Work & Play
“ Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.”
Dolly Parton
Does it feel like life is moving so fast? As I write this it is already August. Where has the year gone? Summer is half over already. I joked with a friend the other day when she asked me how I was doing and what I was up to. I said “ A lot going on but nothing going on. I think work just gets in the way” Every time I take vacation I always comment that I could easily enjoy retirement and never be bored. I truly enjoy my down time. Slow mornings, coffee on the balcony, afternoon naps in the hammock. I know there are some people out there who said even if they won millions in the lottery they would still work. Those are not my people, haha. I would most definitely not be working. The reality is most of us including myself need to work to live. That is why it is so important not to get so consumed in your job that you forget to make a life as beloved Dolly Parton has said. When I am at work I give my full 100% but once I leave work I need to give my life 100% of my attention. Has it always been this way? Absolutely not. Even today I still struggle at times to let go of work when I am home but I have gotten better letting it go. When your teenage son gives you ‘the look’ because you are on your work phone while at a restaurant having dinner you then come to realize you may have a problem. There are some ways I have adjusted things to keep my time, my time.
Limit Interaction With Technology
When I am at home my laptop stays in my bag and my work cell phone stays on the kitchen counter or in my purse and I definitely have stopped sleeping with my phone. My team has my personal cell number and know to only use it for emergencies like the building burning down or someone got seriously hurt. I also respect their personal time as well and avoid contacting them at home. Most everything can wait until the next day. I have a great group of leaders that work for me that I trust will keep things running smoothly when I am not there which helps me worry less.
I also in my calendar create event for my days off and have status as busy so to limit meeting invites for that day or Teams call.
Respect Your Work Day Including Your Lunch
There will always be times you leave work late which takes away time from your personal life. I try to make this the exception instead of the ‘norm’ for me. I have gotten better at respecting my end time of my day so I can focus on my life, friends and family. Before my promotion I always took my lunch since I lived five minutes from home and could go let my dogs out and eat healthier left overs I already had waiting for me. Since my promotion I work much further from work so try hard to make my lunch so I continue to eat healthy and avoid snacking on junk. I also have re-focused recently on taking my lunch but actually leaving the building. It helps re-charge my internal battery and re-sets me for the rest of my day.
Practice Mindfulness
Become more mindful over my thoughts. Often you will hear companies say ‘Leave it at the door’ which means they want you to leave your personal life outside of work so it doesn’t affect your work. Obviously that is impossible and many companies have gotten better at understanding that is impossible. When at work you will think about home and when at home you will think about work. The key is recognize and accept the thoughts you had and choose to change your thoughts and focus on the part of your life you are actively engaging in.
Overall it is basically important to create boundaries. Focus on work when at work and focus on home when at home. Many times they will intertwine but for the most part you should be able to separate the two. Plan your week and decide what you want to accomplish each week. Above all in your personal life, love your life and live it fully and not get lost in your TV or your phone and above all do what you love to do even if that is absolutely nothing except enjoying the sounds of your backyard.
