Are you the Chief Operating Officer in your house? Regardless of your professional life, you may very well have this title at home. You are the one who keeps things running, putting into full practice all the strategic decisions your family makes.
This includes day-to-day operations that would keep any well-qualified COO on their toes. Is there an early morning school club today? Who is going and what time do they need to be there? Taking or buying lunch? Is there a breakfast meeting or early conference call? Holy cow is the furnace guy coming today?!
And all before 8 a.m.
I am here to say that it is a good thing that the female mind was created or has
evolved to be able to handle this. Otherwise, we'd be in a world of hurt on a daily basis. This is partly about multi-tasking (which has its own drawbacks) but mostly about being able to keep track of a variety of events, activities and commitments that are swirling around your house and family every day.
And, yet, that COO role leaves out key pieces. These pieces are essential to us being able to keep that ball in play, to make sure that all those pieces of the COO role keep moving along. (I'm thinking that the CEO who just has to come with the ideas has it pretty good right now...)
What are those pieces that fall through the cracks? They tend to be essential self-care and relationship activities that keep us feeling whole and able to take on the world. These are things like sleep, consistent exercise and eating well, spending relaxed time with friends (without focusing on the kids), having a date night with a significant other.
Ummm...yeah.
Being the COO of your family and also trying to be that great professional and
executive woman is exhausting. But, it doesn't have to be. You have the power to change simple things to make sure you are doing justice to yourself, your family and your career. Start by making small changes - drinking more water, not skipping breakfast, having dinner with a friend one night a month, a real conversation with a significant other once a week.
Once you start taking small steps, you will be able and more prepared to make larger changes. Or maybe not. As the COO, you get to make that decision without having it be just one more thing on your agenda for the day.
Jennifer Peek, MBA, CPA specializes in teaching busy women professionals and executives to get control of their crazed schedules, renew their energy and vitality, be more productive in less time and find a joy and balance they didn't know existed. Get a copy of her COMPLIMENTARY "Having It All Without Losing Your Mind" Sanity Kit to help busy women executives get started on the road to greater success in all areas of their lives at www.PeekLifestyleCoaching.com