I believe work life balance can start as early as you begin education. In elementary and middle school, most of my friends had extra-curricular activities after school. At the time, I always wondered how they did it – how they managed to be at school for 8 hours, go to soccer practice/soccer games, have play dates, and do their homework. From there it just got more complicated. In high school, I managed 8 hours of school, an internship, and homework/studying for tests. Then in college, even with the convenience of choosing the days/times for class, being a full-time student, part-time worker, going to the gym, and trying to fit in my social life still felt almost impossible. Now as a full-time working mom, I’m trying to manage life with little to no sleep.
I think almost all full-time workers and part-time workers can relate that it feels like there aren’t enough hours in the day. You might need to get things done for work, your family, your friends, for yourself, and you’re just trying to find the time to do it all. I believe the only way to solve this problem is to set boundaries and to organize your days.
Boundaries: it is okay to say “NO,” or limit your “Yes’s”. Constantly saying yes (with your already busy schedule) to favors, friend meet ups, outings, working overtime, projects, etc. can overwhelm you, leading to stress on you physically, mentally, and emotionally. You can’t properly manage your work life balance being stressed. If you get overbooked, use your judgement and choose what to prioritize, start by saying yes to one thing at a time.
Organize: look over what you need to get done for the hour, day, week, and month. Check for deadlines, “save the dates,” obligations, etc. Categorize what needs to be done first: what are your priorities? Use a calendar, to-do list, set reminders, whatever you need so that you can keep track of everything. I personally like having both a physical/virtual calendar & to-do list. This allows me to check tasks through my phone when I’m not home and when I am home it’s all laid out in front of me.
There are different methods and ways you can manage your work life balance. Find what works best for you! Always set “You time” and that means spending time doing whatever makes you happy. Don’t forget to treat yourself for all the hard work you do, you deserve it.
Written by: Rhea Baesa, Administrative Assistant