Strive for Work Life Harmony, Not Balance

Fresh off a week-long vacation in Cape Cod, I’m mentally “preparing” for fall. 

Like many of you, I enjoyed summer to the fullest (beach days, campfires, carefree time with family and friends, etc.) but while soaking in the last bits of sun, I found myself craving a return to routine. I’ve always cherished this time of year – when spontaneity winds down, structure resurfaces and the cooler air starts to seep in. As F. Scott Fitzgerald once said, “life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.”

With the change of seasons comes a natural time to reset and I’m focusing on two lifestyle practices for the remainder of the year. In one area, I’ve made a lot of progress; in the other, I’m just beginning. What are your fall intentions?

1. Strive for Work Life Harmony, Not Balance

Stop for a minute and think about the definition of ‘balance,” which means “an even distribution of weight.” Are our lives ever in perfect equilibrium?

No, balance is fluid and mentally bucketing our time into two distinct categories (‘life’ and ‘work’) insinuates something’s wrong when one takes precedence over the other. Some days, work is a priority; others, disconnection is. While on vacation last week, I logged on nearly every day and it didn’t bother me in the least – when needed, I’m happy to lean in given the general gift of time to lean out. The more I view time as fluid, the more harmony I feel. Freeing yourself from a strict “work” vs. “life” schedule minimizes mental trade-offs.

[Aside: Speaking of work life harmony, I’m often at my best when working with a change of scenery. Based out of an office, I spend a lot of time on the road or in my home office. I’m used to being productive anywhere and everywhere so the fact that more and more employers are allowing employees to work remotely intrigues me. Read more here. And who knows, maybe I’ll be in the market for a NODE someday.]

2. Start Your Day with Inspiration, Not Information

Nearly all of us do it – we use our phones as alarm clocks so the second we open our eyes, our brains are processing. Since a friend shared the sentiment “Start your day with inspiration, not information,” I’ve made a conscious effort to do a few things in the 30 min before the synapses start firing at full speed:

• 10 min. meditation: The Headspace app is approachable, offering courses ranging from 3 to 20 minutes {spoiler alert – an upcoming interview is with a Headspace #girlboss}.

• 5 min. reflection: After meditation, I journal any thoughts or feelings I want to make myself aware of or revisit.

• 15 min. news: I read theSkimm (or the NYT for anything I want more detail on) and The Hustle before checking any email. This helps me focus big picture and ensure ‘staying informed’ doesn’t turn into an email backlog. World view before your view.

This morning routine is new but the benefits are felt throughout the day. Come bedtime, I’ll be jotting down 3 things I’m grateful for each day to help appreciation outweigh expectation.

What daily routines do you have to share?