To be or not to be fixed...

Being self employed is flipping marvellous because of its flexibility… that was without a doubt one of the big draws for my career move (originally because of the children but now because of my rigorous nails/lashes/hair routine 🤣) and I know it is for most people.

The harder you work, the more you enjoy it, the more successful you are the less that flexibility is apparent but it’s still more so that those in full time ‘corporate’ employment. On top of that is the variety that comes from this very specific business - a roster of different clients that have different needs make for an interesting mix of tasks on a day to day basis.

I saw a post recently from a fellow VA in a group I belong to where they were asking about time management and whether you should commit fixed periods of time to a client each week. E.g. Mondays are only for client X, Tuesday between 10-2 I work for Y. That made me think about how I manage my time and whether I should be more rigid.

I read a time management thing once that said you should only deal with emails for one hour a day and then not let them interfere or derail the rest of your working day; or that you should never let people interrupt you and ask questions but only allow those for a certain period of time day.

Even on paper that seems to rigid to me and starts to give me palpitations but when you work a job like this how important is it to have that level of predictability- for me personally it’s not important at all. I have regular tasks I need to get done weekly or monthly but when I do then isn’t as important. For my clients perhaps it is more important, I know some people like to know I’ll be focussed on them on a particular day- so they can call, talk through things and know that any actions will be competed on that day. That said, it’s never an exclusive arrangement - I’ll take other calls, deal with urgent emails or things I know need sorting because I can manage my time and I know how to juggle priorities.

Perhaps the approach to time blocking isn’t right for me and for a Spinning Plates, I think in my case it’s more about communication and making clients aware of when I am and am not free, when I hope to get a task completed by and if any problems arise. You need to decide what’s right for you and your job role or business, I hope these thoughts have helped you decide that though.