Work-Life Balance… And then some!

Guest blog by Anna Wilkinson Suits you sir; that work life balance that you’ve got going on! Keeping the house tidy and getting yourself ready for work, remembering to set the alarm, kissing your other half goodbye before singing along to your 80’s sound track in the car as you roll through the traffic. You rock into the office, swinging your packed lunch into the fridge and spinning on your chair at least twice whilst your PC signs in. Phone rings and you are the cheeriest person to pick up that call and greet like a pro! Yeah, You’re in control! You’ve got this. Until… That Monday morning, when it’s raining, the cat woke you up early, you’re out of food for lunch, you spill your legal caffeine fix down your shirt… Then you jump in the car, you need fuel, your music isn’t giving you the buzz you need & you’re in a messy fluster of late and dissatisfied. There’s a queue for the lift and your PC is updating as you finally unceremoniously plonk yourself at your desk. Not good. Not happy. Stinky tone for the day ahead has been set. So this is a familiar thing right – but sure, you have very little control over how your day starts, right?? Or wrong (kind of). See, you might not be able to control how your day starts, but you do have control of how you deal with your day, as I will explain. What you’re trying to do here is balance only your work and your life. If you’re doing this, and only this – You’re missing out on something. Satisfaction. See, as people, we need more than just work and life – that makes for a delicate see-saw and can only take a couple of minor things to unbalance your flow. So, what is the trick? Well…. You’re missing your cause. Your cause might be:A sportA charityA beliefA hobby And, if you’re not making time for any of the above, your balance is set up to fail, because you are instantly missing *Satisfaction*! “But I don’t have time” I hear you cry… I saw that one coming. You simply need to make time. What can you outsource; like admin to a virtual assistant, or feeding the cat to a pet sitter, or networking to a brand ambassador. If there is something in your day that you do not enjoy & you have the option to outsource it, then utilise that. Speak to your networks, who can help you? If funds are a preventative then you need to become more organised, forgetting the bread or not putting fuel in your car can not be excusable. Come up with a schedule to ensure you can still do all of the things you need & want, then factor in down time & time to pick up the things that are forgotten. Busy lives are part of today, but everything you do & enjoy doing forms part of your portfolio, your portfolio makes you who you are. Prioritise that! Many thanks to our guest blogger Anna Wilkinson @ 1stopinsurance