The biggest issue of this century is work/life balance

What is balance though? Is it even something we can even aspire to? Is it actually achievable? I bet there are those times when somethig has got to give and you struggle deciding what that something is.

As a definition, work\life balance effectively managing the demands of both your professional and personal lives, aiming for a state where both are equally important and not overly stressful. It’s about finding a way to prioritize your work while also dedicating time and energy to personal well-being, including relationships, hobbies, and health. Doesn’t this sound like a lot?

a day is not that long

There are only twentyfour hours in a day and we are already taking minimum eight for work. Having a balance means alocating the same amount of time to the everything else left and not prioritising any. Or is it the prioritising of all?

I work about five days per week. In those five days I am doing three days of school pick up and drop off, taking my daughter to her swimming classes, to the park on a Friday and also run twice a week and exercise the rest of three days left including the weekend. So, when that Saturday knocked on my door, I like to workout, spend quality time with my family, clean my house, unwind from a week of non stop runnning around, read, do homework with my daughter and make sure she is up to date with her school curriculum. There is always laundry, a list of things to do for the following week, sit down and make sure bills are paid, school lunches are ordered, after school clubs booked and paid for, any need of new clothes and a million other things crossing my mind.

Am I on top of everything every week? God, no! I am not striving anywhere to be fair. Looking in the mirror, I see a woman trying her best. I am not running the distances I would like to run; I don’t have the carrier I thought I would have by now but I like to think that I am a good mum (I baby her too much, I am lenient and most times she is using seletive hearing with me but she is also a kind child, a very smart girl and one incredible human being dedicated to protecting animals and nature)

So, I really am not sure if anyone has a real balance. Unless there is help around, there is no way you can have it all and not lose your mind. Behind every success, there is a bit of chaos.

Or is it that each and every one of us have our own meaning of balance?

Priorities

Before I had my daughter I lived with the impression that if my personal life was on the right track then my work life was definitely on a negative trajectory. Somehow, I thought that I could not have both because who has everything?

Then I had my daughter and things changed because I had different priorities and I didn’t care much about work. It was just a job that allowed me to pay the bills. My daughter needed me the most and what job I did was literally of no meaning to me as long as it allowed me to do my set days and take care of my child.

Now my daughter is nine years old and she is not dependent on me. I have more availability for work and I became more interested in what I do and a carrier so I can provide more for the family and make sure our future is a safe one. This does not mean that priorities have changed but rather I have more time to think of other things than motherhood.

WELL BEING

What do I do for my well being?

• I love reading. It helps me unwind, improves vocabulary and knowledge and it is one incredible activity to pass on to my child. From birth I have read to her every single night and she learned it’s story time. When she was learning how to read herself, I have asked her to read the story to me because she is now a big girl. At present she is independently reading and is quite the book hoarder 🙈

• I also enjoy running and working out – my mental health is very important and exercise improves just that. Not only helps to clear my mind but keeps my nody strong and healthy. This is again one postive that I have passed on to my daughter as she loves running so much and is a great swimmer as well.

Running offers a range of mental health benefits, including increased mood, reduced anxiety and stress, and improved cognitive function. In other words, I am one very frumpy lady if I don’t go out on my run

FAMILY

My family is my most precious treasure. They are my rock and I could not imagine one second of my life without them.

When I say family I say not only my fiance and my daughter who are THE FAMILY but I also mean my parents, siblings, aunties and uncles, nieces and nephews whom I love dearly. Although I don see or speak to them on daily basis as we are in different countries and we all get wrapped up in daily routines, I still love them with all my heart and there is no day given that I don’t think of them or pray for them (on occasions when I actually pray).

My closest are my faince and my daughter. I have spent every day of the last 11 years and 9 respectively with them two. I still remember the day my daughter was born. It was the most beautiful day of my life. The day I learned a new meaning of love – eternal and unconditional. So, you see – they are my priority and with this I might have just failed at balance

WORK LIFE

What can I say? I have worked since I was about 17 and I cannot imagine my life without having a job. I cannot be a lady of leisure, being at home at all times. The difference is that at times I was not interested in what the job is and other times all I thought of was to climb the carrier ladder.

These days I want a carrier, I want more money and more recognition. I think this is the part of my life that lacks something. I have my family and my well being but the carrier is missing and I am ready to have it. There is room for it now. There is drive and availability.

IS THERE A BALANCE?

I guess there is no balance at the moment. At least not in the exact way given by the definition. But am I happy? YES! Am I content with my life? YES! Do I want more? YES

What is your vision of work/life balance ? Do you have it? Does it exist?

I belive we all have our own version of balance and as long as we do our best, WE GOT THIS! We are winning at life. We don’t have to fit in a pattern set by society. We don’t have to reach burnout to realise that society puts so much pressure on us to reach that perfect state of having it all. My happiness, my ambitions, my dreams … they are definitely yours just as well as yours are not mine. We are all different and we should all find our own balance and happiness.

How about stop trying to fit in? Just be you and do what brings you joy and recognition. We can’t all be CEOs, doctors, teachers, admin, managers … this is the reason we are different and this is what makes the world so diverse and beautiful.