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Balancing the Grind with Bec Stewart, Founder of The Habit Tracker

In our conversation today, we’re exploring the multifaceted world of Bec Stewart, the creative mind behind ‘The Habit Tracker’ and host of the ‘In Her Power Podcast’.

She talks about the learning curves of being her own boss, prioritising tasks, and the importance of work boundaries. Balancing her multiple roles, Bec also shares how she uses technology to boost efficiency and her key tips for maintaining a clear work-life balance, especially in a work-from-home environment.

Hey Bec, thanks for joining us today! For those unfamiliar with your journey, could you give us a snapshot of how you went from starting ‘The Habit Tracker’ to hosting the ‘In Her Power Podcast’?

The Habit Tracker was born around 4 years ago, after many failed attempts at reaching the long-term goals I had set out for myself. Every year, I would set new goals and intentions for myself, only to fall off the bandwagon a few months later.

I could never find a diary, planner or journal that could assist me in creating and sticking to the new habits my goals required. So I created The Habit Tracker. The Habit Tracker Journal is backed by how the brain works when establishing new habits to reach a new goal by tapping into consistency and micro-rewards.

After some time – the business began to grow and The Habit Tracker Journal began making its impact all over the world. The journal was completely transforming the way people approached goal setting and creating new habits. The feeling of my own product making an impact on people’s lives was simply the best! So, in March 2023, I launched my personal development + women empowerment podcast – ‘In Her Power’ to continue making that impact on my community! 

Between podcast planning, managing ‘The Habit Tracker’ orders, and curating social media content, how do you ensure everything runs seamlessly?

Lots of planning, time blocking and task chunking! Mondays are my admin days, where I plan the week ahead. I chunk tasks that require the same type of thinking together, then attach that chunk of tasks to a block of time, i.e. admin-based tasks (requires logical thinking) 9 am – 10.30 am, creative workflow (creative thinking) 12 pm-2.30 pm, etc. I also LOVE using the task management software ‘Notion’ to keep everything organised and on track! 

As you manage multiple projects and wear different hats, what has been your biggest learning curve in orchestrating it all?

Learning to switch off and setting work boundaries! I quit my 9-5 at the end of 2022 and am still navigating the world of being my own boss in a 1 person team! It’s hard and I’ve most certainly felt the negative impact of being ‘overworked’ in the past year, but it’s something I’m working on and enforcing more heavily in the new year!

Your day must be jam-packed! How do you ensure that you’re not just busy but also productive?

Prioritising my tasks and breaking them down across the week. I allocate each day of the week to a section of my business. For example – Mondays are admin, Tuesdays are for brand strategy, Wednesdays are for content, Thursdays are podcast recordings, Fridays are loose ends / think ahead for next week! This structure works really well for me right now!

In an age where technology is at our fingertips, how do you leverage it to boost your efficiency? Are there any apps or platforms that you couldn’t live without?

Google Calendar, Notion and the Do Not Disturb ‘Focus’ zones on the iPhone! My phone / social media is easily my biggest distraction, so I ensure my DND focus zones are set before each work day and the phone is in the drawer, away from my sight! A game changer!! 

Many struggle with the blurring of lines between work and relaxation, especially when working from home. How do you create clear distinctions between ‘clocking-on’ and ‘clocking-off’?

I get asked this one a lot from my community, and I have 4 major tips on this! 

  1. I only ever work from 1 set location – the office! This helps me mentally clock on and off each day. 
  2. Ensure I take breaks AWAY from the office i.e. go for a walk, eat lunch outside, etc. 
  3. Have a set work start time and end time.
  4. Don’t work from your bedroom! Keep your ‘wind down’ spots (bed, couch, etc) as places to relax and unwind, NOT work. 

What’s your perspective on the recent findings from the Logitech study about Australia’s work-from-home behaviours?

Such interesting research! I’m not surprised by a lot of the data – I, too, really struggle with my productivity when I don’t have my entire set-up with me. I also polled my own Instagram audience on the same topic, and over 90% of them voted that they’re far more productive when they have a proper work set up! I know a handful of my community jumped on the Logitech Casa Pop-Up Desk when I spoke about it, so I’d be keen to hear how much it’s helping their productivity!

Lastly, could you share any rituals or habits that help you mentally shift from work mode to relaxation or family time?

Writing a to-do list for the next day, closing down my laptop and giving my desk a quick tidy + wipe down before leaving the office. It’s a simple but effective gesture as if to say, “Work is done for the day. It’ll all be here, ready to go, tomorrow.” 

About Author

Hey there! I'm Hao, the Editor-in-Chief at Balance the Grind. We’re on a mission to showcase healthy work-life balance through interesting stories from people all over the world, in different careers and lifestyles.