There was a time when I used to hate the school holidays.
Not because I didn’t love spending time with my boys—I absolutely do. I dreaded them because every holiday felt like a juggling act. How was I going to look after the children, keep them entertained, run my business, meet deadlines, and still get everything done that needed to be done?
By the end of every holiday, I often felt guilty. Guilty that I hadn’t given my boys enough attention, and guilty that I hadn’t achieved everything I wanted to in my business.
Can you relate?
The truth is, the problem wasn’t the school holidays. The problem was that I wasn’t planning my year effectively.
Since creating Seriously Organised, I’ve learnt that good planning isn’t about filling every minute of your diary. It’s about intentionally creating space for what matters most.
Now, I organise my year differently.
I schedule the busiest projects, major launches, and time-consuming tasks during the school terms when the boys are in class. That means when the holidays arrive, my workload is lighter, giving me the freedom to enjoy more moments with my family.
Is it perfect?
Not at all.
There are still days when I tell the boys, “Today I need to work for a few hours.”
Running a business doesn’t stop simply because it’s school holidays. But the difference is that those workdays are the exception rather than the rule.
Because I’ve learnt to get organised, I’ve created far more flexibility than I ever had before.
Our children grow up so quickly.
One moment they’re asking you to build Lego, kick a ball in the garden, or take them for a milkshake. Before you know it, they’re teenagers spending more time with their friends, and then one day they’ll leave home to build lives of their own.
That thought reminds me that my to-do list will always be there.
These moments won’t.
That’s why I believe family organisation is about so much more than colour-coded calendars or perfectly planned schedules. It’s about protecting time for the people who matter most.
We’ve all done it.
You finally make time to take the kids out for a milkshake, but your phone never leaves your hand. You’re replying to emails, checking WhatsApp messages, scrolling through notifications, and mentally thinking about tomorrow’s workload.
Technically you’re together.
But are you really present?
One of the greatest gifts we can give our loved ones is our full attention.
When you’ve planned ahead and managed your workload, it’s so much easier to put the phone away and enjoy the conversation, the laughter, and those little moments that become treasured memories.
Life has a way of throwing unexpected challenges our way. None of us knows how much time we have with the people we love, which is why making memories shouldn’t be something we hope to do “one day.”
An organised life doesn’t happen by accident.
It starts by looking at your year as a whole.
Book the family holidays before your calendar fills up. Schedule special days out. Protect birthdays, anniversaries, school events, and weekends together. Build your work around your priorities instead of trying to squeeze your priorities into whatever time is left.
That’s what effective time management and work-life balance really look like.
At Seriously Organised, I believe organisation isn’t about becoming busier. It’s about creating a life where you have time for your goals, your work, and the people you love most.
Because at the end of the day, success isn’t measured by how many emails you answered or how many tasks you crossed off your list.
It’s measured by the memories you made, the relationships you nurtured, and the moments you were truly present for.
So this year, don’t just plan your work.
Plan your life.
Your future self—and your family—will thank you.
Alison xxx
Founder, Seriously Organised
Instagram @seriously_organised_alison
Facebook @SeriouslyOrganisedbyAlison
