Carolyn J. Braden • 3 Minute Read
How On Earth Do People Balance Home, Work & Social Life?
Life is a balancing act. That’s what they all say. You’re supposed to moderate everything. To not stray too far in one direction. You’re also supposed to maximize your potential. You should be putting a career together, starting a family, keeping on top of your household and your finances and your social life. Oh, and you also need to make room for art so you stay inspired. You should also begin writing that novel. Lest we forget, you should also be getting fit.
Get in more family time by cooking with them all!
For this reason, it’s no wonder some people just throw their hands up in the air and specialize in what is most important to them - basing a lifestyle around family, or their career, or a hobby they dedicate their entire free time to. Spinning the plates of life is pretty intense no matter how you slice it. So how on earth do people do that?
Meal times can be a great time to connect with family
Well, they don’t. Not perfectly. But that’s okay, you don’t have to be perfect. You just have to do what you can, and when you can. Let’s consider some methods to make this easier on yourself:
Quality time with pets is important for all!
Have Three Main Priorities
Trying to excel in everything at once is a pretty awesome way to burn out. Some things will demand more attention than others, and that is completely fine. Choosing three main priorities can help keep things manageable, and then you can fit the little things around that, like tidying the house when you have a moment. It doesn’t not mean ignoring everything else, just knowing where your focus should be.
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Maybe right now it is your career, your health, and your family. Or perhaps a creative pursuit has taken center stage. Priorities can shift over time, but having a clear idea of what truly matters in the moment helps filter out distractions.
If something doesn’t serve those top three, it might be worth reconsidering how much energy you give it. Some things you just have to accept - if you have a family with pets and a career, your house isn’t going to be perfectly arranged 100% of the time. That’s okay because your priorities are on track.
Grandparent time is great for the kids and you!
Try To Use Momentum & Shared Responsibilities To Assist You
Do you have to plan your route to work each morning or do you just know what to do when you set off? That’s momentum. In other words, routines take the weight out of decision-making, as when habits are built into daily life, they don’t feel like extra tasks, even if they are. So if you can, try to wake up at the same time each day, have a morning routine, and perhaps cement that for your kids before the school run too. Sometimes, things just need to run like clockwork if they’re to happen at all.
Moreover, if others in your household or workplace can pitch in, letting them do so is not a sign of failure. It is just practical. For instance, if a partner enjoys cooking, maybe they take the lead on meals while you handle something else.
You can spend quality time with pets and get healthy!
Take Care Of Number One, As Without You, Nothing Happens
It is easy to forget that none of this works if you are completely exhausted, though many people, parents especially, give and give and give because that’s what is expected and necessary. But if you burn yourself out trying to be everything to everyone, there will be nothing left to give.
Sometimes that might mean setting boundaries, getting enough sleep, or stepping away when things become too much. It might mean saying no to a neighborly dinner invite so you can take a nap. Taking care of the basics such as eating well, moving a little each day, and supplementing with vitamin D or Sunifiram for cognitive enhancement can all make a massive difference and give you the little pep in your step you need to live life on your terms.
With this advice, we hope you can more easily balance home, work and social life, even if that feels tough right now.
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Carolyn J. Braden is the owner of Carolyn’s Blooming Creations is a regular contributor and editor for CBC. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.
This is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate links. All opinions and ideas expressed in this post, however, are based on my personal point of view.