Balancing Work, your Apprenticeship - and Maybe a Social Life Too! By Elle Birrell King

Elle is a Digital Marketing Apprentice at Cremarc and is writing for the Community Blogging Team - applications for the next team are open now!

Last month was exhausting - good-exhausting but exhausting nonetheless; increasing job responsibilities, apprenticeship work, interviews for my next role, an exam and somehow, I tried to squeeze in time for a social life too...

So, it’s safe to say I have felt a little overwhelmed at times.

Of course, it is impossible to manage all your responsibilities perfectly; however, there are lots of things you can do to stop yourself from feeling so overwhelmed. Different things work for different people, however I decided to put together a guide of useful strategies that seemed to work for me and helped me balance my commitments. I hope some of them work for you.

Plan, plan, plan
I hate to sound like a nagging parent (oh well, here I go anyway) but planning out your time and setting goals really is essential when you have lots going on. When you are organised, you are far more likely to save time and achieve your goals; this means more time to binge watch the latest Netflix series! The simplest way to do this is write down a to do list, establish deadlines and rank the list in order of priorities. Set deadlines and put them in your calendar as it is too easy to forget minor tasks. I love using a free project management tool, Trello, where you can create and customise a board with a series of lists. My favourite thing about Trello is that you can share your board with other colleagues; a great way to collaborate and delegate tasks. 

Accountability
One of the best strategies to ensure I keep organised and on track with all my work is accountability. Why not get a mentor? This is a fantastic way to receive guidance, establish your goals and complete them! I have found monthly meetings with my mentor extremely valuable; in these meetings, we talk through what I have achieved, the challenges and the actionable steps I can take to balance my responsibilities. But you don't have to get a mentor to keep yourself accountable. You could also schedule a quick meeting (or even share your Trello board) with colleagues and your manager. 

Have a chat!
When you feel swamped with work, sometimes you just need a chat! I have found talking through my challenges is not only a fantastic opportunity to vent but also a great way to get advice - even hear a few home truths occasionally! Friends, family, colleagues, and mentors; anyone you feel comfortable with will do! If I could give one piece of advice for new Multiverse apprentices, I would say to use the Community Hub. The Hub helps you make links to other apprentices who may have faced similar challenges to you. In addition, meeting apprentices from the Hub and sharing our challenges and successes provides an excellent opportunity to share resources to help you complete your tasks faster! Be brave - give it a go!

Take a break, reflect and refocus
When you are at capacity with your workload, it can become easy to forget to take a moment to recharge - to take a break - to relax - to reflect. That's why It’s vital to factor in time away from your desk; you can do this by setting reminders in your calendar to take a quick 10-minute break. Whether it is going for a short walk or doing some yoga, how you recharge is up to you! I have found attending Community events such as 'The 30 Minute Journal' really helpful! Taking 30 minutes to reflect on your successes and challenges of the week ensures you are re-energised for the next week and that you are learning from your experience.

If you want to participate in or use the programmes, events and resources mentioned in the article; click the links below:
•    The 30-Minute Journal
•    Multiverse Mentoring
•    Trello

Don't hesitate to connect on the Hub or LinkedIn if you have any questions; I am always open to any follow-up conversations.