Matilda Lock is the Marketing & Communications Officer at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) where she is responsible for developing, planning and coordinating all aspects of marketing and student recruitment.
In addition to her role at UTS, Matilda also runs her own small business, Tillylockmedia, where she works on videography, photography, graphic design, sports management, event management and social media management.
Balance the Grind spoke to Matilda about her role at UTS and balancing it with her own business, avoiding burn out, recharging her mind with walks, just enjoying the moments and more.
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1) To kick things off, could you tell us a little about your background and career?
I’m currently a Marketing and Communications Officer, and I’ve had a wealth of experience in both customer service and digital marketing.
I aim to find a niche in the marketing/digital area but yet to choose exactly what it is I want to hone my skills in.
2) What is your current role and what does it entail on a day to day basis?
I work primarily on marketing campaigns, developing and executing them, to ensure our brand is being seen my key audiences but also growing organically.
I also create marketing collateral, whether that be digital or print, from design through to print. This is really fun as it allows a creative space for me to try new things.
3) What does a typical day in the life look like for you? Can you take us through a recent workday?
I work my usual 9-5 job and I also work in my small media business Tillylockmedia where I take on a range of clientele and produce videos/photos and social media campaigns.
It’s generally pretty busy and I find it hard to switch my mind off at night- but I try to manage everything in a healthy way- to ensure I never burn out.
4) Do you have any tips, tricks or shortcuts to help you prioritise your workload?
I like to have a traditional “to-do” list on paper and physically tick things off during my day.
This not only helps me identify what challenges I need to tackle but is really cathartic when I accomplish something, to tick it off!
5) In between your job, life and all your other responsibilities, how do you ensure you find some sort of balance in your life?
I really believe in taking 5 minutes to myself and choosing one highlight of my day.
This allows me to think about everything that’s happened in the past 24 hours and appreciate every little thing, good or bad.
6) What are some of the things you do to take time out and recharge?
I like walks. Along a beach, down a busy street or anywhere with a bit off life!
This allows me to focus on things outside my realm of life and escape for a little while.
7) What do you think are some of the best habits you’ve developed over the years to help you strive for success and balance?
I think realising that I’m not curing cancer had been the biggest success for me.
It makes me realise that I still have a life to live and although my job can get stressful or sometimes when I feel overwhelmed, I sit back and think- what’s the worst that could happen?
And when I realise that things aren’t as major as they seem- I start to relax a little and enjoy my work and life.
8) Are there any books you’ve read that have helped you with work-life balance?
I think books about historical events really help me- especially from the past- as they put things in perspective.
I read about how things once were and appreciate how they are today.
9) What is the number one thing you do to make sure you get the most out of your day?
I make sure I enjoy the moment, it’s really easy to get caught up in “what’s next” and not appreciate the now.
Taking a few minutes to realise “what is” is so nice for me, and so often I forget this and look back and wish I had appreciated things more.
If you’d like to have a conversation with us about how you balance the grind, get in touch with us!
