Work Life Balance – What’s “Normal”?
Do you ever wonder if you’re taking enough time off work or getting the right work life balance?
I’ve been questioning that for myself lately, so I polled my Facebook family.
Taking a Poll:
Do you REALLY take days off work? Like no email. No projects. Legit OFF work.
Most people commented “Nope!” A few said sometimes or always on specific days.
I had a feeling this would be the answer.
So it’s Memorial Day, and I’m working. It might look like I’m not winning at this work-life balance game.
I wanted to bring up this topic because we’ve been conditioned to think working Monday – Friday with weekends off and 10 days vacation is normal.
These days, a lot of people are running their own business, traveling more, and creating online businesses. Life isn’t the “normal” 9-5 anymore.
I suggest that YOU find what is right for YOU.
If you’re feeling like I don’t know if you’re working too much or not working enough, then take some time today and this week to pay attention to yourself.
See how you’re feeling.
Today when I was thinking about making this post, I was feeling anxious because I thought I shouldn’t work today because it’s a holiday. Then I thought.. No It’s Monday and I want to do this and talk about this. {do you hear the mental drama}
By following my own advice and deleting the “should” from my vocabulary, I could make a choice that served me best. Neither way is that good or bad.
It’s up to each of us to decide what is “good” and what is “bad”. Or what is enough and what is too much.
Things that might suggest you’re doing too much:
- Feeling drained
- Not resting
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Feeling like you can’t get things done
If that’s you, then consider taking some time off.
Time off could be a solid weekend or it could be 12 hours where you don’t check your phone. It’s up to YOU!
What can you do about this right now?
- Fact find.
- Do research on yourself
- Do what’s right for you.
We’re all done with the “normal” 9-5, work all year have 2 weeks vacation, right!?
I know I am.
It’s been 3 years since I’ve been figuring out what life looks like without a normal 9-5. It’s a journey! Breaking out of years of conditioning takes time.
It’s okay that it’s a journey.
Do some fact finding this week. Check in with yourself. Listen to what your mind is telling you and what your body is telling you.
It doesn’t matter what everyone else thinks – it matters what’s right for YOU.
If you’re in a business like me, then maybe you want to work all the time to help more people and it really doesn’t feel like work. Just notice those times when you really do need a break to take care of you.
This is Part 1 in a series called Work Life Balance…. Check back tomorrow for Part 2!
