Your Wisdom

When I did a poll on what people would want to read in my blogs, I asked people send me what they wanted if I wasn’t giving it as an option. I got one direct message. I was a little discouraged but I also saw how many people voted on the polls and how evenly split they were so I’ve been writing for each topic. But, I’ve put the one suggested topic on the back burner because I didn’t know how to respond. “I would love to read your wisdom on how to find balance between work and the rest of your life.” Woah.

First of all, I never consider myself to have wisdom and second, I don’t feel like I’ve done this long enough to truly know what work-life balance looks like. I’m balancing myself, just me. I don’t have a family to feed, a pet to walk, a 9-5 job to tend to, it’s just me. I have a life though, don’t get me wrong. My responsibilities tripled within one month when I moved into my first “adult” apartment with one of my friends from college. I make sure to make time for her, Huck, still seeing my family every week, relaxing, exercising, grocery shopping, girls night out, errands, 1-2 more jobs, making my meals and making time for myself. That’s what my life looks like, it’s not like most of the other creative business owners I know, so how will my “wisdom” effect you? That’s what I’ve been thinking the last few weeks.

I’ve also been pondering on the idea that if you take a look at Instagram, my Facebook page, my living room, and my website it probably looks like I have balance down to a very strategic mathematical equation that keeps everything in check. News flash: if you take a look at my room every Monday morning, the side table next to me while I work, the inside of my car, or my inbox, you’ll see that I most definitely do not. In fact, I stink a math, like really badly. You can get validation from anyone who has known me longer than a month about all things above.

So how do I really balance it all? I designate one day a week to clear my inbox, straighten my room, clean out my car, and check off all of the to-dos on my list. Right now, this takes place on Mondays and whatever doesn’t get done, has to be done by Tuesday at 12:30. That’s my rule for me. I do this work on the comfort of my couch in the most relaxing living room I’ve ever spent time in. The plants on the coffee table and next to the TV bring life inside, the candles make the room smell heavenly, the latest Netflix show I’m binging is playing in the background, the blinds to our porch are opened letting in all the natural light and our gallery wall just makes me happy. I stop working on Monday evenings by 8 pm usually because that’s when my time and roommate time takes place- The Voice comes on at 8. The computer gets put away, a drink or sweet treat takes the place of a pen and my Spektrum glasses are replaced with my real glasses.

I truly enjoy these days. I feel so accomplished at the end of the night despite the things that happen during the day that could easily make me quit. This passed Monday those things would have been not being able to run because I tweaked my back, not taking the fish out of the freezer which completely changed the dinner plans, somehow losing the lighter for the candles, not taking my allergy medicine and immediately getting a pollen headache and getting turned down for a job. You don’t see these things on Instagram though because honestly who wants to post their “failures” on a social media platform for hundreds or thousands of people to see? Instead of quitting for the day by noon, I got it done, worked a little later, and when it was finished, I poured a glass of rose AND got two dark chocolate honey mints (if you live near a trader joes, you must try these)!

So, I guess my wisdom for you on how I handle work-life balance would be this:

1. You still have a life to keep organized no matter what it looks like. If your single, married, have a family, have 3 dogs, are a single parent, a small business owner or a receptionist for a big business. Don’t compare your life to someone else just because it looks like they have more going on. It took me weeks to give my personal life credit, don’t do the same.
2. Make your workspace your happy space. If sitting at an office desk stresses you out, no matter how cute it is, don’t sit there. There’s still use for that desk even if you don’t answer your emails or write your blog posts there.
3. Take a bath with the bath bomb you bought 4 months ago.
4. Buy a new jumpsuit for the wedding you have coming up that you’re so excited for. You’ll feel more confident which means you’ll do your job with a bigger smile.
5. Splurge on your clients, they deserve to be loved on and you won’t regret it. If you get excited buying them the gifts, imagine how they’ll feel receiving them.
6. Buy the Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, or small coffee shop coffee even if you already had a cup at home. Especially from the neighborhood coffee shop, small businesses supporting small businesses, am I right?
7. Go for a walk even if you have 10 unanswered emails. There’s probably a reason those emails are sitting there and I bet some fresh air and a good podcast will give you some motivation.
8. Light the candles. Buy the candles. From where I’m sitting, I can see 9. It’s okay if you think that’s absurd because 3 of them are from a small business, and I plan to buy 3 more.
9. Eat breakfast. Get excited about eating it. Today I had Rachel Allene’s banana pancake recipe and it was delicious!!
10. Keep going. Reward yourself at the end of the day. Whether that’s a drink, tacos at your favorite Mexican restaurant, your favorite Monday night show or spending quality time with your boyfriend, husband or best friend. You’ll relax better if you just finish those to-do’s.

That’s my wisdom. I may be 22 but I think we can all relate to at least a couple of these. Happy May, my friends. Lets Hustle.