How Do You Do It All?
I often get asked, “Gretchen, how do you do it all?” When I respond to this question, the person usually says “hmm…that makes sense.” Their response tells me that what I think is a logical solution or train of thought might not be as obvious to others as it was to me. Let me explain…
When I started developing my online presence, I was a full-time classroom teacher with numerous additional roles on top of that which left me with very little “extra time.” I prioritized what social media platform I wanted to try and committed solely to developing that stream of followers and developing my voice on that particular site. Over time, I would add another social media platform and then another, but never before I was ready to handle it.
It would be very overwhelming to not have any internet presence and sit down to make a blog, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram page at one time. Each of these platforms takes hours of time to plan, create and execute.
It made sense why someone would look at me like “You are all over the internet. How do you do it?” Well, I didn’t do it overnight. It look years (literally). I worked at the pace I was comfortable with, built natural and real connections and didn’t get caught up on “the numbers.” I love to blog and if people read it, great. If they don’t, I am not going to give up because it’s my hobby and my passion to share my educational journey with others in hopes it helps them become great.
Okay, so launching your online presence over time with one platform at a time makes sense. Got it.
But how do you keep up with it all once you have all of these wheels spinning at once?
Each time I added a new platform, I made adjustments to how I managed my time. So it never became overwhelming and the way I orchestrate my time is very different now than it used to be, but its important to mention this changed organically (when and how needed).
I have to admit that I am super Type A- my husband always comments on the many “lists” I make, but it helps me remain focused and productive during my day. So, no surprise to him, I made myself a list of what I needed to accomplish daily so that I did not over indulge on one platform more than the other. It is super easy to get sucked in and I needed to make sure I engaged but didn’t saturate that platform.
Here is a screen shot of a Weekly Cycle Schedule I made for my online presence:
As I grew my business, my list of tasks increased. Below is an updated screenshot of my weekly cycles (as of 1/17/17):
Each day of the week (except Saturday because I need a break to recharge), I have written out a few tasks to complete. I spend anywhere from 15-30 minutes on each task. By spreading out what I am working on throughout the week, I ensure that I can touch base on all my platforms without going “ghost” or getting sucked in for hours on end. This has really helped me remain focused and productive while not feeling exhausted.
If you find yourself barely managing your time on the many platforms you have, try this strategy of creating a weekly cycle. Step two is making sure you stick to it. You might want to set a timer for 30 minutes and stay committed to when that alarm sounds, you move on to the next task. It’s hard at first because you want to continue connecting, but its far better to give your best for 30 minutes than just aimlessly perusing a site for hours.
So now when someone asks me, “Gretchen, how do you do it all?” I can say. “Well, I divide up my tasks throughout the week and eat the elephant one bite at a time.” And every time, they say “hmm… makes sense.” It does. Now go do it yourself!
About the author, Gretchen
I am a teacher trainer and coach. Working elbow to elbow with teachers and teacher leaders to ensure instructional proficiency and student achievement soar lights me up. We have a real need in our nation for strong educators to remain in the field. My blog, book, podcast, courses and instructional materials are geared towards empowering teachers (and those that lead them) to receive the support needed to grow and thrive today, tomorrow and always.