Balance, I have found, is one of the hardest things to maintain in life.
On one hand, but on the other. How do I find a good medium?
Though I don’t think about it very often, and perhaps compared to others it’s not as bad, but I am a rather work-driven person.
The idea of having not working is so foreign that I cannot even consider it. When I came back from Korea, I immediately started teaching after only one and a half days. Never mind jetlag, never mind vacation. I had to work.
I want to work more on my writing, but how can I not teach as many hours as possible during the week?
So I fill my hours with teaching, and the rest with writing, and the next thing I know I’m exhausted and haven’t taken a break in weeks.
I love writing. It’s a huge passion. And I love teaching, too. But they’re work, no matter what I might think otherwise. And yet if I’m not teaching, then I should be writing. if I’m not writing during my free time, I’m wasting precious hours. I’m slacking off.
So where do I find a balance?
I’m still searching for it.
It’s all a state of mind, for me. I have to remember that I need breaks, too. I can’t work nonstop, even if I enjoy it. The exhaustion is crippling and unhealthy.
Moderation. Balance.
I’m working on it.
Such a hard thing to do! I’m not sure artists, writers or anyone with a passion for something ever really find it. There’s so much to express that you fear there won’t be enough time in life to express it! But I guess it’s a lot better than being bored 🙂
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That’s very true! I know people who have even crazier schedules than I do, and somehow manage to produce amazing art. I’m always in awe of them.
Absolutely better than being bored :D.
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I do the same thing. And I tell myself I need to work on it and for a little while I think I’m doing well, but then I get all discombobulated and imbalanced again and I realize I was never even balanced in the first place.
It’s confusing and messy but creative types normally are. So that’s okay. As long as we’re enjoying ourselves and not hurting ourselves. 😉
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I’ve never been good at staying organized for very long. Definitely in the same boat as you!
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It’s a good thing, that you’re work driven, but, DO take time to relax, or, you WILL burn out, very quickly, and then, you’d be OUT of zest, and have lost the love you had from before.
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Yeah, it’s something I’ve noticed I sometimes have to force myself to do. Definitely don’t want to lose my love of teaching and writing!
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So long as you don’t overdo it, you will keep on loving what you do, i’m sure of it.
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Achieving the right balance between work and life is essential in teaching – and, unlike burnout, sets a good example…
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You’re “working” on how not to work so much. 😀 I have to smile.. At this stage of my life, if I push too hard for too long, my body shuts down for me. Six, seven hours of sleep. I used to think it was overrated. 😀
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Haha the irony :P.
I agree, definitely need lots of sleep. I’m not sure how I used to function on only a few hours!
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On my recent vacation, I found myself sleeping 10.5 hours a night and napping as well. I enjoy my work as a writer and blogger, but damn it’s a tiring pace! I def. do not want to be this tired. It’s good to just sit still. Naps help.
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Is balance a life-long pursuit? Just when you think you got a handle on it, you’ve changed or your circumstances changed. And you’ll start again. 🙂
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Well at least I’ll have something to work towards my whole life 😀
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And, you might want to dig into the matter of W-H-Y, you’re so into work, is it to defer yourself from something youre not wanting to deal with? Is it to keep your mind off of something, and these, are just some questions ot consider, just a side thought…
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Hmm, that is a very valid point, and something I certainly will examine. I’m quite sure that I’m not working for the wrong reasons. But perhaps I am trying to take my mind off of other things.
Thanks for the advice! It’s much appreciated.
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No Problem!!!
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I resonate with this a lot, too. I’m glad you took the time to share it. Many times I feel I have nothing to write about, but find I can anyway. I’m starting to read the book “Flow” which is about how you feel when you’re totally engrossed in something and you lose a sense of time and anything outside of what you’re doing. That’s how writing is for me (and also painting when I used to do it) so how can you say no to something so pleasurable? But I do need my sleep and sometimes I’m just too tired to write, and catch up on my sleep then–since I don’t have much choice.
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Yeah, I can’t go too long without sleeping enough. I get way too exhausted if I don’t get a full night’s sleep, and it’s just not worth trying to force myself through the next couple of days because I didn’t sleep enough that one night.
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being a libra balance is very important to me…one would think I could find a better balance =)
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Heh, one would think. But when does anything ever go the way we think it should :D.
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I too am an artist, writer, art teacher, and passionate about nature and beauty in our world. Do you teach art also?
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I’m an amateur artist, and only started around a month ago. I teach English! =]
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Thanks for your honesty, I finely figured it out….the balance thing ! You got step one down..YES, “Know when your “NOT,” in balance.” For me step 2 is learning how to say no….and not feel guilty! I could go on and on but step 3 for me was to write down my daily plan, not type it on the computer. Give that a shot, it’s a beginning! You are doing just fine, but backing off on some things was my answer. I always book time to do nothing. A walk in the woods helps me to get centered and to be at peace, and then it (peace,) becomes a huge part of my life.
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For one of the first times ever, I said no to work that, while would make me more money, was something that would completely skew the shaky balance I have been attempting. Still need to schedule more ‘me’ time though.
Thanks for reading and sharing!
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I´m with you all the way, actually glad I read this post. Makes me feel better, at least there is someone out there that has my same problem.
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Heh absolutely!
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