We are all encouraged to “bring our whole self to work.  How about taking it home too?  I know people who are recognised as great strategic planners, great project managers at work.  People pay them for those skills.  But when you talk to them about their personal life, they don’t seem to think that they can use the same skills to plan their own futures.  “I’ve got the to-do list from hell at home, and I can’t find any time for myself” said someone I know who can manage multiple complex projects without breaking into a sweat.. 

 When we talked about why he didn’t feel right using those skills at home. “It all seems a bit too contrived”.  “How would it feel” I asked, “if you turned yourself into a project?”  “A bit odd” was the answer.  We talked it through.  Why are the skills that you use in the office not useful at home? Where do you start?

 Get all the facts, including that to do list, down on paper or into whatever project management software you use if you are feeling brave, (Full disclosure – I use Monday.com) then go through the process you would at work.  Who are your stakeholders? What are your priorities, what can you delegate (find a painter rather than doing it yourself)? What really needs to be on that list at all?  What is it that you (personally) need to do.?  What needs to be done by when?  Leave adequate time for the family things that don’t appear in your to do list.

 Create a project plan and start managing it.