The Importance of Structuring Admin Time in Your Week

Hello everyone,

Today I want to talk about a topic that is often overlooked yet crucial in maintaining both our personal and work lives: the importance of structuring some admin time or even dedicating a full admin day each week. Now, this doesn’t solely pertain to your job; it could encompass a wide range of aspects in your personal life as well. But why is this so vital? Stick with me, and I hope you'll find this insight useful.

Welcome back to consecutive day 1587 of a diary of a Runpreneur. For those who believe in my mission of saving the lives of children by attempting the ultimate ultramarathon of running vlogs every single day barefoot, please give us a subscribed, share, like, and comment. The more people we reach, the more money we raise, and ultimately, the more children’s lives we can save. This is why I commit to this every single day, and I am grateful for your support.

Understanding the Role of Admin Tasks

Administrative tasks are an inevitable part of life, whether they are related to work, personal endeavours, or general life management. These tasks can be anything from simple computer work, pen and paper tasks, reconciling receipts, creating shopping lists, ordering food, to managing emails and social media posts. This is what I classify as "administrative work."

While some people excel at administrative tasks, displaying impeccable organisation, project management, and time management skills, others—including myself—find these tasks challenging. So, how do I manage to tackle them effectively?

My Strategy: The Admin Day

I have dedicated a specific day of the week as my “admin day.” For me, it’s Friday. I operate from a space that’s remote yet conducive—like a local café—armed with my laptop or iPad. On this day, I handle payments for my group of companies, which involves making crucial bank transfers and approvals. Effectively, any administrative work that arises during the week gets deferred to this day unless it’s urgent.

In addition to paperwork and approvals, I also schedule meetings on my admin day. These meetings, while important, don’t demand immediate attention that would interrupt the rest of my week. By clustering these activities into one day, I can maintain a focused and systematic approach to handling my administrative load.

Overcoming Procrastination

A significant challenge with admin tasks, particularly for those with an ADHD mind like mine, is overcoming procrastination. Each Friday, I follow a specific process: I begin by ensuring a good night’s sleep the night before. When I start my tasks, I commit to just five minutes. If I’m not feeling it after five minutes, I shift to another task. This small initial effort usually builds momentum, making it easier to continue.

Typically, after starting a task, I give myself up to an hour to work on it before taking a short break—usually around 20 minutes for a coffee or snack. This cycle allows me to maintain productivity throughout the day.

Why Structured Admin Time Matters

The key takeaway here is the necessity of scheduling dedicated admin time into your calendar. This applies to both life and work admin tasks. Without this structured time, it’s easy for administrative responsibilities to pile up, creating stress and anxiety. Simple tasks, when neglected, can snowball into larger issues. For instance, an unpaid bill can lead to significant repercussions.

By dedicating Fridays to administrative work, I ensure that the rest of my week remains focused on high-level tasks that I enjoy. This approach not only keeps me on top of my admin duties, but also significantly reduces stress and anxiety.

In a single sitting, I power through urgent tasks, prioritising them according to their immediacy. Knowing that I have a weekly system in place for handling admin work provides peace of mind, even if I don’t complete everything in one day.

I hope you find these insights helpful. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to drop me a line—I respond to everyone. And remember, if you support my mission of saving children’s lives through my ultramarathon run vlogging, please subscribe, share, like, and comment. The more people we reach, the more money we raise, and the more impact we can make.

Stay positive, stay happy, and I’ll see you again tomorrow.

Best, Kevin Brittain