Tuesday, September 22, 2009

More on work life balance


















I think this is a topic that nearly every modern day person who works fulltime struggles with. I mused about this several weeks ago, and really enjoyed everyone's comments and feedback.

I'm reading an excellent book right now, The Boss of You (yes, reading! yay!), and was struck by their comments on how some folks (yeah, me too) seem to think it's not only okay but expected to work insane hours. And they are saying it's really NOT okay to work those kind of hours.

I work in a more than fulltime day job. I'm an exempt employee (not subject to overtime rules or payment), which means I can work as many hours as I want or need to get my job done. Honestly, I could easily work 80 hour weeks, and not get the work done (trust me, I've done this!).

So, on top of that, throw a small or microbusiness.

A personal life? What's that!?

What about grad school? I still want to go back and earn a graduate degree. Someday.

And I definitely want to carve out time to write.

Oy.

I still don't have answers. I'm working on being more efficient and effective, therefore more productive. In all aspects of my life. Even as Fall and the holidays loom (scarf season!), I'm feeling as though I have to cut way back in order to focus on my other work. Or to be able to spend some time with family and friends (and meet a certain little sweet puppy named Chiso). And quality time for ME. Oh yeah, and my two little fuzzies. :)

So for those of you who constantly feel torn: how do you do it? Do you feel like you have a balanced life? Do you end up making difficult decisions about how much and what you can really focus on?

By the way, I don't think one has to work a full time job and run a business to struggle with this - I think just about everybody struggles with this!!!

5 comments:

Unknown said...

i know i struggle with balance all the time and while i don't have a job outside the home, the one at home and the kids consume my days. if you find a good formula i'd love it!! hope all is well with you!

Summer said...

Seriously Brenda...this came at a perfect time! I'm going to have to have Jeff read this! And, I might email you about it too!

xoxo

Brenda said...

cool - I'd love to hear about it. :)

Kendra Zvonik said...

I have been thinking about balance quite a bit since the last time you posted on this topic.
I got sick for the last few weeks and am just now pulling out of it, so I had lots of time to reflect on how I got myself in that predicament. It's simple. I made virtually no time for myself. No time to feed myself properly. No time for exercise. No time for doing nothing. I was just working non-stop trying to get my paper business going. TA DA- sick :(
So, now, my answer stems from this question- What matters most?
Obviously, what matters most is health and spending time with those that you love.
I am now putting some serious limitations on my work time and the offers that I say yes to. How much of our time do we give away simply trying to appear accommodating? I think we have to ask ourselves why we say yes when we don't really want to and why we try so hard.
For me, I know trying too hard is a chronic problem.
Thank you for writing on this topic again and I hope you can find some time just for you to do NOTHING. It sounds like you really need it!

Brenda said...

Kendra! I'm so sorry you were so sick. :( But it is amazing what it takes for us to listen to ourselves, isn't it? I'm glad you had and took the time for self reflection, which is invaluable and SO important. And you're so right, what matters most is our loved ones and keeping ourselves healthy. I'll make sure to keep this a more regular series. Maybe next week, I'll focus on healthy eating! Big hug!