It is a beautiful thing when you get to do what you love to do for your job. There, however, is a reason that the phrase- “You can have too much of a good thing.” -exists. Having a life outside of the work that you do is important no matter what it is you do for work.
If the above does not resonate with you, here is another possibility: the work that you do allows you to live your best life outside of your working hours. Some jobs we have during seasons of life that may not be our favorite, but they pay the bills, give health insurance, or allow you to go on cool vacations.
Part of being in the working world is being an adult. During your lifetime you will have time with really cool jobs, jobs that simply pay the bills, keep your family safe, or you will fit somewhere in between. Regardless of where you are on the spectrum of how much you hate/ love your job- you have a lot of time outside of working. Yes, some of that will be spent sleeping, at the dentist, eating, doing chores, or going to parties/ events. Yes, there is also time in there for you to have a hobby or do something fun!
One way to plan fun time is to book a vacation. Plan something so that you can look forward to it. Plan multiple trips if you are able and see the world. There is so much more in this world than what one single person sees in a day. If you don’t have a vacation planned, look at your calendar, there is a lot of time left in 2022- plan a vacation or a stay-cation.
Another way to plan fun time is to make time to do things that you love to do right where you are. You do not always have to travel far far away to enjoy your off time. You can probably find something you really enjoy within an hour or two form where you live and could do a day trip. You are the only person getting in your way of doing a spontaneous day of fun. Some people I follow on social media take a day or weekend to go out of town and take a mini retreat from life. There are many ways to fo this alone or with a family. The point is you have to make time for it.
Lastly, and a little less intimidating is to plan 20-30 minutes a day for yourself. Do a facial cleansing mask, paint your nails, eat your favorite meal, sit and read a book, go for a walk, take a bath, watch an episode of a show you really like… And the list goes on. You might not get this time every single day, but a couple of times a week you can make it happen. You do not have to do the same thing every day. You can mix it up. Make those 20-30 minutes happen early in the morning, middle of the day, before bed, or whenever you have the time to make it work. Taking the time for yourself away from work and home life can make a difference in your outlook at your overall quality of life. 20-30 minutes can turn into a few hours if you let it be your starting point.
I like to do a combination of all 3. I plan vacations even if they are just a long weekend and not a whole week long. I like to have spontaneous day trips whether out shopping or out in nature. I like to spend a little bit of time every day to help me remember that I am more than just my job title. I go by a whole bunch of titles. They are really endless.
I am a… daughter, sister, barista, dance teacher, friend, granddaughter, baker, cook, supporter, Christian, dancer, singer (mostly in my car), blogger, godmother, prayer warrior, survivor, writer, cousin, niece, teacher, mentor, leader, etc.
I have… courage, love, faith, inspiration, empathy, encouragement, family, friends, readers, blessings, resources, knowledge, peace, kindness, gratitude, etc.
Make a list of who you are and/ or what you have. You may be surprised at what comes to mind. Ask your friends and coworkers to help describe you if you are struggling to come up with enough to fill a page. Seeing these things will help you visualize that you are more than your job title. You have more to give than what is in your job description.
Life is too short to not enjoy what you do inside and outside of work. Take the time to enjoy it. Take the time to figure out if there is something out there that could fit what you need to help you be the best version of yourself better than what you have now. Searching for something else sometimes will help you appreciate what you have. If you come home from work thinking that you need a drink more often than not, maybe it is time to make a change. If you see a friend going through that, say something. They probably know it, they just are scared to put it into words.
Being happy when you are working is worth the change. Balancing life and work is challenging. Doing more of what you love is always possible. It might take time to see it. Seasons of jobs come and go even if it takes years to change. When you find something you love, enjoy every moment of it no matter how tired you may be. These seasons change at some point. Don’t take what you have for granted.
My prayer is that you notice what season of work you are in. Notice the people around you. Be more than your job description as you are able to. Take care of making plans outside of your work schedule whether 20 minutes for today, or a vacation in the future. Make the plans. Write a list of who you are and what you have to see that you are more than one title. You are amazing. Live as though you know that.
-Em
A Time for... Everything 
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