People often ask me how I manage to juggle three children and running a busy charity. There isn’t really an easy way to answer – the key for me is strict time management and prioritising.
From a young age I have always been on the go and had a lot of energy. I was one of the youngest managers of Matalan in my 20’s and I think the fast-paced nature of working in retail prepared me well.
My family always come first and I am fortunate to have support from my parents, which I know a lot of women are not blessed with. And to say I never get overwhelmed would be untrue – there are some weeks when I can cope with everything and manage to keep all of the balls in the air so to speak, and others when things can feel difficult.
I have written before about the importance of taking time out for me to do something alone. I am currently training for the sponsored open water swim on July 14th to raise money for Motherwell and so I am making time to go swimming – something I love to do! I also make time for regular massages, which I used to feel guilty about doing but now I know it is vital for me to be able to relax and they always help me to sleep better.
Being kind to ourselves is something I talk a lot about with my counselling clients. Sometimes it is useful to ask yourself what you would say to a friend or colleague in your situation – taking time out for yourself can really help to make you feel more able to cope with what life is throwing at you.