Let's Talk About
Finding Balance
8 years ago by
Emily and I had a conversation recently about personal / creative ruts and how to get out of them. Sure, it’s easy to think of all of the things you want to do outside of work, but the biggest dilemma seems to be, how, and more so, when do we do these things? Especially while balancing an apartment, groceries, sleep, exercise, a social life (not to mention a romantic one…) and all of the other things being an adult requires. Do we just cram in as much action on the weekend as we can? Or is some level of sacrifice in other departments required?
Have you figured out a way to balance everything you want & need to do in life?
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Pareil ! Depuis cet été j’ai fais une liste de toutes les activités que j’aimerai suivre à la rentrée et il faudrait ne pas travailler pour toute les faire… Trop dur de choisir mais au final, dans la pratique si j’en fais déjà une parmi les 15 je serai bien contente ! Je crois que ce sera poterie pour cette année
Bon courage, j’espère que vous trouverez le temps de laisser parler votre créativité.
I have decided that balance is relative – knowing yourself and what will make you feel good. My life is full and I always look to see what bounces and what breaks – I have decided that most things bounce.
Never be afraid of emptyness ! Week-end are for dream, relax and “watching ceilings”!!
Where is her jumpsuit from? Love it!
I think it’s important to listen to your instincts of what you really need and want most. I always seem to have a long list of interesting, fun things to do, places to see. And at some point it can be overwhelming and I have to let some of it go and focus on a few. Space to just be quiet and reflect is so precious for me.
You have to do what feels right for you. The older I get, easier it is to say “no” to things I don’t want to do. I think our lives become overwhelming when half the things we are doing are things we feel we “should” do. See what feels right to you. I now literally take every second week off, maybe I will do a dinner with a friend, and of course run errands, on that weekend off etc. but that’s it. Then again, balance is relative. Everyone has different energy levels and ways of interacting with the world. When you are true and honest with yourself, you won’t feel like you are making any sacrifices.
I just started a new job in a new industry and have a life, a husband and two kids…balance is difficult. The first few weeks I exhausted myself trying to do and be everything. I just about fell apart when the laundry got out of hand. So I had to regroup. I don’t try to do everything now. My family is most important and I want to do my job well. I make a little time to get other things done without overwhelming myself. I carve out some me time too.
Its far from perfect, but I am finding my balance.
Short answer – no! I used to draw, paint, photograph and write all day.. but I also had less responsibilities. Like you say, being a grown up means juggling different roles and finding enough hours in the day is hard. When I get home from work, all I want to do is Netflix and (actually) chill. But as long as I do this, I will always feel guilt, like part of me is missing. Being in a rut makes it all the harder to start up though. Here’s hoping we find some balance.
C’est super dur de trouver un équilibre ! Ça fait un an que je vis et travaille à Londres et c’est le temps qu’il m’a fallu pour :
– me remettre à bloguer (une à deux fois par semaine)
– Faire de la photo (le samedi ou dimanche)
– prendre des cours de journalisme par correspondance
J’ai une vie sociale assez remplie où je vois, skype mes amis et ma famille dès que possible car les deux sont une priorioté, mais j’avoue que même si c’est parfois dur de tout caser, je suis beaucoup plus épanouie lorsque ma semaine s’équilibre entre mes amis et un de mes passe-temps. C’est pas la mort si je ne vais pas au sport tout le temps, ne peux pas faire de la photo chaque semaine etc…l’important c’est que dans ma semaine je fasse au moins une chose qui me rende heureuse et soit pour moi.
Pour les projets plus importants comme mon blog et mes cours c’est un peu plus difficile de lâcher prise. C’est aussi pour ça que j’ai fait le choix de ne poster qu’une à deux fois par semaine, pour me laisser le temps de m’organiser. Et les cours sont par correspondance parce que ça me permet plus de flexibilité même si je me suis fixée de toujours rendre mes devoirs en début de semaine.
J’ai une vie bien remplie, c’est pour ça que parfois pendant un week-end je ne fais absolument RIEN et je n’en culpabilise pas. On est tellement dans cette idée qu’il faut toujours faire un truc que parfois on oublie de s’arrêter. C’est souvent grâce à cette pause qu’il y a regain d’énergie et qu’on peut accomplir des choses beaucoup mieux.
Emmanuelle
http://www.thecuriousportafoglio.net
C’est exactement ma réflexion en ce moment… Moi qui adore coudre et tricoter, je ne trouve ni le temps ni l’énergie de m’y remettre ces derniers temps ! Mais je me dis que c’est un passage, où j’ai besoin d’autre chose, ou de prioriser d’autres activités, et que cela reviendra. (oui, je me suis mise au yoga, et je crois que cela m’aide à relativiser et gérer les potentielles frustrations)
Natalie, let go and let life. Seems cliche but in times of great dilemma, it’s helpful to remember: you are where you’re supposed to be, and that forward change happens within the many chaotic and uncomfortable moments we experience. Still, be mindful/grateful for the calm moments. It’s the universe’s way of celebrating our small victories. Try not to worry. You got this.
http://brooklynchateau.blogspot.com/2015/12/beauty-realsparis-metro.html
I highly recommend the book, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Doing Less by Greg McKeown. The good news is that it answered that question for me. The bad news is that the answer is that we just can’t do everything we want to do in one lifetime. So, we have to REALLY hone in on our most important activities and focus on doing those well. I was a bit defeated after reading, as I wanted it to tell me how I could squeeze everything in to my already active life, however, I do think it’s true… I’d rather do well at fewer things than many with mediocrity.
This feels like a therapy group! I wish I had it figured out–and before I die I will get there but right now it’s overwhelming to juggle everything especially after a day’s work drama and commute. The struggle is real between wanting+needing rest+relaxation+recovery for the next day/week AND living an elevated life where laundry is pristine, groceries are neatly packed away and not perishing, the tub is scrubbed and shiny, and the gallery wall is dustless while the fiddle tree is thriving with enough water and sunlight.
Soon I will have a husband and the balance between the Netflix+chill moments and the Martha Stewart DIYing will have to be found.
Pray for me.
Such a beautiful photo. Love it :)
I absolutely do not have balance. But I am trying to start yoga again. Only half a joke. I am a workaholic. Trying to balance financial needs with creative needs with time shortage. There was a profile in the nytimes recently about Alton Brown and I could relate to the quandry of work life Balance.