In the past, I’ve struggled to prioritize my job and my life. Sometimes we give up one for the other and usually it’s our life. But who says we can’t change that?
About a month ago, I remember disc
ussing the concept of work-life balance with a good friend of mine over coffee. My friend said to me, “You work too much, but I think it’s because you hide behind your work.â€�
In the past, I always assumed that my job was simply strenuous, requiring me to devote hours over the weekend. However,
after that one conversation, I remember asking myself if she had a point. Was I using my job to deflect from a larger issue?
The answer is yes.
I realized I was not happy going to work every day, coming home, doing more work and then going to bed. Living in Washington D.C., I didn’t feel like I had embraced the city’s various activities and happenings. As a result, I decided to make some changes. If you’ve found (or still find) yourself in a similar situation, here are a few things that I’ve noticed to be helpful in reigning in that life part of the equation.
Fill up that calendar! Get out and do more with your free time. There are so many events in your area that you can check out with a friend or two!
1. Attend as many events as possible
This might be easier if you live in a large city. But even if you live in a suburb and have access to a car or to public transportation, there’s always something you can do. For example, I went to a really fun Beer Festival yesterday. There were hundreds of different kinds of beer, but more importantly, I was able to mingle with all kinds of people with unique and exciting stories to tell. In DC, beer festivals are pretty big (especially around this time), but even if you live somewhere else, why not check out the town calendar?
Learn something new. The feeling of conquering old fears with new experiences will definitely get you back on track.
2. Sign up for classes
Signing up for classes is great way to meet new people while simultaneously learning new things. There are classes for just about everything: dance, yoga, spinning, cooking, jewelry-making, languages, etc. I once met a girl who was part of a paddle boarding team here in DC. If you like to read, I guarantee there’s probably a book club around where you live. If you have the time and the money, where’s the harm in trying something new?
3. Volunteer
Perhaps you’re broke. No problem. Volunteering often provides the same benefits as #2, but without pulling funds from your wallet. Homeless shelters and soup kitchens are always looking for people to help out, especially in the winter. My roommate regularly volunteers with a suicide hotline. In DC, many of the museums recruit volunteers to help out with year-round events and activities. Even in suburbs, you can volunteer in old age homes. That’s how I met one of my best friends in high school!
4. Network
Again, this may be more of a city thing (and specifically a DC thing), but networking events are a very smart use of your time. In DC, such events are abundant. There’s networking for global health, education, young politicians-in-making, real estate, Latino professionals, etc. If you are looking to do something outside of going to work and then going straight home, why not squeeze in a networking happy hour in between? At the very least, you’ve got a few business cards that may come in handy someday.
5. Say yes
If you just moved somewhere where you have few to no friends, saying yes to any invitation is absolutely essential. This may very well mean stepping out of your comfort zone and saying yes to something you would normally have declined, but at the end of the day, you’re allowing yourself the chance to make new friends. Speaking from experience, I moved to DC last summer knowing all of five people (two that I was actually close to). But I made it a point to accept any and every invitation from my coworkers (including going to a Drag Race!). Most of the friends I have now are people that I met through these kinds of gatherings. So keep at it and remember to say yes!
Have you ever struggled with achieving the right work-life balance? What’s worked for you? Make sure to comment below or tweet us at @mscareergirl now!
