Stillness is the answer – how on earth do I manage to do it all?

We’ve all heard the question, ‘how on earth does she do it all?’ We might ask it about someone we know who seems to juggle work, family, home and hobbies and still have time to socialise. Or we may hear other people asking the question about our own lives. I certainly hear this all the time.

Women are known for multi-tasking, and we are often the ones who wear several hats. Too often, we try to do more than is humanly possible and sometimes berate ourselves for not having achieved the impossible. It is worth having a look at the list of things we are trying to do and reflecting that. if there are several items, we may well be asking rather a lot of ourselves.

Just for the sake of clarity, and to remind myself because I often forget some of the things I do, here is my list:

1. I’m a solicitor in criminal practice (if you want to look me up you’ll need to know I practise as Harriet Balcombe) and I work part time mainly in police stations.
2. I’m a Mind Calm Meditation Coach, running workshops, giving talks and coaching.
3. I write books, blogs and articles, mainly about well-being and meditation.
4. I’m a single parent of an older teenager whom I home educated from the age of 13 and who has some different needs.
5. I look after my mother who lives just down the road and has multiple sclerosis.
6. I also have to take care of myself particularly well as I have had some health challenges over the past few years.

Of course I also try to have fun, exercise, play with my dog and, when I really have to, do housework.

So, how do I do all that and remain sane and reasonably pleasant to be with? That is what I intend to answer over the next 30 days, for my own elucidation as much as anyone else’s. I’m blogging along with a lovely group of ladies, many of whom are good friends, in Winning Women Essex. We all have slightly different personal reasons for undertaking the 30 day challenge, but we are supporting each other and learning from each other’s blogs.

I’m hoping to share, day by day, some of what is happening with my various roles and how I manage juggling them. I am sure there will also be frustrations and indecision over the month, and I will share some of that with you as well. There may well be some tips and secrets, which some of you may find useful or helpful, but I think it is just as important to share the times when the juggling doesn’t work, when overwhelm takes over and perfectionism makes it hard. Because it is so important for us all to know that we are not alone.

Do join me for the journey and, if you would like to keep in touch, please sign up for my newsletter. You’ll find a link below.