Do we always have to work? Is what I have been thinking about lately. Actually just recently, and why?? Well if you think about it, we all grow up knowing at some time we need to work. We need to earn an income, just so we have money to live. Money for food and pay our bills-meaning rent/mortgage, lights, and Internet. All the usual ones anyway, and everyone has bills. No getting away from that.
I got to thinking alot about this, and how to write it all out. Cause I have been feeling like all I do is work. And in reality, no its not but it sure does feel like it cause- I work from home. Now, I am not saying working from home is bad. Just think about it for a moment. How do you get your home life and work life to be in the same place.
So when I think about how I spent my day, it seems like it was all about working. And I didn’t get my housework done, or my exercise in or I didn’t have the time for anything else. And I am right back at time management and how to schedule my time better. I usually have energy in the morning and would just go jump into work. Not be productive with my energy and probably clean house or do laundry. So I usually do it later, but by then I am too tired. Basically, it never gets done. So I know that plan is not working.
I always thought I was doing good at winging it. Sit down and get things done, squeeze this in and that in. Back to work and maybe a load of laundry and answer some calls/emails. Go for a walk and back to work. Maybe that is where I went wrong. I thought this was working, but nope. It clearly isn’t, cause I am not really knowing how I spent my whole day. Cause I did a little of this and a little of that. That’s when I tell myself I better follow my calendar and follow it faithfully. All things written down and time-blocked. I will know exactly what I had done in one full day/week.
Can I Balance Work and Life
Work and life sometimes can be a struggle, especially when you try and do them both together. I find myself doing that more often, working and doing housework too. Now housework is part of life and it never seems to go away. So when I say I walked away from my desk to grab a drink, I may put in a load of laundry in the dryer also. I am really trying not to do this too often, as it is easy to get side-tracked and not go back to my desk.
And then I think I better plan my days better. Do what I need to in a day and get it done. But also, have many of my things crossed off also. Like housework and all those things. And work of course.
Along with my time blocking I need to add my self-care in there also. The things I do for myself, and basically anything I do in a whole day. Maybe even do it for a few days and watch what I do and write it all down. Once all that is figured out, then I can think of adding it to a calendar or planner. To have my work and home life balance.
I Don’t Always Need to Be Motivated
Whoever said you had to be motivated to get to work?? I know there are days when I feel like that. Just feel like I just don’t want to start anything today and just want to say its Sunday. But in reality I know I can’t really do this. I just end up pushing myself to go to work, and get my things done for the day. I usually am not working at my best either. That is when I realize I need to reset and refocus to get back on track.
And if I really feel unmotivated I go for a walk. Clear my head and listen to a podcast or some Motivational videos on my cell. Or if I really need to reset I just pick a good playlist and pop in my AirPods and off I go, for a good walk in nature. And usually this helps me alot, cause this is my go-to for motivation and resetting. And when I think about-Do we always need to work? Not always, but when you do work do it with intention. Always give your all when you are working, and do your best. Knowing you will be able to rest and relax later on and do the things you love.
No need to feel guilty for taking time for yourself. You matter, and you need that downtime. For yourself and to keep you doing the things you love. And even the things that you need to do, that have to be done. So I noticed when I feel like I am just floating through my day. It is a time when I need some ME time. Need my self-care and get myself all rested and relaxed and rejuvenated. Especially when I think about-Do we really have to work?
I Need to Care For Myself Too
Even though I say I’m always working and just basically have no time for the things I loved before. I don’t make time for my puzzles or even reading. I love coloring, and even bought pencil crayons and good markers for that. Even some gel pens also. I do color occasionally, and I have learned to take a break and do it for 15 minutes. So instead of depriving myself of the things I once loved, I make time for them now. As for doing puzzles and reading, I do make more time for those. They are in my time in the evening, that is when I do the things I love.
So I just basically have my self-care fall into the weekend. Or chose a time/day whatever works for you. Now, I don’t feel cheated out and I get some good self-care in. Because when someone asks do we always have to work? The answer is No because we gotta remember ourselves too. Some good self-care is always good, and very well-needed. We need some joy in our lives and that completes us, making sure we don’t go through life on auto-pilot. I know I need to be aware of the things I do each day, and not just function through the day.
Reading is good, maybe even a breath of fresh air outside. Even better is go for a walk and be one with nature. Reading something that you love is good for you. Even learning something in your reading is good for you too. Just know you are the expert of you and you just need to listen and understand when your body needs you to slow down. Or just take that moment you need to reset yourself.
Working and Self-Care and Homelife Balance
I know I am still figuring out work and self-care balance. Because they both kind of have to work together. You can’t always work and do nothing for yourself. That is self-care, I always make time for it now. And of course, may as well squeeze in home life. My home life consists of my kids, grandkids and me. Now, that is a lot and of course, I have help. But, I still do have things that I need to do in my house, and those are the things I like to do. Sure may sound like a lot, but I do make it work. Of course, sometimes nothing works out.
That is when I get stressed when I can’t balance it all. I know when I get to that point, I know how to get myself from being at 100 back down to a manageable point of 1-10. Again, that is when I was thinking about time blocking and setting up my calendar. So I know what I am doing in a whole full day and not just winging it through the day.
No matter what your life looks like, just make sure you never feel deprived of the things you love. You are not just about working all the time, make time to have some fun. Whatever that looks for you, you are the one that knows you the best.
Hope this kind of helps others, and it is a work in progress. I find it hard to not wander off and just keep rambling on and on. I do find that writing it all down sure is helping me figure it all out.
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