, and other days work comes first. I have learned that giving each aspect of my life the attention it deserves helps me be present in the moment—whether it is during a business meeting, family dinner or being involved in community activities.

What can help is creating a list of non-negotiables. What are the things that, no matter how busy you get, cannot be compromised? This clarity guides my daily decisions.

Then comes, time management. I am a big fan of using tools like calendars and to-do lists. People who know me know that I swear by my calendar. I work with an old-fashioned planner for 3 months, so I can plan my short term and visualise it. I even colour code it, to make the different items pop out. I use the same calendar for my professional and personal life, as it allows me to keep a good balance. Having a calendar is good enough, but we need to use it and stick to that schedule as much as possible.

I find that calendarizing helps me maximise on my hours and reduces the stress of forgetting something important. This is the advice that I give to students during their orientation session.

What I have learnt over the years is not to feel guilty about turning down commitments. It is easy to fall into the trap of wanting to do everything, but the truth is, you do not have to. I evaluate my priority at the time, evaluate the opportunity coming my way, how it aligns to my goals. If I am not able to accommodate, I gracefully decline. This is necessary to protect my time and energy for things that matter the most to me.

A routine is necessary, but flexibility is equally as important. Because life can be unpredictable, and sometimes things do not go as planned. When I am booking my calendar, I like to add a buffer time into my day. This gives me the space to handle unexpected situations without feeling overwhelmed.

Next is self-care. Making time for yourself is crucial when you have a lot on your plate. Self care is not selfish. Self-care is necessary! It can be a quick workout. For me, it is watching a movie, videos or reading. Lately, I have taken a liking to podcasts. This is my time to recharge.

There is no short cut, just a lot of prioritising and planning, and knowing when to push forward and when to pause. I am not perfect, I am learning how to balance, finding a rhythm that works for me.