Work-Life Harmony

Working a full-time job and taking a full course load in the graduate school leaves me no time for myself. People always wonder how I’m able to juggle it all and not lose my marbles. The truth is, I do get burnout and lose my mind sometimes. I tend to break down and lose my temper from lack of sleep due to the pressure and overwhelming workload I have.

Most people work hard as I do to pursue their goals in life as they thought that it is a guaranteed source of happiness. While I admit that I am one of them, I also admit that reaching our goals may take a toll not just on our physical and mental health but also on our personal relationships. If our health is compromised or our relationship is ruined, the things we insanely worked hard for will just go to waste in the end. That is why it is best to allot time to what makes us feel invigorated so that we don’t lose ourselves in our journey to reaching our dreams.

I believe that the concept of Work-Life Harmony is what will help us achieve our goal and live to our full potential. This is about integrating work to our life and making it a fun activity instead of dividing our time and separating work from personal life which is what the definition of Work-Life Balance is. In writing this journal, I came up with 5 reminders to myself to maintain a pleasant, harmonious arrangement of work and life.

1.       Make health the top priority.

Health goals is connected to career goals. I should keep in mind that the only way to achieve my goals is to have a sound body and mind.

2.       Manage time effectively.

I should organize and break my tasks into categories to avoid getting worn out: a. Urgent and Important; b. Important but not Urgent; c. Urgent but not Important; d. Neither Urgent nor Important and let others help to achieve the tasks.

3.       Don’t try to become a Jack of All Trades and let go of the things that can’t be controlled.

I should concentrate on what I am good at and don’t beat myself up for my weaknesses. Sometimes I tend to stress myself out about things I cannot control or change. I tend to waste time mastering something I know I can’t learn easily. I should allow myself to fail and ask for assistance if needed or if things go out of hand.

4.       Stay away from people who drain your energy. 

                In my life, there are some toxic and narcissistic people whom I am afraid to cut my connections with because I value the time we’ve known each other. However, spending time with them gives me a certain negative energy. When I started to spend time with my classmates in graduate school, I became as broadminded as them. I agree with the saying that you are who your friends are. If you spend time with the smartest people, you will become one of them. If you spend time with bunch of idiots, you will eventually become like them. I should keep in mind to choose my company wisely and avoid spending time with people who drags me down. I should bolster my support system and maintain boundaries with those who don’t have the same ideals with me.

5.       Me-time.

Sometimes, I tend to feel guilty for procrastinating, but I should keep in mind that lying on the couch watching Netflix the whole day doesn’t hurt especially if I know I’ve worked hard the previous day. This is the time I should also start doing the things I love or checking simple things in my bucketlist such as painting or pottery-making. A time I should allot to relax and catch up with my family and good friends. A time I should take a break and travel. This will not only make me feel rejuvenated but also motivated.

 

It can be a challenge to integrate work from our lives but shifting our mindset to Work-Life Harmony instead of Work-Life Balance will not only improve our productivity and creativity but also give a significant impact to our long-term success and well-being.