Currently viewing the tag: "work life balance"
Love the ugly mugs (look closely)!
This morning on the way to drop tribe off at work, I was thinking about how easy it can be to drift through the days and never quite be present in the moment.
Days can become a trudge, with every day feeling the same.
Life can start to feel a little beige.
One of my best tricks to keep life in technicolour is to make a conscious effort to be in the present.
Back to this morning where I found myself in the midst of a couple of awesome moments, brief but tiny moments of love, happiness and fun:
- Singing (very badly) along to the Miss L’s playlist on Spotify – a fantastic insight into an 8 year old’s mind.
- Getting a giant hug and hearing Flashdance (now a super-cool 11) say ‘…love you Mum’ as I dropped him off.
- Getting a delicious coffee from the tiny Coffee Shed (part a super cool Co-Op place in Sunny South Brisbane) and having chat to the ever lovely barista.
A very good start to the day.
Any little moments of joy in your day?
Enjoy xx
My first week back at work with my eldest kidlet…her expression says it all!
It’s half-way through the week, and I am in midst of my weekly routine. Along with my writing here and creating hand-made pieces for my Etsy store I have a science career that I am just as passionate about.
It’s now been 10 years since I had to learn the fine art of balancing being a Mum with having a career. The time has flown by and along the way I have picked up some tricks and tools to help make it an enjoyable ride for everyone.
So with that in mind, I thought I’d share a my top five tips for returning to work and finding balance between home and work (WARNING – some of these are a little harsh, I was tempted to change/modify/water down what I was trying to say, but decided I may dilute the message):
- Remember…nobody is as interested in your kids as you are. You are the Mum (or Dad) so it’s your role to believe that your kids are the coolest/funniest/most special people in the world. Put yourself in your co-workers shoes… Replace ‘baby’ with ‘cycling’, then imagine if you would regale a non-cycling enthusiast with all the details about your bike, the rides you’ve done, how the Tour is going. Falling asleep yet? Same applies to kids and babies. I know it’s sounds a bit harsh, but it’s true.
- Treat each role with respect. When you are at work, work. When you are at home or spending time with your kids, then be present. Simple right? Try and keep a clear line between the two. There will always be times when your worlds collide, however day-to-day show respect for both sides by focussing on where you are.
- Take the time when you are on maternity leave, no matter what the duration, to think about what you want when you return. Do you want to keep your skills current? Progress your career? Interact and socialise with adults? Earn money for your family/lifestyle/future? Whatever it is, own it. Being a little fuzzy about why you are back at work can make the whole situation a lot tougher. Be honest with yourself.
- Don’t apologise for returning to work, or staying at home. Be proud of your decision either way. Women, men, society in general can be tough on women and men and the choices they make in having kids and raising them. There will be enough critical analysis of your actions without adding to it yourself.
- Find a way to carve out time to be you. Whether it’s exercise, reading, getting creative, meditation, whatever takes your fancy! Find a way to be kind to yourself and do it daily. Don’t feel guilty, know that it’s critical to take the time to make sure you have the energy to put your heart into all parts of your life.
I hope there is a little chestnut in here to inspire you to be proud and own your choices and also appreciate and respect your friends choices.
Enjoy xx
I have been contemplating my future, career aspirations and life in general over the past week.
Kicked off my a 360° session (where you seek out and invite your leader and co-workers to assess you – sounds like fun right?) in the office, and spurned on by a thought-provoking day at WIMWA 2013(Women in Mining Western Australia).
I have been wondering what is it that keeps me satisfied in life?
The fabulous Jane Caro, gave an inspirational and hilarious speech at WIMWA, and spoke of finding the balance between boredom and fear.
This struck a chord with me.
Feeling satisfied, and happy isn’t the result of one silver bullet, one thing that makes everything right.
It’s more in a constant state of flux.
When life is becoming a little stale and uninspiring, it’s time to dial up the risk factor a little and try something new. Learn a new language. Apply for that job that may be a bit of a stretch. Eat somewhere new. Try cooking something different. Take a risk and cut your hair. A small change can make a big difference and be enough to get the fire burning again.
Likewise if your head is spinning, and life seems to be weighing you down, and it’s all getting a little hard, then it’s time to take your foot off the pedal and slow down. Get back to routine. Cut out a couple of essential activities for you and the kids (let’s face it, nobody really needs to be playing three sports before the age of 5!). Go back to eating simple wholesome food. Walk instead of drive.
Which brings me back to where I am right now. For me, it’s time to change it up, and dial up the risk factor a little. I have started my own blog (thank you for visiting!), started my own retail space and am amping it up a notch in my corporate life by getting more involved, joining the Institute of Company Directors and seeking out and accepting speaking gigs (my big fear is public speaking, I also happen to love doing it, after the event, when my nerves are a little less frazzled).
Where are you right now? Are you satisfied?
Enjoy xx
