What’s on my mind? Routine, summer and FOMO

There’s something magical about a good morning routine.?

I know I’ve talked about this before, and I’ll probably talk about it again. Getting up, working out, getting some fresh air, a few mindful moments and that wonderful calm cup of coffee. Yes, please!

But what happens when your routine is messed up? Inevitably, it happens to me every summer. My son comes home, my daughter is off school and everyone in my house, including my three cats go on ‘summer break’. I love it and I hate it.

I love having them home and being able to do a few things with them on the weekends. I'm also somewhat jealous when they’re able to have a lie-in after a mid-week concert or go play that par-3 at 10 am or even just hang out, read a book or play a game.?

They play, I work, and everything seems to get ‘off routine and out of balance’.

Over the years, I’ve accepted that I’ll feel this way and almost be a little ‘mad’ at them for a couple of days and then get over it.

It’s my perception, my reaction to their summer freedom that needs to change - "It's me, not you ??".??

I’ve also realised that just because their routine is a bit crazy, it doesn’t need to throw mine off. I can still have those precious morning moments and keep my workouts, my walks and my calm morning coffee.

I’ve decided to make an effort to get over my Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) and just appreciate the stories they share with me when I get home from work. We all know those ‘freedom summers’ are so limited once you get into the workforce.?

I can live vicariously through them, but I don’t need to get angry because they’re having fun and I’m working.

I know for many parents, summers are hard. We have our kids in camps and daycare and an endless amount of programs to try and entertain them for the months they’re out of school.?

This time can be expensive, it can be stressful, and if you’re like me - and have older kids - it can be a little frustrating.

These are the moments that I’m really happy to have flexible working – working as one team to understand and be inclusive of each other’s varied styles of working. Whether it’s balancing between remote working to flex around your family needs and that of the business, to connecting in person with purpose.

I was thinking about this as my son returned for a few weeks before he starts his internship back in the States. What if we truly understood how and when we’re the most productive?

What if we were also more intentional with meetings by enforcing better practices? I also recommend having this on one of your agenda items to see what ways of working are best for the individuals in your team and if you can do anything to live up to a growth mindset of always improving.

I suspect we’ll be more productive and get better at understanding each other’s ways of working and managing meetings.

A few tips for example for managing meetings that have worked for me over the years:

1. Having a clear agenda
2. Setting desired outcomes - for our Executive Leadership Team (ELT), I define these as Decision, Discussion and Direction (which one does the topic fall into and what decision/direction is required?)
3. Outlining clear next steps and actions
4. Time management (this one we need to work on!)
5. Giving everyone the opportunity for input

What tools do you use to manage your meetings and work or would like to see more of? How has it been going?