It is this time of the year again. Planning time and then budgeting for next year. They go hand in hand so imagine how busy we are at the office at this last leg of the third quarter.
Almost always the planning session lasts for three days and out of town. It is to give the participants the time to focus and deliberate on their programs. We are scheduled to have our planning next week. I am so glad it will only be for two days and the venue is quite near, only an hour drive from Manila.
Even so, it means I will be out of the house for two days - away from my daughter. I have been doing this since I started working, one would think I am used to this by now. I don’t think I will ever be used to staying out of the house for days. I have “interventions” to make my time away from my family more bearable. I have provided myself three simple checklists - pre, actual and post-trip activities.
The previous years my list is up to the minutest details but I have to give credit to my husband and my daughter and our help. They are able, functioning human beings as my husband says it perfectly. Don’t sweat the small stuff so to speak. For one thing, my husband and I see to it that our schedules complement. We cannot have trips at the same time. That is a cardinal rule.
My pre-trip activities include two major things. I check the school work of my daughter for the next days that I will be out. If there are projects for submission, I note them down so I can call her. This is not breathing behind her neck but just asking how she is progressing with her project. A little help from mommy, even if she’s away, won’t hurt in case she finds something hard to do.
I also plan the menu. I make sure everything they will need is on the refrigerator. My daughter and I actually plan this together.
While I am away I call my daughter at least three times a day. This recharges me. It’s just like what we always do - tell each other how our day was. Also, I check out popular local products and buy my family (and the help and some officemates) “pasalubong”. It makes me happy and excited to bring them all home and see how much they appreciate what I have for them.
There are nights when I find it hard to sleep especially when I am alone at the hotel. So I bring my current read and sleep the night away with my book. I also take time out to organize my calendar for the next few weeks which include a weekend getaway with my family.
I also bring my camera for some picture taking. The day goes by fast with all the planning and all the fun things that we infuse to it like taking pictures of each other. My daughter actually looks forward to seeing all the wacky pictures.
My post trip includes mentally accounting how much excess cell phone charges I incurred this time. Kidding aside, I look forward to going home, having a great rest and the whole family feasting on the “loots” I bought from my trip. And at home, we just do our catching up as if we did not talk about them over the phone while I was out of town. Since I take time off from work after the planning session, we have time as a family to bond even more. Post trip is the best as you can see.
*Photo from gettyimages.com.
9:39 pm on September 23rd, 2008
Oh yeah, Q3 was the worst time for me too. Strat planning, budgeting - lahat yan ginagawa na by this time.
But unlike you, I wasn’t as organized and foresighted. Thanks for sharing these tips. Goes to show that family and career CAN be worked out to go together.
10:16 pm on September 23rd, 2008
I’m taking it easy since I have other plans after all these planning sessions.
8:51 pm on November 4th, 2008
I admire how you successfully manage your obligations at work and your role as mother and wife.