Seasonal workload and planning.

For someone who is seemingly time rich, not currently tied to an employers schedule, I find myself time poor. Having had a career in change, with so many years knee-deep in project management, this is a strange period and not at all comfortable.

One thing I have always been is organised and this has not changed. I am still applying schedules and timescales, smart multi-purpose working approaches, and effective multi-tasking. Deadlines are being met, priorities are always clear - making reprioritisation easy decision making, but I do not remember the last time I managed to take a deep breath.

So I am here, with ten minutes until my next appointment, sitting in a coffee shop with a drink someone else has made for me and a scone as big as a sandwich.

As I take the time to reflect, I realise that the new aspect to the way I am operating is an increased seasonality. It is the influence of others on my schedule, on the demands and requests headed my way. This is new to me, and wasn’t a part of the way I have previously operated.

I suspect that the ‘summer holidays’ has left me behind in the mundane, but eventually necessary, tasks and that these are catching up with me - holding me in a stage of treading water and preventing me from focusing as much time and energy on moving forward.

When you throw in the usual surprise issues that pop up in life every now and then, this month has become particularly trying.

The summer can become a phase of relaxation for me and this year I have not dedicated any time to ramping up ready for the shift in season. It’s a mistake I must own and move through.

Autumn this year will start with accepting that there will be a few more weeks of catch up, of rushing from one thing to another and of dropping at the end of the day, in order to compensate. The trick will be to remember this for every upcoming season change. Starting the prep for Christmas and Winter early enough to make a smooth transition and trying to remember this lesson for next summer.

My final thought is that this new seasonality may not be a bad thing. Life and our bodies work in seasons, why shouldn't I? Perhaps, when I've adapted to this new pattern, this will end up being a way that suits me best. A new season and a new start.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this piece, please consider whether you would benefit from accessing relevant support.

https://helplines.org/helplines

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