Podcast: Stories and Adventures with Mrs. B

Hey there lovelies! This is Mrs. B, I wanna take a moment to say we are sorry for the pause in the episodes on both podcasts & on our blog, but we went on vacation! You know, we gotta take that time to take a break from work and school, without those breaks and getting back in touch with ourselves it makes things much harder. Which brings me to our topic today!

Season 1 Episode 4 Balance in life: Not everything needs your energy! Will be up soon, but until then I wanted to release the posting that goes along with the episode for you.

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Finding your balance: Sometimes that is easier said than done.

What exactly does it mean to find one’s balance? ? Balance refers to evenly distributing things in your life. It means having enough time for school, work, family, and community. And while having balance in your life is definitely a good thing, it might be even better to strive for balance in your health.

When trying to maintain balance in your life there are certain things you need to keep in mind, this is a hard lesson for someone like me who is Neurodivergent, as I spoke about in my post the other day about Masking, which you can read here if you have not already.

https://luna-owl.com/2022/07/20/masking-different-parts-of-myself/

It is often part of finding your balance, that you know what needs your full attention and what does not. I have found that it is often best if you follow simple guidelines and make small notes for yourself as an individual. For instance: you have to learn to Pick your battles & Don’t Dwell on every little thing– There are some things that do not need your energy all the time, things you can let go of!  If you do not learn to do this your anxiety and stress will rise more than you would like it to.

Things that do not need you energy all the time: Some of these things may seem easier said than done, but I assure you with some practice you can learn to let go.

• Not everything is earth shattering, bad days happen to us all but not everything that happens will result in a bad day. Sometimes you just run into hiccups that occur. And it is up to you to decide how those moments will affect you in the long run.
• Things left unsaid. Try not to worry about things you have not said or should have said.
• Snotty remarks made by others. Not everything said by everyone is going to be nice or even pleasant, we must not allow everything that we hear to effect us in a negative manner. If someone is having a bad day themselves they can often come across with a snotty or rude manner, try not to allow it to take away from your own experiences or day.
• Huffy attitudes, impatience, rushing all the time. SLOW DOWN! Enjoy the little things and small moments around you. Adjust your attitude and sometimes those around you will adjust with you.
• People who are always negative. These people are often toxic not only to you and others around them but they are often toxic to themselves too. When you run into these types of people- no matter who they are, family, friends, coworkers, etc… sometimes you have limit your interactions with them or cut ties all together.
• People who do not put in the same amount of effort that you do in your relationship. The same is said about these people as those above, sometimes you have to limit the interactions with these people too, and also cut ties with them too.
• Leaving work at work! This is probably the hardest for everyone. Maintaining a proper work and home life balance. This is something a lot of us struggle with, especially in high stress environments or working from home. It is hard to find that cut off and that disconnect. However, the more you can decompartmentalize these two things, and the more you leave the work drama at work. The less stressed you will feel at home. It takes a lot of work so do not beat yourself up if you cannot automatically do this.

How can you get back your balance? If you work to avoid those things I have mentioned above there are some pointers I have for you to help maintain the balance and help to restore it in your life it is lacking.

1. Keep a positive attitude.

Keep things in perspective and be present in your role. Take each day and each situation as it arises. Even when you don’t feel like it, pretend, it will pay massive dividends.

2. Recognize yourself if you feel undervalued.

Focus on the value you create in your role. This is empowering. I was working for an organization where I felt I wasn’t being recognized, and I decided to flip it by recognizing everyone I worked with, no matter how small their actions. In a matter of days, I was receiving more recognition than I had in years! I created this through my actions and you can, too.

3. Set clear boundaries.

Set boundaries between work and personal time. Decide that you will not work past a certain time, or answer emails or calls in the evening. Setting boundaries helps you regain power and will assist in restoring balance in your life.

4. Explore flexible work options. 

What does your company offer you? Flexibility at work has become the norm, so take advantage of options to help you deliver better.

5. Rest.

Taking time off to enjoy holidays/getaways is so valuable, especially if you work a lot. Your body needs the down time to restore, and you always return balanced from a holiday. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Plan ahead and schedule your holidays. A regular meditation practice is also a great way to take a mind break and bring yourself back into balance. People who meditate at work are more productive and stress less.

6. Make a plan.

Be practical about your situation. Sometimes you can get so caught up in the emotion and exhaustion of work. Set a plan, write down tasks, deadlines, and clarify your accountabilities. You may even be able to delegate some of your work.

7. Make sure you keep moving.

If you’re going through a tough situation, keep moving forward… don’t set up camp and stay where you are.

8. Ensure that there is a balanced value exchange.

Some organizations will work you to the bone, so ensure that you are receiving the right amount of value in return. Whether that’s through financial rewards, flexibility, career opportunities or training, ensure you are getting value back for the work you are putting in.

9. Utilize your support network.

Vent to them if you need in order to debrief and vocalize the stress out of your body. It’s called “getting it off your chest” for a reason, because it helps to release some of your inner stress and restore more balance.

10. Communicate your stress to those at work who can help.  

Your manager has a responsibility to care for you and your well-being. If you feel overwhelmed by your workload, raise it as an issue. I have ended up in the hospital in a life-threatening situation, because I was overworked in the corporate environment. As much as we like to think we are irreplaceable, we’re not. You are replaceable at work; your health, on the other hand, is not.

When work starts to cause more harm than good, then it is a good sign to move on to something else. Sometimes this might not be part of your plan, but please keep in mind that you do have a choice.

You can restore the balance in your life. Acknowledging that you are out of balance is the first step to doing so! Keep going! It can be achieved!

Much love and many blessings to you on your journey in life and with us!