Juggling Time Like a Pro: Life as a Fractional Executive While Living Abroad with the Family
Embracing the digital nomad lifestyle with my family has been an exhilarating journey, and joining the Boundless.Life program has propelled us into an adventure in picturesque Tuscany for three months! We're learning to balance work, travel, school, and parenting in a new cultural environment, an experience that's both challenging and rewarding and makes the early days of COVID seem like a lazy Sunday picnic!
Our journey began in San Diego, weaving through Dallas, Madrid, and Barcelona with our young boys, who are quickly becoming seasoned travelers. Our arrival in Italy brought a sense my life is a thrilling blend of managing professional responsibilities and navigating the joys and surprises of family life.
My role has me juggling time zones, and client needs while also being present for my kids' spontaneous and delightful demands, wrangling 8 and 5-year-old boys in the ever-shifting sands of the 'new normal,’ and somehow keeping all the balls in the air without dropping one on my foot. I'm about to take you through the eye of the time management hurricane, seen through the goggles of a professional with children who've become mini globe-trotters overnight.
The Executive's Time Dilemma
The complexity of working across vastly different time zones adds an interesting dimension to my day. Whether it's handling a conference call with clients in San Francisco while managing bedtime routines in Italy or balancing professional precision with the unpredictable nature of family life, every day brings a new challenge: aligning my business strategies with my clients' varied schedules and expectations.
Time Zones and Tantrums
Picture this: I'm on a morning (PST) conference call with clients in San Francisco, focused and professional(ish), when suddenly, in the living room just before bedtime locally (GMT+1), there's a crisis – my kids are arguing fiercely about whose turn it is to throw a small soccer ball (or futbol, as we're now accustomed to calling it) into a trash can as part of their homemade game. Balancing my professional responsibilities with family life's unpredictable, often humorous demands is challenging.
The International Playground
Our home in Italy has become a vibrant hub of cultural exchange, filled with new friendships and experiences. And when I need to focus on work, the Boundless Life co-working hub offers the perfect sanctuary for productivity.
Zoom Calls and Bedtime Stories
I've mastered the art of efficient overseas time management in this role. Mornings are dedicated to uninterrupted, focused work (emails, strategic planning, and projects), while evenings are for client calls, allowing me to adapt to the demands of different time zones. This unique lifestyle has sharpened my multitasking skills and productivity. This allows me the joy of taking a day trip to work in Florence while the kids are in school (yes, rough life, but somebody’s gotta do it!). So, finding a balance is truly key! This is true at home and as a digital nomad.
Efficient Overseas Time Management:
Navigating the world of a fractional executive and a parent to young globe-trotters, I've discovered that time management is both an art and a necessity. It involves a blend of business acumen, adaptability, and a good sense of humor. I cherish every moment of this journey and look forward to sharing more of our family's adventures in work and travel.
Ciao for now – off to enjoy some pizza and gelato!
