Balance is key!
As we resume ‘normalcy’ and reopen to the world, life will get busier as we are allowed back outside.
The responsibilities didn’t pause throughout lockdown but now that we can be somewhat more social while still practising social distance.
Now, having the ability to see people whilst maintain our schedules can be hectic.
Having many things on your plate is a blessing, but trying to balance everything can be overwhelming and exhausting.
Being constantly overwhelmed can wreak havoc: creating stress which can have a detrimental impact on your wellbeing.
As I write this, I feel way off balance.
I recently started working as a SENTA; special educational needs teaching assistant.
From not working to working full time, I am trying to keep it together, but deep down, I know that my life is on a tilt.
Signs to look out for suggesting that your life is out of balance
Sleeping problems
Before going back to work, my sleep has been all over the place for a while now (I think it is the anxiety). Although, I had a whole sleep routine and went to sleep more or less at the same time and waking up at the same time, which is essential to having a good morning routine.
Check out: 5 Helpful Morning Routine Tips for a Great Morning
Throw in going back to work; it has really made my sleep worse. I wake up randomly throughout the night. Nothing has woken me, i.e., noise or light; however, I wake up. Due to this, I always wake up feeling super tired. Rarely do I wake up feeling refreshed regardless of the amount of sleep I get. In addition, I feel super lethargic, which is also a symptom of depression.
It has caused me to fall asleep at work several times. Last week, I was falling asleep in front of the kids! And they asked me, “Are you falling asleep?” Eeek!
Forgetfulness
Having a lot on your plate but always forgetting things? That is me. I make it a habit to write things down not to forget AND set reminders AND alarms in case I forget to check my to-do list.
Your to-do list seems never-ending
Got more things to do, but you feel like you don’t have enough time? I completely understand. Due to my work schedule, I ensure that I have my to-do list in a place that I can see it. Yet, I feel like I don’t accomplish all that I need to on a particular day.
Let me break it down. I work Monday to Friday, 8.30 am-4 pm. I cook every day as well as work out. On Mondays, once I’ve cooked and eaten dinner, I brainstorm my post, post on social media, check my emails and sometimes apply for jobs- that is a different story for another day. By the time I’ve done all that, I need to get ready for bed. On Tuesdays, I type up the post then it’s pretty much time to get ready for bed.
On Wednesdays, I finish up the post and schedule it then bedtime. On Thursdays, I edit my YouTube video go on social media then it’s time for bed. Now, it is Friday. Thank God! After I do pretty much what I do throughout the week, I promote my blog post then it’s time to chill. It’s the weekend, it’s time to relax, right? But I have filmed some YouTube videos in advance, do my hair (which takes at least 4 hours- curly girls know) and before you know it, Monday rolls around. And oops, I didn’t do everything on my to-do list, yikes.
Where is the balance girl?
I feel like I’ve lost my way (at times)
I know what I would like my career and life to look like in the future, but I get in my head and feel like I have no clue what I am doing. I am working, I am getting experience, but why do I feel like I’ve lost my way? Sometimes, I feel like I should be further along in my career by now, but I am not. I should be earning at least XXX, but I am not. I have the experience, I have the education, but sometimes, I feel like I don’t have much to show for it. Perhaps it’s the self-limiting behaviours and self-sabotaging practices that I have to unlearn. Perhaps part of me is comparing myself to others.
You feel constantly worried
The stress is really, really real. Working with kids has made me more anxious. Currently, I am working with reception kids, ages 4-5 and they always hurting themselves! One of the 1 to 1 kid I support hit her head on a bookcase on Monday, and it started bleeding! She was ok but Lord, my chest was super tight for the rest of the day. That day was really hard, and I really thought about quitting.
Working with kids with special needs can be taxing especially if you don’t get substantial breaks and/or support. I worry that they get seriously hurt, I worry that their parents may say something to me, I sometimes worry that my co-workers think and think I am doing a good job. It is a lot.
But awareness is key! I know I need to step up my self-care to regain some balance in my life.
How to regroup and regain control
Accept that you can’t be and do everything- You can only do so much, and that is ok. I need to realise that after work, I need to distress and compose myself. I don’t need to be doing more work once I get home. I am a bit of a workaholic, but I need to slow down a bit and regroup. It may be worth going back to the drawing board and work on my blog and YouTube on the weekends.
Focus on you
Practising self-love is one of the best forms of self-care. I need to do more meditation and other mindfulness practices to reduce my stress levels.
Be firm and maintain your boundaries
Having boundaries show others how you would like to be approached. In my personal life, I think I have this in the bag but when it comes to my work life, I am a lot softer. As I just started working in a school in March, I am a newbie so I don’t feel comfortable putting my foot down and saying no to things that I don’t really want to do (and that is not in my contract).
Plus, I am a temp so I am not a permanent member of staff so I feel like I can’t exactly have strict demands. I can be replaced like that! But I have to remember that my wellbeing matters to! I need to be efficient at my job so I need to stop over extending myself which I have been doing a lot recently. However, I was able to talk to someone about how I was feeling at work. It was scary but I am glad I was able to say something. Hopefully something comes of it.
Know your purpose
I truly believe my purpose is to help people, so I am in the career that I am in. That is why sometimes I take on more than I should, as I have to make people feel better about themselves. What is your why? What is your purpose? Why do you do keep going when you feel like quitting? You have to keep your why in mind when things get through and when you feel like you want to give up.
Treat yourself
Work can be draining, and we don’t want to chill on the weekend, so incorporate some treats throughout the week. During your downtime after a busy day, you want something to look forward to. Maybe watch a movie, read a book, spend some time with your loved ones. During the downtime, I find myself on YouTube watching videos to help put work on the backburner. Now it’s time to focus on your needs.
Take away
There may come a time when you need to step away and go back to the drawing board in order to find some balance in your life.
And that is ok.
Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Reset as many times as you need to.
Thanks for reading, stay safe and take care.
XO
This is a great piece of content. Nowadays it’s so hard to achieve balance, work, world, relationships! Great great content
It is hard, but it is doable; we can do it! Thank you for reading.
Your post could’ve easily been written by me. My husband just pointed out that I need to reassess and find a way to achieve balance because all I currently do is work.
We all do, but if you can, take an hour to yourself to see what changes could be made! Thank you for reading.