Working Hard AND Hardly Working

July 22nd 2019

Finding the balance in work/life balance~

Starting tomorrow, I begin my latest venture into a new full time job. Aside from that job, I also help with my job in NY, as well as keep my blog up and running with 3 posts a week. So, overall, I would say that I will be working 55+ hours a week once everything is accounted for. However, I really want to find ways to focus on my personal life and wellness while also putting everything I have into doing a good job at all of my responsibilities.

Finding a solid work/life balance takes a lot of trial and error. For me, my biggest issue is getting started with stuff for my NY job when I am at home. Since the job is remote, I find it really difficult to pull myself away from my bed and actually put in some solid work.

I find that I work best at home when I sit out on my screened in patio. That way, I am out of bed and sitting up in a chair, so I can focus, but I still get to enjoy the comforts of home and being outdoors. I find that staying in bed to work tends to make me feel super lazy, so I try to avoid that whenever possible whether that means sitting outside or at the kitchen counter.

When it comes to finding balance in an office environment, I like to find balance through task variety. I am in the fortunate position that my career has a lot of moving parts and, as a result, I can jump back and forth between tasks all day. That way, I give my brain a proper break whenever possible to do something a little less over-stimulating. I also like to use my break time to get myself centered. If I can avoid eating lunch at my desk, I do. I got into a bad habit of doing that at my old job and it really took a toll on my sanity by the end of the day.

Sometimes, I like being able to take a walk, listen to some music or a podcast, and just get out of the energy of an office environment and recharge. I also love working in environments where people are relatively social and make work feel less stressful and daunting.

Lastly, when it comes to blogging, I think that is where my work life/balance shines. I love blogging and don’t consider it work, despite holding myself to a rather strict posting schedule! Blogging not only allows me to live my life to its fullest, but encourages me to! I love writing about fun experiences I have, so I get to enjoy life WHILE creating content instead of having to choose one over the other.

I think the most important thing I’ve learn about creating a work/life balance is to not take myself or life too seriously. A job is a job but life is so much more valuable than your career. I will continue to work hard and focus on my goals, but I’ve learned that the most important part of life to focus on is the part where you’re living for the love of being alive, not for a paycheck.

I hope that I can maintain a healthy balance and a love for life in my new venture, and I can’t wait to share all I have learned with you as I go!

Jess~