Life is about balance. We hear people talking about the “work-life balance” all the time.
Whether you’re still in school, taking classes, interning or working, participating in activities, or have a 9 to 5 and are pursuing your independent passion in the evenings, finding that balance of working hard, playing hard and still keeping yourself in a healthy place is a big challenge. There’s got to be more to a diet than Ramen and Red Bull. Doesn’t there?
The most important thing that I’ve learned from being a workaholic on a budget? Plan ahead.
Three tips to get started with Work-Life Balance
1. Food. On Sunday, I think about what I’ll be doing for the week. By getting my groceries together and writing down what I’ll be making for dinners and lunches, it is easier for me to eat well. Having a plan helps get you out of the “I don’t know what to make or eat, so I’ll just have some pizza” rut that is so easy to fall into.
2. Body. Exercising has always been on the bottom of my priority list. I know that’s terrible. But, if I put it on my to-do list, it becomes something that I will make time for. When I was unemployed, I didn’t have cash to go to a gym or yoga studio, so I would go for long walks and do yoga at home in the mornings. You could join a group like North Brooklyn Runners or Word Brooklyn’s Basketball League if you need some camaraderie to urge you on.
3. Mind. A lot of us have trouble turning our thoughts off at night. They race through our heads, keeping us up all night or, at the very least, interfering with us getting a truly good night’s sleep. To help me ease my mind, I turn off all my screens – TV, laptop, iPhone, iPad, at least thirty minutes before bed. I might relax with a book or magazine or just lay in bed and listen to the radio. Giving my body and my mind time to wind down helps me fall asleep easier and sleep better. Which, in turn, makes it easier for me to focus the next day.
Learn more with Work It Brooklyn
On Wednesday, April 18th, Work It Brooklyn will address these issues and more, with a discussion, led by our own Aja Marsh, of North Brooklyn Runners. She’ll be speaking with some awesome panelists, including Dishan Elise, a certified personal trainer and the founder/owner of Human At Ease, Kim Ann Curtin, a life coach who is founder and CEO of The Wall Street Coach, and Andrea Moss, Holistic Health and Nutrition Coach of Moss Wellness.
Register on Eventbrite.
What does work-life balance really mean for you?
post by Briana Campbell, Social Media Strategist and co-founder of Work It Brooklyn
