Am I Missing Something?
Be kind to yourself during the holiday season
What is work-life balance anyway?
I was listening to a friend talk about her work-life balance and it occurred to me that we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to live a “balanced” life. If you have a big project at work and one at home, how do you manage that? What do you let go of to make it all work? My friend works straight through lunch most days and then stays up too late to get some personal time. That doesn’t sound right. What takes priority? And if you find “balance”, how do you keep it going when you can’t control what life throws at you? It’s like a big puzzle where pieces are constantly added and removed, and there is no way of knowing what comes next.
Am I missing something?
The pressure can get overwhelming when we are striving to do what we expect of ourselves, which, frankly, is often too much. This is meant to be an enjoyable time of year and we often spoil it by exhausting ourselves. This whole situation makes me feel more compassion for us humans. We are doing our best, but it’s very easy to get out of whack.
I don’t believe there is a perfect state of balance. How could there be, when circumstances are constantly changing? It’s best to make continual little adjustments, figure out where we might be overextended, decide where we need to place more attention, and then fine-tune as best we can. Offer ourselves some compassion for the rest. That’s my idea of balance anyway.
One technique I have found to be helpful is to consciously manage effort and ease. Check in with yourself (whenever you think of it!) so that you can adjust. If you find yourself overthinking, overextending, straining, and feeling tense, take a moment and invite more ease, kindness, and softness. Is there a place where you feel tension first? For many, it’s the neck and shoulders. Take a big exhale, soften your shoulders, and try to release any holding.
When you need to expend more effort, start with attention. Listen to me explain more in the recording below.
I would be willing to bet that you have less free time and more responsibilities during the full holiday season. Take care of yourself!
Hope to see you here next week.
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