Work and Life Balance… Work-Life Balance. It can be called by many things, but I’m starting to second guess the term “work-life balance” as one BIG attached “mouthful”. It’s sounds overwhelming, and it seems it would be hard to achieve.
Is there such a thing as work-life balance? I decided to do what I do when a thought provoking question pops into my head. I started jotting down a few notes and doing a little research.
Mind you, I have done research on the subject before and have even written posts about it! But those posts were written from the planning side of things. At that time, I was thinking careful planning would be the perfect way to tackle the goal.
But a question has been tugging at my brain. Where does peace of mind fit into all of this?
Yesterday, I saw this.
Alisa Russell is a Health and Life Coach, a Pilates Instructor, a wife, and a MOM to four kiddos. (She is also a friend).
I enjoy looking over Alisa’s Instagram account because she always seems to share quotes that make me shake my head in agreement and she is a healthy eating expert!
Not only is Alisa professionally trained in this area, but her oldest daughter has Type 1 Diabetes. I know Alisa takes very good care of her family’s nutrition and I respect her for that.
Her “over-planning kills magic” post really got my attention. Right after reading that one, I saw another item that got my attention.
What I found interesting about both of these posts, is that they were both shared a year ago. The first one was shared exactly a year ago to the day! February 19, 2019!
I felt the “universe” was speaking to me.
Over-planning kills magic… and I was being given permission to go easy on myself.
But what about my Work and Life Balance?
I loved coming across those first two pieces of advice, but it made me wonder if I had gotten lost somewhere along the way. (And surely it wasn’t only me).
What about my Work and Life Balance goals? What about the fact that “everyone” is seeking that magical “Work-Life Balance” right now?
The truth is, I have been struggling in this area because of my big “work” goals. Starting a blog is hard work, but growing it into an “income-earning” blog is even harder! I work on it way too many hours each day, and I work on it every day. I am self-aware in this area… but have yet to “fix” the situation.
When I spoke to a fellow creative entreprenuer last week, she told me she has a shutdown time. She stops working at a certain time, just like she used to do in her 9-5 job.
I never even considered doing that. That prompted me look look further. I found these three tidbits:
The lack of Work and Life Balance can cost you.
Seeds are planted every day. Overdoing it doesn’t help with your Work and Life Balance!
This Gandhi quote solidified everything I had been feeling.
Peace is its own reward.
I had been working hard to find balance… but I had forgotten about Peace of Mind.
It’s time to change my goals for balance and take action!
It may have taken me a while to figure it out, and I may have run into a few detours, but finding quotes and advice provided just enough to change direction!
First of all, reading Evaluate Your Work-Life Balance: Part One and Improve Your Work-Life Balance: Morning Routines is a great place to start!
- Evaluate Your Work-Life Balance: Part One, has helpful advice on how to self-assess the areas of your life, and includes a few worksheets to help you get started.
- In Improve Your Work-Life Balance: Morning Routines I share the three tools and methods that I love and personally use every-single-day. (Brief overview: Morning Writing allows me to clear my mind every day. It is the FIRST thing I do every morning. The Paper White Board allows me to put ideas and important information all in ONE PLACE for easy reference, and Time Blocking allows me to schedule my time so that I don’t lose sight of the goals for the day).
Finding YOUR Work and Life Balance isn’t a one-time activity.
It’s important to know that finding balance isn’t a one time “activity”. You won’t find an app that automatically calculates it for you, and my worksheets won’t be a “one time and your done” process either.
But it just may help you with a starting point! As humans, we don’t always get things right the first time. And even the “experts” (and there are a lot of them out there) don’t have all of the “right” answers.
You may also forget to include an important part of your life, like I did! I thought I had self-care covered but boy was I wrong!
We are all a work in progress, and that makes us human.
Here are my favorite quotes for the peace of mind “side” of Work and Life Balance.
Here are the quotes and pieces of advice I found helpful while working on this post!
They speak of balance and boundaries and letting go… and they talk about LIVING!
Enjoy! (I’ll see you at the bottom of this post).
Do you like them as much as I do? 🙂
I have a special love for the last one! I LOVE when I take the time to let my creativity flow! Those are my BEST “work” days – hands down!
Now what? (We’re so glad you asked!)
Let’s create YOUR Peace Plan! (like the one I used above).
Click on the photo below and let’s get started! And of course we have options!
Option 1: we’ll provide you with a link to access and edit this template on Canva.
Option 2: we’ll send you a short form and once you complete your information, we’ll create it for you and send it back to you via email!
If you choose Option 2, we will ask you for your first name, 4 things you like to include on your peace list, and ask you if you’d like to add anything else! (Easy-peasy).
Do something today that your future self will thank you for. (Click below!).
As always, feel free to comment below, or send me a message by email! I’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject and you know I love stories!
Fondly,
Kim
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