Reservists/Guardsman PLTs: What do you do to manage your time, complete tasks, and juggle your civilian life between UTAs?

I used to serve on active duty as an NCO and on the weekends as Reserve Officer on drill and special projects. Still managed to work at the national level of many patriotic groups, complete degrees in evenings, and so on by connecting like things with like events....a drill became a story and a chance to train others, that became useful in my job at FORSCOM working with Guard and Reserve soldiers to understand what it was like for them, in turn that affected policy and procedures, which I also used in my degree program to write about sociology and communication....in other words, look for one action that has more than one application. Work on three (or more ) projects at at time so one is always being completed which is very motivating.

It's a delicate balance. One weekend a month is an understatement to all the prep work you do for the next quarter between planning and making sure your platoon is taken care of. One of the most important things is to give your employer your drill schedule and AT orders (or at least dates) that you'll be gone. Be upfront about your commitment and complete as many tasks as possible before you leave to prevent your coworkers from picking up the slack.

Fortunately a lot of my career was concurrent. Army civilian, Air Force Reserve - both were Fire Protection as an officer or instructor. I also paralleled them as a State Fire Instructor and FEMA evaluator. Looking back it is hard to remember being that busy. It didn't seem it at the time. In retirement it is nice to be able to say, that doesn't work for me. (translated: No!)