managing my life and keeping it all moving forward

Remember my last post titled, life of the unemployed - what's life like outside of the corporate job?  There have been some changes that I've had to go through in the past month.  And remember how insanely busy I was back then - being free-employed (aka unemployed)?  ...  Well... let's just say, it's worse.  I'm sitting here in the purest sense, exhausted.

This post is by request: A few people have written me in the past month also asking me to do a blog post on how in the world do I manage it all (or not): my family, the administration involved with keeping my home/life afloat (cleaning, bills, ...), my [ecommerce] startup, my furniture patent-pending design project, relationships, taking care of my dog, leaving time for myself, attending social obligations, ...  and now, working the freelance-job as a contractor at the large software company otherwise known as Microsoft.  Yes, I'm back here, again... building a marketing dashboard for them.  It's kind of like going back "home" after being away so long... with all of the pros and cons associated with that.

A day in the life of Arry (this has literally been my week - it's my day tomorrow too):

• 430-500AM: Wake up.  I've been awake already lately because the task list is going on inside my head.  It's dark out.
  
• 500AM: Begin work: emails, messages, process flows, documents, website testing, preparing for the day.  Dog's still sleeping.  I may pick up a few things, clean as I go.  Go through stack of snail mail, ...
  
• 700AM: First meeting: web design, user experience, copy, ... whatever needs to get done.
• 900AM: Walk dog - feed her, pet her, play a few rounds of fetch - give her tons of kisses and tell her she means the world to me.
• 930AM: Hit the road - Head to the east-side.  Mind you, this commute can range from 30-60 minutes depending on the day (multitask: phone calls, news feeds, emails, messages).  When I arrive, it's check-in, emails, talk to client, meetings, Excel/PowerPivot/Data... etc... Usually I get to eat a real meal at my desk while multi-tasking during the work day.  Sometimes I'll get to squeeze in a lunch meeting.  iPhone is in hand checking messages, feeds, news while walking to/from meetings/places.
  
• 300/330PM: Hit the road - back to Seattle (multitask: phone calls, news feeds, emails, messages).  Walk dog, pet her, refill her food/water, play a few rounds of fetch. 
  
• 400PM: Meet with client #2: build websites or meeting with my chief engineer on product design, strategy, ... next steps.  Work on my demo models.  Sometimes I'll use this time to just think/brainstorm/paint/read/write.
  
• 700PM: Back to work: Prep for 7AM meeting (build site map, refine processes, QA website changes, finish the rest of my to do's, fill out a new master business application...), prep for 11AM with client (status, data, Excel/PowerPivot, ...).
• 930PM: Winding down + admin time: respond to more messages, emails, check blog comments/messages, plan schedule for the next day - send out reminders/confirm meetings, ... Pull the dog next to me as I sit with my laptop on the couch.
• Depending on the day - bedtime between 1130PM and 130AM.  Of course, one last dog walk + TLC time with the Mochi.
  

So at the end of it all, work/play/personal... it's one big pot for me.  I prioritize based on what needs to happen today or else, something will blow up.  I prioritize based on people I care about and I make time/shuffle to spend quality time with them - even if it means, I may sleep a little less, or that one other thing I wanted to get done, doesn't.  I tend to be super productive if I'm alive very early in the morning, mid afternoon, or late at night.  I use a lot of lists (anyone that's been over to my place knows I depend on post-its and flip charts and my handy notebook I call "my brain").  It comes down to this, if you care about it enough, you'll make time and it'll happen (I may end up paying for it later, yes.)  I generally see it as people > things > me --- but I've had to learn that if I don't like me, it's hard to be good company for others.  If I feel me falling, it becomes me > people > things.  Lots of advil.  Most importantly, having an awesome support network of those that truly love and care for you is absolutely key - people that talk straight with you, are super real, and will accept you no matter what happens.