Life is so busy. This year I am making a concerted effort to maintain a work/life balance. To achieve this goal, I have been focusing on the things that bring me joy and making time for them. During the week I am tired after teaching all day, and my evenings seem to be getting shorter and shorter as my eyelids become heavier and heavier. Even so, I try to find something that brings me joy every day.
Weekday joys…
- an afternoon chai latte thanks to my classroom Keurig
- Sweater Weather Instrumentals on Spotify
- observing nature on my drive to school
- a beautiful sunrise
- playing Wordle
- an after-school nap
- dinner with my husband
- Facetime with my grandkids
- changing into comfy clothes and slippers
When the weekend rolls around, I want to make the most out of it. Right now we don’t have too much scheduled, and having free time is such a luxury. What I like most about the weekend is having more choices than responsibilities.
Weekend joys…
- sleeping later than 5:30
- reading
- writing
- attending church
- listening to an audiobook
- catching up with family
- Book Club (this weekend)
- Lunch with a friend (this weekend)
- completing a project around the house
It is so easy to focus on all the things we “must” do during the week and forget about the things we “love” to do. There is nothing wrong with the “must” do things, after all our jobs are what afford us the means to do the “love” to do things. I just don’t want to let the “must” dos take up all the room in mind and soul. I need to care enough about myself to find room for the “love” to do things – the things that bring me joy.
What brings you joy? Are you making room for it in your life?
Rita DiCarne 
I love these lists! Focusing on the things that bring you joy and prioritizing them is so important. I need to take a page out of your book and do this too. We have 2 things in common…a love of Chai and the sweater weather playlists. Sadly I can’t get chai very easily here. I think it makes it taste so much better when I do since it’s a luxury I rarely get to indulge in!
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I have been working on that work-life balance. It is SO tricky for me! Reading brings me joy. So does walking and figuring out the daily Wordle! My morning coffee also brings me so much joy.
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What a lovely post! It is SO very hard to find a life-work balance and even harder to maintain if for more than a week! I personally find joy in the opportunity to read. Now that I am semi retired, I read in bed in the early morning hours and late at night. In the “old days” when I was a busy teaching-mom-and caregiver, reading novels was something I did on snow days and beach days…only! So now, I read a book a week or more!
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